THERE will be plenty to cheer for two March brothers who celebrate their birthdays in the next three days. But once the parties are over, young athletes Nicholas and Richard Stone will begin preparing themselves for a new season and a new challenge. Next

THERE will be plenty to cheer for two March brothers who celebrate their birthdays in the next three days.

But once the parties are over, young athletes Nicholas and Richard Stone will begin preparing themselves for a new season and a new challenge.

Next month, Neale-Wade Community College students, Nicholas and Richard Stone face the daunting step up to older age groups when they begin the track and field season.

But there are already encouraging indications of their promise.

Nicholas, who will be 13 on Monday, ran his final race in the under-13 age group two weeks ago when he produced a fine display in the National Cross-Country Championships, in Sunderland.

Nicholas took his place alongside some of the best cross-country runners in the country and recorded a time of 11:46 in the 3,000m, placing him 85th in the 258-strong field.

This excellent performance will be the final cross-country run of the season for Nicholas unless he receives a call-up to the English National Schools Championships, for which he is first reserve runner in the junior boys' team.

Nicholas competes for Peterborough Athletic Club (PAC) and has been crowned the Isle of Ely District Schools Cross-Country Champion for two years.

He also finished second in the Cambridgeshire County Championships and progressed to the Inter-Counties Cross-Country Championships, in Nottingham, which was televised by Sky TV.

But now, Nicholas' sights have turned to the track and field season when he will be competing in the under-15 age group for the first time, running in the middle-distance events and specialising in the 1,500m.

Older brother and fellow PAC athlete Richard celebrates his 15th birthday tomorrow (Saturday) and he also faces a challenge this year when he moves up to the under-17 men's age group.

But hammer thrower Richard is in top form. In a development meet last week, he threw the 5kg hammer a personal best 30.29m.

- TWO open graded meetings will be held at the Embankment Athletics Track, Peterborough, on Sunday, April 15 and Sunday, April 22.

The events are open to athletes aged 10 and over and competitors do not have to be affiliated to an athletics club to compete.