Hammer thrower Mick Jones and junior discuss thrower Claire Smithson both want to show off their good at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002.

Athletics: Mick Jones, Hammer thrower I had a very, very good year. I enjoyed winning two medals, throwing my all time best, went to trials, went to Edmonton intending to break the British record but it didn't happened.

A few bits and pieces bogged us along the way. On the day, they ran 40 minutes late and we were there sitting in the area ready to go and it was all delayed, a whole host of things, but you've got to pigeonhole those things and get on with it.

The first throw was fantastic, one of the best I ever had but it hit the cage and didn't count. I went easily to 73.31, which is an average throw for me. Then I went absolutely mad on the third throw just to get a decent throw in but I came out of the circle giving it my all. I wouldn't do anything different. I tried my best and enjoyed every minute of it.

Sydney was such a big thing, the biggest event in the world, and anyone who was going to try and follow that was going to have a bit of a downer, I think.

What are your plans for 2002?

Next year we have manchester to look forward to and the European championships which I've never been to. I've just started a new job as a sports masseur and I have more time to train. I've been doing 15 throws a session and now I do 25 to 30, so I've doubled my training.

I'm training twice as hard as I have in any previous year, and it's on my home patch so I know who they'll be cheering for. I've done more lifting, more jumping and more stretching, more relax time and rest. Before I used to do full time work but now I am able to stretch more, warm up more, warm down more, work that's specific to throwing that's not actually throwing.

Who do you think your main rivals will be at the Commonwealth Games?

Stuart Rendell, he's spent a lot of his time in Hungary where I got a lot of my training ideas from. My best is over 73 and his best is 78, but he only threw 75 at the World Championnships.

Chris Harmse from South Africa, he's just thrown 79.20 which is a new Commonwealth record. Until this year because of his religious beliefs, he's never competed on a Sunday but the Commonwealth final is on a Sunday (July 28) and he's going to do it.

He's going to be the favourite because of the throw he just did.

How are you going to spend Christmas?

Quietly with family, friends and my four little ones Athletics: Claire Smithson, junior field athlete I did ok this year. I didn't do as well as I wanted to in the Europeans but I broke the UK Junior record and that was probably my high point.

Next year I have the World Juniors in Jamaica, and maybe the Commonwealth Games maybe.

How are you going to spend Christmas?

I'm not really bothered about it but I am going to spend it with family here in Brighton.