DISCUS star Holly Neill has kick-started her busy 2016 schedule by producing a lifetime best throw in an IPC Grand Prix event in Dubai.

The F41 athlete, from Chantmarle, added 10 centimetres to the European record in the women’s F40/41 competition, with a throw of 23.76 metres.

Despite breaking the record, Neill finished second in the combined classification event, where the distances are recorded and converted into points. Iran’s F40 thrower Zhila Yousefi was the overall winner.

But that was not to take the gloss off a stellar display from Neill, who admitted it was a pleasant surprise to record such a mammoth throw so early in the year.

Commenting on her performance, Neill, who is looking to compete in the European Championships in Grosseto, Italy, in June, before heading to Rio for the Paralympics later this summer, told Echosport: “It was really good because it’s pre-season really.

“I am not even in competition season yet, I am still in a heavy stage of training.

“To do it in March is ridiculous. It was something I was planning to do mid-season so to do it now is incredible.

“I was going out there literally just for a bit of warm-weather training and to get some competition experience.

“I was really aiming for 22m so to get 23.76 was beyond expectations.

“Me and my coach Andrew have both been working really hard over the winter, it just shows that it’s all been paying off and everything is going in the right direction.”

She added: “It’s a big season but it’s also a scary season because lots of the athletes are popping up and also producing some big throws.

“I’d like to work upwards and hopefully medal at the Europeans. I want to be in the top five and hopefully medal in Rio.”

n Dorchester's Paul Blake, who is currently training in Canada, was also in action at the event. Competing in the men’s 800m T36/37, he finished behind Algeria’s Madjid Djemal.