Stoneleigh-based Jade Ive claimed the England junior women's pole vault title at the weekend to confirm her spot in the British team for the World Junior Championships next month.

The 16-year-old Sutton & District athlete cleared 3.80m in windy conditions at Bedford on Saturday - some way short of the qualifying mark of 3.95m she jumped to win the South of England title last week.

The result sees her jet off to Poland next week where she will be among the youngest competitors to take the stage at Bydgoszcz.

But delighted father Steve revealed her efforts may not have been needed after she was presented with her selection confirmation letter along with her gold medal.

"As soon as she won it we knew she was definitely in, but it was just a case of ticking all the boxes really. I think the selectors had already made their minds up before the competition," he added.

Ive heads to Poland knowing it could potentially be the first of three attempts to win a junior world gold at the biennial U20s event.

A good showing will put her in pole position for a spot in the English team bound for October's Junior Commonwealth Games in India.