DORSET hammer thrower Andrew Elkins booked his place in the European Youth Olympic Festival final yesterday – but was made to sweat in the Ratina Stadium in Tampere, Finland.

The 16-year-old only registered one valid throw of 64.09m on his Team GB debut and missed the automatic qualification mark by almost three metres. But the Lytchett Minster School pupil made the cut for today’s final after finishing in the top 12 and insists he was far from his best.

“I’m very happy to qualify – but I felt it could have gone a bit better,” said Elkins, who took the English Schools’ Championship title in Sheffield earlier this month.

“I would have liked it if all of my throws had counted but only one was needed to qualify and that’s the one that counts.

“It was all about just getting to the final and being happy with what you have achieved.”

As well as success at the Don Valley Stadium, the Shaftsbury Barnet AC star also took the Dorset Schools’ title in Bournemouth last month with a new personal best of 65.57m.

But Elkins insists that mark is now under threat as he sets his sights on a podium place in the final.

“I’ll try and throw a personal best in the final – I reckon I can so if I could do that I’ve got a great chance of finishing high up the leaderboard,” he added.

“Training has been going really well and I’m feeling good. I’m a bit stiff at the moment so I’ll go off and see the physio and see how it is.

“But it’s been a fantastic week and I can’t wait to get out and compete again now. I’m using this week as more of an experience than anything else.”

The British Olympic Association selects, runs and manages Team GB at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It promotes the Olympic Movement, enhances athlete success and develops Olympic sports in the UK – www.olympics.org.uk