DESPITE this season, his best so far, not yet reaching a conclusion George Hyde is already planning for the future.

The Weaverham High School student represented his country for the first time at the weekend, little more than seven days after winning a national title.

However the teenager is not planning to stop there.

“It’s inspired me to set new targets,” he said.

“I know where I am, and what I need to do next.”

The 15-year-old claimed the inter boys’ shot title at the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships earlier this month.

His winning put, at 15.54m, is a personal best.

It was a performance that earned him an invite to join the national team at last Saturday’s Schools International Athletics Board match – an annual fixture for under 17s teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A best of 15.21 secured fourth place at the Julie Rose Stadium in Ashford, where Ireland’s James Kelly won with 17.07m.

England finished first in both the boys and overall standings.

Hyde said: “I can do better, but I still loved the experience.

“It was great to put on an England vest, something every athlete loves to do I guess.

“If you’d told me at the start of the year that I’d be doing that, then I wouldn’t have believed it.”

The West Cheshire Athletics Club member has had a year to remember.

He won regional and national indoor titles early on, adding county club and schools’ gold medals in the outdoor campaign.

First place, while representing Cheshire Schools, at the Mason Trophy inter-counties competition completes an impressive list of results.

“George is like no other athlete I’ve worked with at his age,” said Jonny Goodall, head of PE at Weaverham.

“He studies the numbers, and knows exactly what his rivals are capable of.

“His determination is remarkable, and goes a long way to explaining why he’s achieved what he has already.

“I can’t remember, in 25 years of doing this job, another field athlete from the district matching his feat.”

Hyde, who expects to be selected for the North West’s team at the 2016 School Games in September, tried shot for the first time shortly after starting high school.

He was runner-up at a county competition, and has improved every year since.

Goodall added: “His enthusiasm was easy to see early on.

“I’ve known track athletes stop a session in the winter because it was too cold, only to turn around and see George still out there in the snow.

“As a department, we’ve supported him all the way by making sure he’s had opportunities to compete. His parents have backed him up too, which is important.

“He’s already set his mind on getting a medal for England next time – that’s his motivation now.”

Hyde, who has represented the county in his age group at rugby union too, has a simple explanation for his success.

He added: “There’s no secret really, just that I enjoy what I do.

“I like training, and trying to improve, and that keeps me going.

“I can’t imagine that changing.”