Three of Bury’s talented junior athletes represented Greater Manchester at the prestigious English Schools Track and Field Championships, writes Mark Granby.

Rosella Togo and Jay Cook competed at the University of Birmingham Track and Field Festival. Togo had a superb weekend, winning the heptathlon competition and setting a new personal best points score of 4780 in the process. She recorded new bests in five out of the seven disciplines, including 1.60m in the high jump, 11.40m in the shot, 25:54 in the 200m and 24.80m in the javelin. Her point score moves her up to 6th in the UK in her age group.

Cook took an excellent 5th place in the decathlon competition. He amassed a total of 5373 points and set new personal bests of 56:37 in the 400m and 35.62m in the discus. His 3.84m in the pole vault and 38.76m in the javelin were very close to new lifetime bests.

Anna Gisbourne produced a personal best of 2mins 13:49secs to take second place in her heat of the under 17 women’s 800m and progress to the final.

In her first year in the age group, Gisbourne ran well to take 6th place in a time of 2:14:30. Blessing Idoko took 4th place in her heat of the under 15 girl’s 200m in 26:29. Reilly Carson competed in the under 17 women’s javelin competition and her best throw of 34.39m secured her 14th place.

Bury’s senior squad competed in the third of the four North of England Track and Field League fixtures hosted by Trafford AC at the Stretford stadium. Trafford made the best of the home advantage and won the fixture with a total of 403 points. Bury performed very well to take 2nd with a score 359 points, 12 ahead of Bolton in 3rd.

There were some excellent individual wins, including superb performances from the younger squad members. Freya Potts won the A 800m (2:25:34) and A 1500m (5:06:85). Hannah Lucas also had a double victory, winning the B 800m (2:27:42) and the A 3000m (10:23:63). Peter Gardner won the A 400m hurdles in a nippy 61:70 and Michael Hunter won the B event in 67:48. Young Sam Smyth won the B 5000m with 16:32:07 and Declan Tattersall won the B 300m steeplechase (11;38;55). Katie Geelan secured maximum points in the B 1500m (5:20:43) and there were also victories for Lola Potts (B high jump 1.20m), Ella Watson (B triple jump 8.69m) and Reilly Carson (A javelin 32.72m). There were great team performances from Beverley McAuley (hurdles and throws), and youngsters Nicole Palmer and Mae Gardner. Michael Arain scored vital points in the throws as did Ben Coop and Luke Harreld in the middle distance events with Natan Witkowski, Gil Vaughan, Harvey Rossington-Rose and Akshay Malohtra running well in the sprints. Mention should also be made of Bury’s volunteer officials whose commitment also secure points for the club.

The previous Tuesday two club members competed in the Rochdale 10k. Luke Harreld ran strongly to take 4th place with 35:18 and fellow personal trainer Irfan Qureshi took 49th with 46:48.