Bolton Harriers capped a great season for the senior team by securing promotion to Division 1 of the Northern League last weekend. Harriers’ senior team won the Promotion match from local rivals Blackburn in Liverpool at weekend, and both teams will now compete in the 6-team Division 1 next season.

After winning Division 2 West easily for the last 2 seasons, this was a chance to test themselves against a higher standard of opponent, and the Bolton athletes responded magnificently. The match featured winners and runners-up from the 4 regional Division 2s, and the early exchanges promised a tight match. Despite a good start with Simon Bissell 2nd in the Hammer and Tom Hope and Scott Whittle 2nd and 1st in the A and B 400m hurdles races, the club was only in 4th after 8 events. The announcement only served to spur on the team however, and with Matt Osbourne in inspired form, the points started to pile up. Osbourne won the Long Jump with a leap of 6.65m , before storming to victory in the 100m B race. Will Green had just taken 2nd in the A race, and 16 year-old Sian Pledger rose to the occasion with a personal best to take 2nd in the women’s Long Jump. The next points update showed Harriers up to third, hot on the heels of Preston as both clubs trailed Lancashire rivals Blackburn, also unbeaten in their Division for 2 years. The 2nd half of the meeting featured some fantastic performances that really pushed the club to the fore. On the track Katie Eckersley took 2nd in the 400m before winning the 200m convincingly, shortly before Matt Osbourne made it a club double. Carl Hardman and Fraser Jardine picked up good points in the 800m before both finishing 2nd in the 1500m A and B races, while Katie Magee, Lindsey Jones, Becky Fordham and Rachel Pounds all scored valuable points in the women’s middle distance.

By this point Bolton were neck and neck with Blackburn, both clubs safe in the promotion places, but with unbeaten records to defend. The match was clinched late on when Brian Hall won the High Jump and Emma Thornton and Becky Makin responded magnificently to win both A and B Javelin competitions, both recording personal bests. For 15 year-old English Schools thrower Makin it was her third PB of the day, after earlier success in the Hammer and Discus. This summed up the women’s team on the day and no-one could have guessed that a number of key female athletes were missing.

There was still time for a baton mix up and disqualification in the men’s sprint relay to keep the nerves jangling but Harriers were by then home and dry as strong runs in the remaining 3 relays finished the season in style.

Team managers Scott Whittle and Les Hall can now take a richly deserved few months’ break before preparing the team for the long-awaited step up in class.