ATHLETES from across the region gathered at Bury Athletic Club as the club hosted the Greater Manchester track and field championships for the first time in its history, with great success.

The two day event which ran over May 12 and 13 saw more than 500 pre-entered competitors, and hundreds more who entered on the day, battle it out in a series of heats and finals.

Open to anyone who resides or was born in the region, the tournament is the first of the major championships this season.

Roger Morely, Bury AC vice chairman, said: "I'm very pleased to say that the Greater Manchester Athletics Championships went without a hiccup and have been highly praised for all the activities on the day.

"The weather was a bonus and it does make everything so much easier to organise things outdoors.

"It was a great partnership and a very nice collaboration with a number of local people and groups, including the Police Cadets who helped with parking which was excellent and added and tier of excellence.

"We are delighted that everything went to timetable and according to plan and a massive thank you to everyone was involved and all the volunteers from Bury."

This year the club fielded one of its largest ever contingents for the championships, with 50 athletes taking to track and field.

The athletes put in sterling performances to claim claimed five gold, eight silver and 13 bronze medals.

Bury AC's Under 17 runner Brandon Quinton, gave one of the star efforts of the weekend, triumphing in the 3,000 metre race, against competitors from the Under-17s, Under 20s and Senior Men classifications.

The weekend also saw the first outing for the club's new £15,000 pole vault box — which helped Hattie Vaughan to a silver medal in the Under 17s category.

Mr Morely said: "It's lovely to see that standard of competition coming to Bury and local athletes held their own against their peers in the county.

"It all bodes well for the future of the club and its organisation and structure."

The championships and their hosts also received praise from regional organisers.

Alan Johnson, chairman of the Greater Manchester Athletic Association, said: "I think what this weekend proved is that Bury Athletic Club have an enormous volunteer base who will stop at nothing to make a success of an event.

"A lot of other clubs in the area and nationally could learn a lot from the club."