CITY of York Athletic Club are sending a record FIVE athletes to this weekend's British Championships.

The fab five are chasing the ultimate prize of a place in Great Britain's team for the Olympic games in Rio.

Chairman Neil Hunter says it is 'fantastic' to have so many involved in the televised event which is being staged over three days at Birmingham's 12,700 capacity Alexander Stadium.

Shot putter Scott Lincoln, the British number one, is expected to lead the way for York, supported by javelin thrower George Davies, discus thrower Sarah Parsons, sprinter Becky Campsall, and 1500 metre runner Daniel Cheeseman.

Over 600 athletes are competing in the Championships which double as the Olympic trials.

"It's fantastic for a reasonably small club to have so many athletes going to a British championships," said Hunter. "They are fantastic role models to our younger athletes and a source of great inspiration.

"We have never had five athletes going to the British Championships before," he said. "But it shows we are doing something right. It is even better to think that we have a good chance of getting medals and are not just going there to make up the numbers."

With nearly 600 members, the COYAC has gone from strength to strength since leaving the Huntington Stadium and moving to a new £2m facility, funded by York University and and City of York Council, at the University's Heslington West campus, last year.

Officially opened in April, the facility includes an eight-lane synthetic running track, a grass infield for javelin, hammer, discus and shot, and other synthetic areas for pole vault, high jump, long jump and triple jump. Apart from housing COYAC, the track is also available for use by regional schools and local community groups.

Hunter says membership is sure to gain a further boost from this summer's coverage of the Olympic games.

"We are expecting numbers to swell this year as we get closer to Rio," he said. "I don't think it's caught on this year yet - but it will once the European Football Championships are out of the way.

"Our numbers doubled after the 2012 Olympics in London and we maintained that interest due to a combination of good coaches and quality facilities. We are a friendly club that promotes a culture of inclusiveness and fun."

Paul Wilson, head throws coach at COYAC said: "The new facilities have been an amazing benefit for all the athletes. For some, this weekend's championships is the biggest experience they can get. It is like playing in an FA Cup final for a young footballer. It's what they need and it also helps put them 'out there' as they all need sponsorship."

Wilson, meanwhile. paid tribute to the efforts of chairman Hunter in establishing a facility which promotes the region's athletics talent.

"I don't think Neil gets the recognition he deserves for pushing so hard for these facilities.," said Wilson. "They are outstanding and, in my opinion, the best in the north of England.

"So much of it has been purely down to him using his personal time to sort things out. What he has done is great for the area."

Lincoln, a builder from Northallerton, threw a personal best of 19.83 metres last month but will still need to throw a further 0.67metres to reach the required Olympic qualifying standard.

Davies, 18, from Knaresborough, won a silver medal at last weekend's United Kingdom under-20 championships and threw a personal best 66.09metres.

Parsons is currently ranked 12th in the UK and won bronze in the British University championships.

Campsall, 25, from Woodthorpe, is the Yorkshire champion and represented England indoors in Slovakia last month.

Cheeseman, 23, from Harrogate joined COYAC five years ago and is currently studying at St Mary's University.

Hurdler Chelsea Walker, from Shiptonthorpe, had been scheduled to compete but has now switched to the under-20 international in Germany.