BURY AC’s senior squad finished in a super second place at the first of four North of England League fixtures.

The club is in Division One of the league’s North West area and was competing against the teams from Blackpool, Bolton, Leigh, Seaton and Trafford.

The team featured a number of junior athletes who were making their debut at senior competition but under the leadership of team captain Byron Edwards everyone performed well to finish just six points behind the very strong Trafford team.

There were individual wins for Conor Wilkinson (B 800 2mins 10.1secs), Ben Coop (A 5,000 15:45.5), Martin Clark (B 5,000 16:29.1), Lewis Whittaker (B 3,000 steeplechase 11:49.8), Michael Hunter (B 110 hurdles 21.8), Natan Witkowski (A pole vault 3.60), Freya Potts (A 1500 4:57.5), Sarah Thomas (B 3,000 11:48.4), Rosella Togo (A 100 hurdles 15.5 and A high jump 1.58), Nicole Palmer (B 100 hurdles 20.3 and A triple jump 9.76) and Lola Potts (B high jump 1.20).

While the club utilised the skills and experience of more seasoned performers such as Roger Morley, Michael Hunter, Katie Geelan and Xenia Sawkulycz, it was the impact of the emerging youngsters that stands the club in good stead for the future. Under-17s like Harvey Rossington-Rose, Adam Warren, Mae Gardner, Ella Watson, Kodie Buckle, Lola Potts, Nicole Palmer and Devonne Samuels and u20s like Natan Witkowski, Jay Cook, Gilbert Vaughan, Rosella Togo and Freya Potts all made a big difference to the overall team success.

The night before a number of Bury athletes competed at the high quality Mid-Cheshire 5k in Kingsley. First Bury AC member to cross the line in 101st was u20 Sam Smyth in a new PB of 16:04. Hot on his heels was Luke Harreld setting a season’s best of 16:07 to take 111th.

A season’s best also went to Matt Garside who clocked 16:47 for 177th place.

Other results: Men - 202 Jon Evans 17:00, 231 Paul Johnston 17:21, 256 Jordan Harreld 17:40, 313 Peter Barrow 18:14, 366 Giles Bennett 18:55; Women - 75 Rachell Marshall 19:38, 414 Harriet Griffiths 19:43 (PB); 83 Nicola Ryan 20:33.

On Sunday Katie Geelan took third in the Swinton Harriers Ladies 5 mile trail race. She covered the course in in 33:27 to secure the bronze medal.