Trafford was the venue for Saturday’s North of England Track and Field League fixture for Bury’s senior athletes and team manager Byron Edwards was delighted with the second place behind the very strong home squad.

There were only six-and-a-half points between Bury and third-placed Blackpool so every point earned by a club member really did count. This included the club’s volunteer officials whose participation also earned points for the club.

The standout performances came in the 5,000m where Oliver Makinson – making an impressive debut over the track distance – won the A race in 15.24.38 with Josh Birmingham winning the B race in 15.39.99, a track PB by over a minute.

Ben Forrest won the B 800m in a PB of 2.04.16 before taking an excellent third in the high jump with a best clearance of 1.73.

A number of athletes competed over several events. Luke Harreld took third in the A 800 (2.01.93); fifth in the 200m (26.14) and fifth in the B shot (8.26) before anchoring the 4x400 team that also included Ben Coop, Jack Griffiths and Lawrence Fairclough to second place.

Griffiths was another athlete who had a busy afternoon taking fifth in the A 400m (58.31); third in the B long jump (4.44) and second in the B triple jump (9.54). Coop and Fairclough both finished as runners up in the A and B 1,500m in 4.15.03 and 4.21.34 respectively in a very tactical and entertaining race.

Bury’s younger athletes also scored vital points with Natan Witkoski taking fourth in the A pole vault (2.70) A long jump (5.31) and A javelin (31.17). David Vaughan placed fifth in the A 100m in a PB of 12.09 and second in the A triple jump (12.43).

At the other end of the experience spectrum was evergreen Michael Hunter who took third in the A 400m hurdles (69.30); fourth in the B 200m (26.29) as well as helping the 4x100 quartet (including Fairclough, Matthew Tyrell and Witkowski) to fourth place.

Patrick Babb took excellent second places in the B 400m hurdles (73.10) and A 3,000m steeplechase (11.45.31) where in the B Rick Anderson took a battling third place in his debut at the event. Bury’s other male team members included Michael Arain, Paul Johnston, Matthew Garside, Curtis Simpson and Lewis Major.

For the women’s team, while there were no individual wins, the team, bolstered by a crop of talented youngsters, produced some excellent performances.

Mae Gardner set a new PB of 13.40 to take fourth in the A 100m a position she equalled in the B shot (7.46) before leading off the 4x100 team that also included Ella Hall, Catherine Russell and Nicole Palmer.

All the girls had busy afternoons with Hall taking second in the B javelin (19.54); third in the B long jump (3.94); fourth in the A shot (8.40) and fifth in the B 100m (14.96). Russell took second in the A pole vault (1.80); third in the A high jump (1.40) and fourth in the B 200m (30.71). Palmer took third in the A 100m hurdles (19.96) and second in the B high jump (1.20).

Katherine Townsend, Erin Kenyon, Charlotte Speakman-Farnworth and Grace Gibson were other younger members who performed brilliantly for the club. Townsend took second in the B triple jump (8.15) and fourth in the A long jump (4.06) and A discus (19.10).

Kenyon took fourth in the B 400m (70.58) and second in the B 100m hurdles (20.78) and B 400m hurdles (81.20). Speakman-Farnworth placed fourth in the A 400m (74.42); fifth in the 400m hurdles (88.80); second in the A triple jump (8.62) and led off the second placed 4x400 team.

Gibson took fourth in the A 200m (29.30) and was a member of the 4x400m team.

Halle Davies-Ferneyhough made an impressive debut for the club taking fourth in the B discus (18.65); fifth in the A hammer (18.31) and third in the javelin (23.76).

Nicola Ryan and Rachel Marshall did the 800/1,500m double. Ryan taking third in both A races (2.33.70 and 5.24.98) with Marshall third in the B 800 (2.54.15) and second in the B 1500 (5.34.88). Freya Potts wad third in 3,000m A race (10.41.21) with Sarah Thomas second in the B (10.55.86). Both then participated in the 4 x 400m.

Distance runner Bec McAuley showed great team spirit competing in the B hammer scoring vital points taking third (11.05).

Anna Gisbourne was the sole Bury AC competitor at the latest Trafford Grand Prix meeting. The 13-year-old demonstrated that she is one of the best 800m runners in the country in her age group by taking third place in her race behind two male competitors and setting a new PB of 2.14.50.

The time takes nearly two seconds off her previous best and places her fourth in the UK for her under-15 age category in the event.