It was a depleted Bury AC team that travelled to Witton Park in Blackburn to compete in the first of four track and field league fixtures, in the Premier Division.

Bury had to settle for sixth out of the six teams, behind the winners Blackburn. However, as the numbers increase for the next three fixtures the club can anticipate to improve upon that position.

There were standout performances from five younger athletes, Peter Gardner, Nicole Palmer, Jemima Miles, Evie Elliott and Lucy Hill over sprints, hurdles, jumps and throws and some superb distance performances from the women’s endurance squad. Gardner took fifth in the A 400m (53.9secs) and second in the A 400 hurdles (58.7) before anchoring in the 4x400m relay. Palmer took 5th in the B 100 (14.1), fourth in the A 100m hurdles (20.8), fourth in the B long jump (4.25) and third in the A triple jump (9.31). Miles placed fifth in B 200m (28.2), fifth in the A long jump (4.40) and second in the A high jump (1.47). Elliott, also an U17, took sixth in A 100 (13.2), fifth in the A 200 (27.3) and sixth in the A javelin (23.04). Hill placed fifth in the B shot (4.41), sixth in the A discus (15.32) and fourth in the A hammer (22.99).

There were wins for Abigail Warburton in the A 3000m (10mins 41.3secs) and the B 800 (2:25.8) and Jenny Badger in the B 3000m (10.52.0). Sinead Taylor took third in the A 800 (2:29.0) and second in the A 1500 (5:08.7). Badger was also second in the B 1500 (5:17.5). Afroditi Kalambouka embodied team spirit by competing in the B high jump, the A shot, the B discus and the B javelin. The four women also took fifth place in the 4x400 relay.

Patrick Babb took an excellent second in the 3,000m steeplechase (11:22.5) as well as taking sixth in the B 400 and sixth in the A javelin, both unfamiliar events for him. Michael Arain was a superb team player, competing in the A triple jump, the A shot, the A discus, the A hammer and the B javelin. Declan Tattersall won the B steeplechase (12:32.0) and also the B discus. This was also a spirit by team captain and distance runner Byron Edwards, who took second in the B 5,000 (18:37.8) and sixth in the B shot, and Oliver Kirkby, who took fifth in the B 800, sixth in the B 1500 and sixth in the B long jump.

Nathan Shepherd put in a great shift with second in the B 100 (11.9), fifth in the A 200 (24.8), fourth in the A 110 hurdles (19.5), fourth in the A long jump (5.13) and took a leg in the sprint relay. Club stalwart, Michael Hunter, also put in a great shift with fourth in the B 400 hurdles, second in the B 110 hurdles, as well as leading off in both relays. Young sprinter Harvey Rossington-Rose took fifth in the A 100, third in the B 200 and also took a leg in the relay. Jack Griffiths also scored vital points, with fifth in the A 1500m, fourth in the A 5000m, as well as taking a leg in the 4x400 relay. Curtis Simpson took sixth in the B 800 and Hashim Shah ran a nippy leg in the sprint relay.

Bury’s team of officials also scored vital points, including John Conroy, Helen Vaughan, Jeremy Gold, Alan Bent, Jacqui Cross, Chris Lucas and Lewis Major, who also took fourth in the B hammer.