Bolton Harriers Senior team launched its defence of the Division 2 title in impressive style on Saturday. Controversially denied promotion last season after the play-off match was canceled, Harriers are doubly determined to secure promotion to Northern League Division 1 this summer.

The league opener at Ellesmere Port saw a string of Bolton victories, including a superb hurdles (110m/400m) double from all-rounder Tom Hope and a middle distance (800m/1500m) double from Cath Brogan. Other A-string winners included Brian Hall, who won the High Jump easily with a height of 2.10m, before having three near misses at his own League record of 2.15m. Youngster Matthew Osbourne made a fantastic senior debut, coming from behind to win the Long Jump by just one centimetre in a nail-biting finale. The 16 year-old edged out his Isle of Man rival with his last jump, a Personal Best of 6.34m. In the women’s event fellow 16 year-old Sian Pledger competed for the first time after a three-year injury nightmare and performed superbly to take 3rd place with a leap of 4.66m. Another debutant, Carl Hardman, was victorious in the 3000m Steeplechase, dominating with a time of 9mins 42. In the women's 400m Katie Eckersley followed up her Mid Lancs League win of 2 weeks ago with another victory in a superb Personal Best of 58.6 secs, while Sam Aspen made it a one-lap double by taking the B-String race. The pair were also part of the winning 4x400m relay quartet. Emma Thornton won the Javelin, while Simon Bissell and Louise Kay were both second in the Hammer throws.



A week previously the club competed in the National Junior League at Stockport, finishing in third place. Highlight of the day was the 4x400m relay, where Tim Brown held off his Preston rival by less than a second in exciting finish. Rebecca Machin scored good points for the club in the Javelin, Discus and Hammer, finishing 2nd in the latter, while Oriel hardman produced another Personal Best (2.18) to win the 800m. In the Men's 400m Bruce Pilkington and Sam Gough both posted excellent times to finish 2nd A runner (51.1s) and 1st B runner (52.6) respectively, while Matt Osbourne and Lewis Coulton recorded maximum points in the Long Jump. Ricky Lowe leapt an impressive 12.95m to finish runner-up in the Triple Jump and the 4x100m relay boys made it look easy with smooth change-overs in an easy win.

By Andy Parker