DORCHESTER Athletic Club, led by their junior women, won a total of 39 medals at the County Athletics Championships held at Kings Park, Bournemouth.

The medal count for the athletes competing in a vast array of age groups was a staggering 15 gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze, with the junior women winning 15 of the medals between them.

A brace of golds was won by multi-event athlete Kirsty Wickham in the high jump and shot putt.

There was also a welcome return to competition for Hayley Rooks as she sealed discus gold, and silver in both the shot and hammer.

Honor Slade was the only female from the club to collect four medals, winning gold in the hammer, silver in the 800m and discus, and a bronze in the shot putt to give the club a clean sweep in that event.

Another gold medallist was Martha Baker who won the 400m in a personal best, and Kelly Allan took silver in the same race.

Holly Butt won silver in both the 100m and 200m ahead of team-mate Anna James, who claimed the bronze medals behind her.

Hannah Jeanes also made it a 400m double for the club as she won the senior women’s race in a season’s best time.

The junior men’s medals were all won in throwing events, Ryan Smith grabbed gold in the hammer and bronze in both the shot and discus.

Alistair Tuck claimed a superb silver and bronze in the hammer and discus as he competed in the senior men’s category.

In the men’s under-17s, there were two golds for Andrew Dumbrell, in the men’s 3,000m and 1,500m steeplechase, while in the women’s under-17s, Lucie Fry also won golds in discus and shot.

Bronze medals were won by Grace Butt in the 200m, Rachel Dumbrell in the 300m hurdles and Imogen Slade in both the long jump and high jump.

The club was then rewarded with more success in the under-15 girls’ section, as top thrower Eva Bowring notched gold in the javelin and bronze in both the hammer and discus.

The most successful Dorchester athlete of the weekend was sprint specialist James Tufnail in the under-15 boys.

He won three events in total, securing all three sprint titles in the 100m, 200m and 300m while continuing his fine form by adding silver in the javelin.

The under-13 boys’ medals were won by Jacob Coombs with silver in the 800m and bronze in the 75m hurdles and high Jump.

Strong performances at the event also came from Maddy Herbert (800m and long jump), Zoe Allan (hammer, shot and javelin) and Beth Trewartha (shot), who all achieved personal bests.

There was also a welcome return to action for Austin Slade and Richard Tuck.