IT has been a successful week for Bury AC competitors over a number of different events and terrains.

Marcus Day and new club mate Oliver Makinson were both rewarded with personal bests at the Trafford AC Grand Prix meeting on Tuesday evening. Competing in the u15s 1500m Marcus took third place in 4:21.2 with Oliver securing ninth place in 4:33.38.

The following evening saw a number of Bury athletes competing in the Two Towers fell race over Holcombe moor. Ben Coop was clear winner of the men’s race in 34:03, nearly three minutes clear of the second-placed runner. Donna Cartwright made it a double victory by winning the women’s race in 43:40. Other Bury finishers included Benn Heywood 14th in 40:49, Duncan Forrest 32nd in 45:45, Dave Avery 69th in 57.00 and Sophie Sasimowicz 11th in the women’s race with 58.00.

The newly-marked Bury track played host to the second Young Athletes Mini League on the same evening. The club welcomed Rev John Findon as their guest and he enjoyed watching the competition and presenting the young athletes with their medals. It was a successful evening for the club with more than 120 boys and girls competing, with Bury athletes taking on youngsters from Bolton, Rochdale, Sale, Salford, Oldham and Stockport in under-9, u11s and u13s age categories.

Star performances came from Grace Goodsell, Daisy Worthington, Hannah Townsend, Jerrel Livingston, Jay Cook, Evan Savage, Elliott Savage, Scarlett Hamilton, Joe Collins, Lizzie McSharry and Patrick Clarke. All of these talented young athletes won gold medals in their respective events which is powerful evidence of the benefits of good coaching and hard work.

Trafford played host to the Greater Manchester Schools Track and Field Championships at their Longford Park Stadium. There were gold medal performances from Sophie Whittaker (intermediate girls 3000m in 10.33.32), James Coghlan (junior boys long jump with 5.32) and Marcus Dey (junior boys 1500m in 4.26.04). Bury AC had three silver medalists, Viola Melingi (senior girls 200m in 28.01), Hattie Vaughan (junior girls high jump with 1.45m) and Ellis Greenwood (junior girls hammer with 16.58m). The sole bronze medallist was Oliver Makinson also in the junior boys 1500m with a new personal best of 4:33.16 in a very tight sprint finish.

Just missing out on medals in 4th place positions were Rob Granby (senior boys 800m in 2.08.64), Christie Cook (senior girls 800m in 2.25.02), Alex Bennett (junior boys 800m in a new pb of 2.15.98) and Heledd Rimmer (junior girls javelin with 22.67).

The other Bury AC members competing in the championships included Jenna Allen-Cartwright (5th in junior girls 100m in 14.04), Brandon Wilson (fifth junior boys discus with 14.89), Patrick Watson (sixth in intermediate boys 3000m in 10:20.44), Hannah Holland (sixth junior girls high jump with 1.20), Lucy Alcock (9th junior girls 1500m in 5.31.01), George Yates (11th in junior boys 1500m in 4:43.64), Ellie Carter (15th in junior girls 800m in 2.47.01), Tegan Brady (third in junior girls 200m heat with 28.47) and Hashim Shah (4th in intermediate boys 100m heat in 12.08). It was good to see so many Bury AC members representing the town in the county competition with several now being selected to represent Greater Manchester in the English Schools competition in Birmingham.

Back on the fells, Ben Coop and Benn Heywood competed in the 7 mile Knowl Hill race on Sunday. Ben produced an excellent run to take 3rd place in 44.43. Winner was Sam Tosh from Rossendale, breaking Dave Lewis’s 15 year old record for the course. Benn took 13th place in 49.01.

Byron Edwards and Lisa Carter competed in a 24 hour event down in the Mizuno Endure 24 Event in Wasing Park near Aldermaston. The mission was to get round as many of the 5 mile course laps that they could in the time allowed. Byron even found the energy to do a burpee as he finished his 15th lap, covering a gruelling 75 miles.

The best news of the weekend came in the announcement of the Queen’s Birthday Honours, where Club Treasurer Jean Simpson was awarded the MBE for her services to athletics. Jean has been involved in athletics for 55 years and has dedicated thousands of hours of her time to the sport. The award is richly deserved for Jean’s dedication to the sport and the support she receives from her husband John.