LYDIA Thomas started out in athletics as a very talented young sprinter over 100 and 200 metres but since then has worked really hard with Pembrokeshire Harriers and has developed into a hurdler of real potential.

 Sprint hurdling is rightly regarded as one of the more technically difficult disciplines in athletics and she came to it after doing very well in using her natural speed on the flat, and being coached by dad, Richard Thomas, who is an experienced sprint coach with the Harriers.

But then she was poached by Nigel Rowlands, said Richard with a chuckle, and Lydia has done really well since because she is strong at taking in technical details and can quickly make the alterations to her technique that Nigel suggests.

Joining the hurdling fraternity has certainly paid off for 13 year old Lydia because this season saw her come second to Mia Evans (Neath) in the West Wales Championships and then took part in the Welsh Championships at Leckwith Stadium in Cardiff and picked up the silver medal there. Again she was pipped by Mia but Lydia is a year younger and so has time aplenty to continue her development.

She has also showed her willingness to battle hard because the previous year saw her taking part in the 70 metres hurdles at Leckwith Stadium and she suffered a thigh strain half way through the race but made sure she still finished and came a very creditable third place to win the bronze.

Lydia's sprinting ability first became evident when she competed in the Spittal School Sports and did really well. From there she joined Pembrokeshire Harriers as a nine year old, where Richard was involved as a sprint coach after previously taking part in sprint events himself and earning his Welsh vest in the 400m and Welsh AAA title at 300 metres. Mum Jen also gives total support and younger brother Dan is already a useful swimmer.

At first she tried a range of events, including the long jump (where she had a personal best of 3.94 metres as a nipper but has improved to 4.55 since) and middle distance running, but soon settled as a sprinter. She was steadily progressing in the 100 and 200 metres, until she was persuaded to take up hurdling by Nigel Rowland.

 The benefit could be seen early on because Lydia competed in her first indoor race at Swansea University and came third and in her next race, at the West Wales outdoor championships, she eased past her previous opponents to win!

 Since then she has trained really hard at the twice-weekly sessions with the Harriers, where she has been working with her dad on her starts and Nigel on her hurdling technique, alongside Esme Greer, who hails from Saundersfoot, who is the same age and they push each other to improve their personal bests. Ask Lydia about other plusses in athletics and she would say that she has made loads of friends with the Harriers, and some from other clubs as a bonus.

Ask Lydia about her best moments so far and she would quickly nominate those silver medals in the West Wales and Welsh Championships, where she was so close to winning and also significantly improving her personal best. The UK Championships in Bedford will be another chance to widen her experience and let her see what other young sprinters are doing. 

Her ultimate aim is to gain her Welsh vest at under 17 level but she has a minimum of two years before she could even consider that and another two-year block where she will be qualified, age-wise. Lydia's sporting heroines are inevitably linked to athletics, with Sally Pearson, the Olympic hurdle champion from Australia, and Jessica Ennis, the British champion in the Olympic heptathlon, coming top of the list.  She also looks up to another of Nigel's established hurdling talents, sixteen-year old Amy Leahy from Fishguard, with whom she shares a lot in common.

Nigel Rowland, whom Lydia also praises for his great advice and total support, reciprocates the compliment.

It is a pleasure to have Lydia in my hurdling group because she sets the example to others for hard work and dedication to her event.

She listens to advice and quickly adapts to whatever we are working at, with a ready smile that is really encouraging to us all.

If she maintains her current rate of progress we are sure to see her do really well.

We at the Western Telegraph could pay Lydia Thomas no higher compliment and, like Nigel, we are confident that we will hear a great deal more of this talented young hurdler in the near future!