Bury secure back-to-back promotion with some style

3:56pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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BURY AC secured their second successive promotion with a superb performance at Leigh in the final Northern Track match of the season to go into Division Two.

There were 13 winning performances from the team and 15 second places.

Outstanding amongst the winners on the track were Scott Evans, in the 5,000metres, Carlo Balsamo in the 200m and Anthony Ashton in the 200m. For the women, Laura Evans won the 400m Hurdles.

In the field events, Sol Bah won both the triple jump and the long jump with tremendous distances, Lizzi Cheshire the A triple jump, Laura Evans the high jump, Alix McDermott the B javelin, and Sarah Lutkewitch the B triple jump.

Sprint coach Etta Kessebah turned her hand to the shot putt to assist the women’s team.

Javelin thrower Jamie Geehan had an excellent debut in the pole vault clearing 2.40m and finishing second in the A event.

In the true spirit of the club Holly Chapman even arrived and competed with a broken toe, and would not have her three events reduced.

The match result was another second place finish for Bury, with Rossendale again third, and a final league finish for Bury of second and promotion with champions Bingley.

The club competes in the semi-final of the knockout cup competition with a match at Blackpool, on Sunday, August 17.

Meanwhile, local runners excelled in the St Ann’s Hospice 5K trail Joan Rhodes and Fred Norris memorial race, sponsored by David Cottrell at the MOT Service Centre, Radcliffe.

Results: 1. Anthony Valentine, (Bolton United Harriers) 15.02; 2. Thomas Carson (U17 Bolton Utd) 15.19; 3. Ken Chapman (unattached) 15.44; 4. Ben Riddell (Radcliffe AC) 15.49; 5. Rob Jackson (V40 Horwich RMI) 16.05; 6. William Martin (Salford) 16.11; 7. Mark Aspinall (V45 Clayton Le Moors H) 16.18; 8. Adrian Selby (V40 unattached) 16.41; 9. Stephen Nicholls (Wigan Phoenix) 16.41; 10. Steve Duckworth (V45 Horwich RMI) 16.47; Vet 50 Ian Aitchison 18.02; V55 Brian Duffy (Burnden Road Runners) 17.58; V60 Tom Daniels (Salford Harriers 20.50); V65 Ken Burgess (Altrincham and District) 19.36; V75 Bryan Rogers (Northern Veterans) 22.33.

Ladies Winners: 1. Oriel Hardman L17 (Bolton Utd) 18.02; 2. Deborah Wright (Wigan Phoenix) 18.27; 3. Susan Lever (V45 HOrwich RMI 19.03); 4. Donna Cartwright (Radcliffe AC) 19.24; 5. Anna Kelly (V45 Clayton Le Moors) 19.56; 6.Linda Leyland (V45 Northern Vets AC) 21.08; V50 Susan (unattached) 23.01; V60 Eileen Royle (Radcliffe AC) 24.56.

Mens’ team winners: Bolton United 14 pts: A Valentine, T Carson, Z Heywood.

Ladies’ Team Winners: Radcliffe AC 20 pts: D Cartwright, P Abernethy, Y Parapia.

The race raised £325 for St Ann’s Hospice, Little Hulton.