BURY's junior athletes did their best to upstage by the club's senior team in the first of a series of Mini League meetings.

Hot on the heels of Bury Athletic Club's stunning victory in the North of England Track and Field League the previous weekend, its younger members competed against the best the region had to offer at the under-9s, u11s and u13s level.

More than 150 athletes from Bury, Bolton, Salford, Stockport, Trafford, Altrincham, Rochdale and beyond took part in a range of track and field events at the meeting.

And Lady Mayor of Bury, Cllr Stella Smith and her consort, husband John, were on hand to present the medals to the young athletes.

Bury athletes also found the podium at last weekend's Greater Manchester AA Track and Field Championships at Macclesfield.

Hattie and Gilbert Vaughan, Daisy Worthington and Katherine Townsend all won medals, and there will be a full results round-up in next week's Bury Times.

There was plenty to cheer away from the track, as well, after it was confirmed men's team captain Byron Edwards raised nearly £5,000 for the Manchester Children's Hospital following his efforts to complete the Manchester, Boston and London marathons over consecutive weekends.

It was a great outcome, completely overshadowing Edwards' initial target of £1,000.

Bury's Marcus Dey won the Heaton parkrun on Saturday with Giles Bennett and Katie Geelan both top-20 finishers.

Geelan was once again the first woman finisher, bringing her record number of victories up to 26.

Young Stefan Kalambouka set a new personal best of 19mins 23secs and Jenny Yates and Alison Dale were also rewarded with new best times (21.26 and 22.53 respectively).

Pam Hitchen wore the Bury vest with pride in the Last Drop Loop Fell Race, taking the first female finisher prize in her age group.

Sophie Whittaker was slightly disappointed to take fifth place in the Malham Kirkby Fell Race.

The event forms part of the UK Fell Runners Association junior race series and Sophie’s performance still indicates she is one of the best young fell runners in the region.

Bury’s u15s and u13s will be competing in the YDL Lower League at Connahs Quay on Saturday., and a number of athletes will be either helping or competing in Sunday’s Great Manchester 10k.