Claire Smithson has been named captain of Britain's under-20 team.

The 18-year-old Brighton and Hove thrower said: "It's wonderful, I can't believe it.

"It has not really sunk in yet but it is a great honour "There are three or four under-20 matches this season. The most important will be the World Junior Championships in Jamaica in July. Everything will be geared towards those championships."

It is the first time a Sussex athlete has been Great Britain captain and Smithson certainly deserves it.

Last July she captained the Sussex Schools team at the All England Championships and fulfilled a lifelong ambition when she carried the banner at the march past.

Despite her tremendous success with the discus, Claire has remained quiet and modest and is a great inspiration to any team.

In 1998 she broke her finger and was unable to compete in the All England Schools where she was almost certain to win the title. But she still attended, putting aside her own disappointment to support the team.

This is an important year for for Claire. She has taken a year off before going to university and could even make the England senior team for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

She said: "I'm working part time at Legal and General and they have been very helpful and sponsored me to help with training expenses.

"It will be a very busy year. Apart from Under-20 matches and the various championships, I still want to compete as a much as possible for the Brighton and Hove team in the Southern Women's League "My first competition could well be the County Championships at Crawley in May.

"I have been concentrating much more on my discus throwing this winter, although training is difficult in the winter months and I have done little shot putting.

"I am not planning to compete indoors this winter in the shot putt but will of course do the shot putt in the Southern Women's League events and the county championships."

Steyning walkers Darrell Stone and Sophie Hales won gold medals at the Southern Race Walking Championships at Imber Court The Steyning Club took the team title to underline their reputation as the top walking club in the south.

Stone, who hopes to represent England at The Commonwealth Games, continues to have problems with his style when walking at high speed.

Chris Cheeseman, who lives in Crawley, led the walkers through the first kilometre before Stone upped the pace and took control of the race.

But he picked up a couple of warnings and from the 6km mark eased off for fear of collecting a third warning and disqualification.

His lead was rapidly whittled away but he still had 50m in hand at the finish in a time of 42min.54sec. That has only been bettered by three Sussex walkers, including Stone.

Donald Bearman came charging through in the closing stages to overhaul Cheeseman and take the silver medal in 43min.12sec, which is two minutes faster than his best ever 10km time on the track.

Cheeseman took the bronze medal, just four seconds behind Bearman. Veteran Richard Emsley, who has been showing great improvement this winter, completed the Steyning scoring three in fifth place.

The women's championship was a straight battle between Steyning's Sophie Hales and Jo Hesketh. Hales came through in her fastest time over the distance (53min.20sec).