RISING athletics stars from the local area have been showing what they are capable of on the national and international stage.

Five young members of the North Ayrshire Athletics Club (NAAC) were recently asked to take part in trials for the Scotland team training in Grangemouth throughout November.

The club wasdelighted with the recignition for their young athletes, especially given the small scale of NAAC.

Among those selected were Ardrossan Academy pupil Dylan, Jessie of the Garnock Campus, Nell, who attends Largs Academy, and St Matthew's Academy stars Ben and Shannon.

While all five had the opportunity to shine on the national stage, Nell, Shannon and Ben all had the chance to take their talents international.

This came when the NAAC trio took part in the Scottish Schools Athletic Association (SSAA) International Pentathlon in the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on Saturday, November 26.

All three were representing their respective schools at the tournament, rather than NAAC - as they teamed athletes from other schools to represent team Scotland.

Competing for St Matthew's, Ben is no stranger to competing on the biggest stage.

The teen, alongside the aforementioned Nell, in fact competed in this same competition last year - where he finished as the top Scottish boy over the age of 16.

This year, he stepped up a gear to compete right at the top with other athletes from nations like Wales, England and Ireland.

He recorded four new personal bests (PBs) in the course of the event - in the 200m, 800m, hurdles and shot putt.

He also notched a personal best overall points total for the pentathlon - scoring 3,631. This saw Ben secure an overall silver medal, and his over 16 boys team winning the silver team medal.

Shannon, a relative novice in international competitions, competed in the under 16 category and secured three PBs - in the hurdles, shot putt, long jump as well as an overall points PB of 3,171.

This secured Shannon seventh place in the whole of the UK, and she was the second highest performing Scottish athlete. Her team picked up overall bronze for the day.

Largs Academy's Nell was competing at an older age group this year, but still held her own, and set a long jump PB as she took on top competitiors from the rest of the UK and Ireland.

NAAC president Kirsteen Brown told the Herald that she was incredibly proud of the athletes after what has been a great month for the club.

She commented: "Although not a club event, the performances and achievements of our athletes is a true reflection of the hard work and dedication on and off the track with the help, guidance and support from all our fabulous volunteers.

"For a small team we are achieving so much locally, nationally and internationally #teamNAAC we are #morethanaclub.”