HAMMER thrower Jess Mayho says she enjoyed her experience being among the Best of British as she took her place on the European stage.

The 25-year-old, who is part of a well-known Keighley sporting family, made her Great Britain debut in the European Throwing Cup in Samorin, Slovakia, earlier this month. It is an annual continental athletics competition for athletes specialising in the discus, javelin, hammer throwing and the shot put.

She put in a brilliant performance, achieving a personal best of 63.69metres and came 25th in Europe. She qualified for the Great Britain team following performances in Loughborough and Portugal.

Mayho tweeted on her return: "What an amazing experience at @EuroAthletics Throwing Cup finishing with a personal best of 63.69 metres on my GB debut. Thank-you @BritAthletics for the opportunity, Ieaving here happy, healthy & looking forward to the rest of the season! #international #Yorkshire."

Following her Great Britain squad place, she is now juggling training twice a day, six days a week with her full-time job at the University of Leeds.

She also has unusual training methods which embrace modern technology.

While she is training in Leeds, she sets up her mobile phone or tablet on a tripod and has FaceTime video calls with her Portugal-based coach. Her coach asks her to move the tripod around to give her pointers on her technique.

Former Parkside School student Mayho said: "I have had a strong start to the season.

"Representing Great Britain is the highest you can get.

"I will now compete in qualifiers in the Loughborough International in May and the Manchester International in August.

"It's working well with my new coach. I go out to Portugal for 10-day spells.

"My first throw at the European Cup went 64.36 metres but it was judged a fail. We protested, but it did not get overturned.

"I had a bad injury and then surgery in summer 2017. Last year was just about getting back into competition. I had a really good amount of training too. I changed my coach over the winter."