THE Lamerton boys? team of Michael Harris, Daniel and Tom Preece and Toby Ryan went to the National Pony Club Tetrathlon Championships last weekend with low expectations.

The team has been dogged by injury and other problems, with Daniel having part of his finger amputated the week before the competition and Toby still nursing an injured knee.

At the event all four boys shot below par, but made up for it in the swimming with all except Daniel - who had to have his hand covered in a waterproof dressing - achieving personal bests.

Tom, at 12 the youngest competitor by two years, was delighted to beat eight other much older competitors at this stage.

The riding the next day was stiff but all four boys completed with good scores. The run on the Sunday was particularly hard, especially as Dan and Toby were not as fit as usual, and in the end the team came 10th, with Dan and Toby scoring high enough points to be awarded bronze medals.

Tom was awarded a special cup and rosette as the youngest boy to complete the event and all four are determined to qualify again next year, when they are hoping for even better results.