TORBAY pole vaulter Louise Butterworth got a big year of competition underway with a top-three finish in Wales on Sunday.

Butterworth, 24, took the bronze position in the UWIC Pole Vault competition in Cardiff as she begins a year that she hopes will culminate in selection for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The Birchfield Harriers athlete was one of three to make a 3.95m vault, along with Scot Kirsty Maguire and Woodford Green's Maria Seagar.

However none of the trio could match hometown girl Bryony Raine, who won the year's curtain-raiser with 4.10m.

Butterworth, who grew up in Paignton and studied at Churston Ferrers Grammar School, is hoping to put an indifferent 2009 behind her after leaving Loughborough to return to full-time training in Cardiff.

The Torbay Olympians Fund inductee, who has a PB of 4.21m, is determined to regain her momentum of 2008 with some top performances.

And she will go head-to-head with the country's best this Saturday at the UK's biggest pole vault competition, Vault Manchester.