TWO brothers are making great strides in athletics.

Ross and Olly McCormick, both students at Abbey Gate College, train with Sale Harriers and have recently returned from a two-week training camp in Portugal.

They spent the fortnight perfecting their technique under the watchful eye of coaches.

Olly, 12, is currently ranked sixth in the country for the combined athletics event pentathlon and has been ranked as high as first

Despite competing against boys two years his senior, he recently won the Under 15 Lancashire AA Schools Combined Events Championship. Along the way, he achieved personal best performances in the hurdles, high jump, long jump, 800m and shot-put.

Older brother Ross, 15, is a first-class hurdler.

Because his technique is so good, his coach at Sale Harriers nominated him to appear in a celebrity Olympic sports challenge with Blue Peter presenters Helen Skelton and Barney Harwood.

The duo received three hours of coaching from hurdles coach Roger Devlin and the session was shown on the CBBC channel last month.

Ross received a Blue Peter badge for his efforts.