BARELY two years after chancing upon a talent search for Paralympic prospects, Jo Butterfield seized global gold at the IPC world championships in Doha last night. The 36-year-old from Glasgow, left paralysed following a spinal tumour, set a championship best of 21.44m with her third attempt in the F51 club throw to repel the challenge of American rival Rachael Morrison.

The pair will now square off once more in the discus on Tuesday. 12 months out from the greatest challenge of them all, Butterfield has every opportunity to enhance her burgeoning status. “I’d be happy with one medal,” she said. “But two would be fantastic, especially thinking about Rio.”

Maria Lyle claimed a European record in the T35 200 metres but it was only enough to secure silver for the 15-year-old from East Lothian as Australian rival Isis Holt, one year her junior, delivered the quickest race of all-time in 28.57 seconds. They will have a re-match over 100m this week. “It was very close coming around the bend so that gives me a lot of confidence,” she said.

The Scot, who has cerebral palsy, will not shirk the duel, scribbling notes on her hands as a reminder of her motivational mantras. “I have the message ‘Fear into action’ and ABC which reminds me of the things I have to do to stop myself getting anxious. Then I have ‘drive, climb, fly’ which is for different parts of the race.”

Sammi Kinghorn couldn’t double her medal tally as she came fifth in the T53 100m. While Libby Clegg needs improvements in today’s T12 200m final after coming second in her semi as Cuba’s Omara Durand snared the world record. “We didn’t get out of the blocks as well as we would have liked to have done,” the Commonwealth champion said. Elsewhere, David Weir won silver in the T54 1500m.