JERSEY SPARTAN AC members once again feature in the Athletics Weekly UK rankings for 2006.

For all the talk of a decline in athletics standards in Britain it is still a considerable achievement to be ranked at senior level so to have four seniors listed is no small boast.

Consistent 400m hurdler Peter Irving took a significant step forward by improving his PB in 2006 to 52.86s which puts him 29th in the UK – and the Channel Islands AC joint captain is set on improving this position still further during 2007.

Lauren Thérin – currently enjoying success at bobsleigh – competed for Jersey at the Commonwealth Games in discus but thereafter concentrated on her javelin where she is likely to have more success as a senior.

It would seem to be a good move as her best throw of 50.97m leaves only Goldie Sayers and Jo Blair ahead of her.

Not neglecting the other disciplines she places 14th in discus (46.96m) and 33rd in shot putt (12.37m).

Although Simon Phelan improved his high jump only marginally during the year his 2.11m still has him in 16th place.

As a bonus his hand-timed 15.1s for the 110m hurdles places him an unofficial 41st in that event.

Jason Fox, still an under-20 athlete, high-jumped 2.00m for the second consecutive season to rank 43rd amongst the seniors and tenth in his own age group.

Moving down into the U17 juniors it is inevitably Jamie Stevenson that steals the limelight.

After a summer of winning county, national and international championships, as well as breaking records, Jamie places second in shot (17.32m) and fourth in discus (50.71m).

Interestingly, it seems that Stevenson, after all his success with the rotational shot technique, will be competing in 2007 using the more traditional linear (glide) delivery.

Talented hockey player Beckie Slater came late to the athletics party in 2006 but made a significant step up in her javelin with a best of 36.85m putting her in 14th position.

Impressing everyone with his studious dedication to his discus training Zane Duquemin improved week by week during 2006.

Winning silver medals at the prestigious AAAs and English Schools Championships he eventually placed fourth in the UK U15 listings with a best of 44.61m.

Yet another talented young Spartan thrower Kathryn Rothwell again places highly in her first year in the U15 rankings – ninth in discus (29.80m) and 13th in shot (10.54m).

There is still so much more potential with her discus and it just needs to be unlocked.

The U13 rankings have proved fertile ground for Jersey in past years, so it is somewhat worrying that only all-round sportsman Sam Crabtree, with his 12.8 sec for ninth place in the 75m hurdles, shows up in 2006.

Perhaps the talented younger athletes are busy doing other things?