Oriel Hardman ran a superb personal best to win the Under 17 girls 800m in the Mid-Lancs league at Stanley Park, Blackpool. The 14 year-old knocked over 8 seconds off her best time to win a close battle with a Southport rival in 2:19.2. The Withins pupil now has her sights set on the English Schools qualifying time of 2:18.
Harriers competed for the first time in this league and a team of 44 athletes of all ages acquitted themselves well in the season opener. For the senior men Simon Bissell was in great form and won the Hammer convincingly, also taking 3rd in the Javelin and Shot. On the track Christian Eckersley posted a good win in the 400m in 51.7, with Martin Gallyer 7th. Ales Drahokoupil was 3rd in the 800m, just failing to break the 2 minute barrier.New recruit Bruce Pilkington and Rick Cornwell sharpened up for their main event, the 400m, and joined Tom Monk in the 100m running times of 11.60s, 12.20 and 12.60, Bruce also running 200m in 23.8.
Sammy Boaler and Katie Eckersley ran well in the senior ladies sprints, Sammy taking 5th in the 100 (and Katie 3rd in the 200 (26.2s). There was a number of personal bests in the field events with Charlotte and Elaine Boaler, Sarah Pilkington and Chris Makin in action in the Long and Triple jump, Shot, Javelin and Discus.
The U17 boys team were also in great form witha fine 400m win Sam Gough in the 400m. Michael O’Donnell took 3rd in the hammer and 2nd in the javelin and Lewis Coulton 2nd in the long jump. On the track Chris Burgess came 4th in the 100m with 11.80s, and new comer Tom Nuttall achieved personal bests in both the 200m and 800m.
In the U17 girls sprints Michelle Derung, Natalie Jones, Chloe Grannell and Roxanna McCartney all ran well in the 100 and 200m.
For the U15 boys Josh Boaler and Dennis Nturo tied for 4th place in the 100 running a time of 12.6 whilst Nowas Abbas and Alan Woods came 8th and 10th, the boys then went onto achieve 3rd 4th 5th and 6th in the 200 whilst team mate Ryan Leeson came 2nd in the 400.
For the U15 girls Jess Bateson came came 1st in the discus, 4th in the javelin and 7th in the shot whilst team mates Katy Grannell, Mirium Harold and Lisa Dallas did well in their track debuts for the club.
Apart from Robert Makin the U13s team were all new to track and field competition and all performed well. Robert won the shot, whilst team mates David Robertson, Callum Ashton, Jack Garmory and Chris Barrow did well in all the track events. The U13 girls team of twins Bethany and Olivia Wallis plus Molly Nuttall all achieved results in the 100m 200m and 800m.

In the Stretford open meeting Ales Drahokoupil demonstrated his range of abilities, this time running a personal best of 4:08 in the 1500m, just days after another PB and 6th place in the Radcliffe 10k. Tony Valentine ran 2:03.3 in his 800m debut for 2nd place, then ran a 1500m PB of 4:14 half an hour later. He was joined by Andy Parker in both races (2:05.1 and 4:20).