OTaylor

Last updated 01:00, Thursday, 21 June 2007

By Patrick Hill

CARLISLE javelin ace Colette Doran recorded a remarkable double success at the weekend.

The 23-year-old athlete won gold at the British Disability Championship in Manchester on Saturday.

And then she smashed her own British record at the North of England Championship in Liverpool on Sunday.

Doran, who is profoundly deaf, is finally returning to her best form after a series of injuries which began when she was almost killed while crossing Wigton Road in Carlisle in 1999.

She suffered serious head injuries and spent a week recovering in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Her progress has also been halted by a fractured foot, a finger problem, ligament troubles and an elbow injury.

The talented athlete, from Morton, beat rivals from India and Belgium, to win gold on Saturday at the Sportscity complex in Manchester.

Her new British record throw of 37.77 came at the North of England championship in Liverpool 24 hours later.

Doran, who threw 39.65 at the age of just 15, is now aiming to beat the 40m barrier when she represents Team GB at the European Deaf Championship in Sofia next month.

Her dad Mike, who is also her coach, said: "She's getting back to her best."

Her older brother Lee is ranked number two at British senior level and number one at Under-23s.

Meanwhile, the Lisa Watson Memorial Trust has donated £550 to pay for Colette's trip to the European Championship, which starts on July 10. The trust was set up in memory of 11-year-old Lisa Watson, who was killed in a road accident on the A6 at Plumpton in 2002. Lisa was born with profound hearing difficulties which she overcame to live a full life.