All of the 45 English counties were represented at the championships which equated to some 1,650 athletes.

The championships, which were televised live on Sky Sports, are regarded as the career pinnacle of many young athletes as well as a breeding ground for the Olympians and world champions of the future.

Against the best athletes in the country, Robbie achieved his target goal of making the top-eight cut, which takes place after each athlete has taken an allotted three throws.

In damp and gusty conditions, far from ideal for throwing, Robbie managed to throw his discus some 42.13 metres to earn a top-six finish and subsequently a place on the podium.

Robbie still has the Combined Events Championships at Alexandra Stadium, Birmingham on September 20-21 to look forward to.

Pickering said: "I'm reaping the benefits of all the hours of training that I put in each week

"Success makes it all worthwhile and makes me want to train even harder in order to achieve my long-term goals."