More than 90 guests attended Bury Athletic Club’s annual presentation evening at the town’s Masonic Hall before Christmas.

Chair of Trustees, Mark Granby, outlined the club’s many achievements in 2023 and thanked the club’s volunteer coaches, officials and helpers.

The club’s honorary president, Jean Simpson MBE, presented the awards.

The coaches’ athlete-of-the-year awards went to Michael Hunter and Afroditi Kalambouka (masters), Martin Clark and Sinead Taylor (seniors), Jay Cook and Rosella Togo (under-20s), Peter Gardner and Jemima Miles (U17s), Will Watson and Carraghen Spence (U15s), Harry Dada March and Laila Musvamhiti (U13s), Ethan Statham and Kathryn Wolstenhome (U11s) and Kai Hilton (U9s).

The team managers’ awards went to: Harry Dada March and Agatha Wragg (YDL Lower), Jay Cook and Rosella Togo (YDL Upper), Sammy McBride-Duerden and Isabella Robinson (Cheshire League), Peter Gardner and Mae Gardner (Northern League Junior) and Michael Arain and Beverley McAuley (Northern League Senior).

The Senior’s Grand Prix awards went to: Martin Clark and Hannah Lucas (seniors) and Rob Fowler and Rachel Marshall (masters).

The new Bury AC representative medals, for club members selected for their county or international competitions, went to Anna Gisbourne, Evie Elliott, Rosella Togo, Peter Gardner, Jay Cook, Jemima Miles, Oliver Cooper, Lucy Dent, Ben Coop, Sam Smyth, Sophie Whittaker and Blessing Idoko.

Meanwhile, the trustee’s annual awards went to:

Oliver Cooper (the Sandra Newton Memorial Award for the highest ranked field event athlete);

Ethan Statham (the JT Ratcliffe Memorial Award for the most competitive club member);

Anna Gisbourne (for the most improved club member);

Elaine Quick (club volunteer of the year);

Byron Edwards (club member of the year).

In action, Christmas Day saw a number of Bury athletes competing at the parkrun at Heaton Park.

Rob Fowler took 12th with 18mins 43secs, with Caitlin Cole, down from Edinburgh, third woman with 19:27. Paul Marshall was 21st, in 19:43, with Giles Bennett close behind in 22nd, with 19:44.

Sarah Flett was fourth woman in a new personal-best time of 20;38, with young Niamh Starrs making her debut and taking fifth with 20:53.

Other Bury finishers included Matt Garside (21:19), Sarah Thomas (21:47), Michael Starrs (23:34), Ella Straffon-Finch (24:15), Matthew Finch (24:16) and Anthony Hallahan (24:30).