Bury hosted the fourth and final North of England Track and Field League meeting on Sunday and clinched a superb second place behind Trafford to finish in third place overall.

Team captain Byron Edwards had to be flexible with his selection around events and the athletes all gave of their best to secure the result.

Individual victories came from Josh Birmingham (A 5,000m 15.39.0); Nathan Shepherd (B 400m hurdles 66.9); Sarah Thomas (B 3,000m 11.12.0); Nicole Palmer (A 100m hurdles 19.1); Charlotte Speakman-Farnworth (B 100m hurdles 22.5); Halle Davies-Ferneyhough (A javelin 29.44) and Reilly Carson (B javelin 29.05).

Runners-up places went to Akshay Malhotra (B 200m 24.7); Declan Tattersall (B 5,000m 17.57.5); Jack Griffiths (A steeplechase 10.26.3); Matt Garside (B steeplechase 12.21.0); Michael Hunter (A 400m hurdles 63.8 and A 110m hurdles 21.1); Nathan Shepherd (B 110m hurdles 21.3); Hannah Lucas (A 1,500m 4.53.7 and A 3,000m 10.13.6); Sarah Thomas (B 1,500m 5.25.0); Nicole Palmer (B high jump 1.10); Reilly Carson (A pole vault 1.70) and Connie Potts (B discus 17.78).

The sprint relay teams were both hit by misfortune. The men’s quartet of Rashaun Currie, Harvey Rossington-Rose, Michael Hunter and Akshay Malhotra were disqualified for a changeover infringement while the women’s team of Nicola Ryan, Connie Potts, Mae Gardner and Nicole Palmer were hampered by a dropped baton leaving them in fourth place.

However, the 4x400m teams fared better. The men’s team of Jakanda Sandiford, Curtis Simpson, Jack Griffiths and Michael Hunter were third as were the women’s quartet of Reilly Carson, Charlotte Speakman-Farnworth, Sarah Thomas and Hannah Lucas. As ever, the underpinning commitment came from members who stepped outside of their comfort zones in different events, such as Jordan Harreld, Luke Harreld, Michael Arain and Alison Dale in the throws.

Nicola Ryan put in a tremendous effort in taking on the 800m, 400m and 100m events; as did Bev McAuley who ran in the 400m hurdles, 800m and 200m.

Patrick Babb and Dominic Nabb competed in the 1,500m and club stalwart Roger Morley took on the triple jump.

For the women’s field events, the young members including Hattie Vaughan, Connie Potts, Halle Davies-Fernyhough, Ella Hall, Charlotte Speakman-Farnworth, Nicole Palmer and Mae Gardner all performed brilliantly.

The result will give Bury third overall in the league; a very promising outcome.

The previous weekend six younger members competed in the STF Quadrathlon at Sportcity. For the under 11s Lucy Dent and Isabella Robinson finished third and fifth places respectively. Lucy set new PBs in the 75m (12.13) and the 600m (1.55.63 - the fastest time in the competition) and Isabella produced lifetime bests in the 75m (12.17), 600m (2.09.59) and long jump (3.08). For the under 13 boys, Oliver Cooper was seventh with PBs in the 100m (15.60) and 800m (2.53.10). Faye Gribben took 23rd in the under 13 girls competition setting new bests of 2.86 and 3.30 in the long jump and shot events.

For the under 15 girls, Anna Gisbourne took fourth and Corrine Newton 17th. Anna set a new best of 2.13.51 in the 800m, by far the fastest time and a new event record in the competition.

She also set PBs in the 100m (13.25) and shot (6.27). Corrine set new bests in the 100m (14.97) and shot (5.00).