RHYS Morrillo continues to make big strides as an archer.

The 14-year-old's latest eye-catching display was during the Junior National Outdoor Championships - just two years after first giving it a go.

One of the youngest participants at Lilleshall, the Hartford Church of England High School placed 10th in his age group out of 25.

Further highlighting the quality of his display, the teenager improved on his personal-best score.

At the same event, he placed ninth out of 27 boys in the under 16s recurve discipline of a Junior World Archery Star round.

"He has had an amazing season since moving to a higher age-group in April," said mum Anne.

A roll of honour includes victories at the two-day Cumbria Open and the Lancashire Junior Open, while he was the highest-scoring visitor to the Yorkshire Open.

Rhys is a member at Goldcrest Archers in Hyde, where he is guided by county coach and chairman of Cheshire Archery Association, Peter Gregory.

He is also an associate member of Winnington Park Bowmen and practices with them in Northwich.

"Rhys has shown full commitment to succeed and trains five times a week," Anne added.

He tried the sport for the first time in 2017 when he signed up for a beginners’ course with Winnington Park Bowmen.

His ability showed itself quickly.

He entered a competition for the first time in early 2018, and was second in the under 14s boys’ recurve at the Cheshire Junior Indoor Championships.

A third-place finish in the same category during the Cheshire Junior County Open helped attract the attention of selectors for the county team.

He scored highest of the Cheshire contingent in the junior boys’ recurve when he took third place in his age-group category in last year's Northern Counties Archery Society match, held in Penrith, after six hours of competition.

That led to an appearance in the Archery GB Junior National Indoor Championships last December when he finished 16th in under 14s boys' recurve section five.