TO label the Hall family as sporting mad would not go far enough.

All the clan are involved in so much activity it is a wonder they find time to sit down at night and eat dinner.

Dad Nigel is chairman of Bolton Harriers Athletics Club while Alison is membership secretary and both are regular runners.

And they have passed on their fondness of sport to their children.

Eldest child, Brian, is ranked number two in Britain (under 20s) in the high jump. 16-year-old Jemima has just been selected as goalkeeper for the British Colleges National Hockey Squad. Then there's the youngest family member Naomi.

'What's she done?' I asked Nigel.

He replies: "She's not really ... well she is under 13s shot put champion in the club."

Another one for the Hall of fame then.

"We have always been a sporty family and all our children have picked that up and become involved," added Nigel. "We're very proud of all of them."

19-year-old Brian was the first to show his talent when he entered a competition by chance as a young teenager and, at the first time of asking, jumped an impressive 1.82 metres.

He began to take the sport more seriously (though he still continued his involvement with basketball where he represented the north of England team) and now, helped by coach Shaun O'Donnell, has improved his personal best to 2:11.

"Hardly a week goes by when we don't get a phone call from one of the national high jump coaches checking on his progress," added Nigel.

"He has the potential to go on and do really well and hopefully he'll be able to do it."

Sister Jemima meanwhile is still celebrating after her call up to the British Colleges Hockey Squad.

Jemima, who has been goalkeeper of Bolton Hockey Club Senior first team since she was 14, will play a number of fixtures with the national side this season, including a tour of the Hague, Holland, in April.

"She would love to go and play for England, that's her aim and she's getting nearer to doing that," added Nigel.

With the youngest family member, Naomi, making waves in the shot put, it seems that there's no stopping the rise and rise of the sporting Halls.