MINSTER College student Suzanne Platford is heading for Birmingham next week for the biggest date of her athletics career.

The 14-year-old javelin thrower will be appearing at the Alexandra Stadium on July 8 and 9 when she takes part in the English Schools Championship.

Platford, who also plays cricket, netball and hockey, is in her first year as a javelin thrower after taking up the sport almost by accident.

Minster were short of a javelin thrower to take part in a competition so Platford volunteered to give it a try, throwing 28 metres from a standing start with her first attempt.

She is now benefiting from specialist coaching at Minster as she aims for the top prize in Birmingham.

Platford, meanwhile, was one of a number of Minster students who helped to arrange a sports festival for primary school pupils at the college.

More than 100 Minster students taking part in the Junior Sports Leader Award devised events and coached the younger pupils during a day which saw more than 300 primary school pupils attend.

The day featured a number of sports, from running to javelin and the youngsters all entered into the spirit of the occasion on a hot and sunny day.

"The day was not intended as an inter-school championship but rather a festival of participation," said Minster's director of sport Nigel Maddock. "Which does not mean to say there wasn't a highly competitive flavour to proceedings!"