HYNDBURN Athletic Club, the pioneers of the sport in East Lancashire, hosted the second match of the Lancashire Sportshall League at Hyndburn Leisure Centre on Sunday.

Loosely based on the conventional track and field disciplines, the events are imaginatively adapted for the indoor format where safety and limited space are concerns.

Javelins are made of foam, the ball throw is from a sitting position and the long jump is from a standing start.

The runners are given the freedom to sprint by the use of boards to help them turn round at the walls.

Amazingly, upwards of 200 athletes can compete in up to four events each at a single venue in little more than four hours.

There were nearly that number there on Sunday with four local clubs - Blackburn Harriers, Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn themselves - all involved.

The competition is also open to school teams with Holy Cross, of Chorley, currently beating all of our local clubs.

The competition is divided into three age groups from under-11 to under-15 and in each age group one girl and one boy is nominated as Athlete of the Match.

Ross English of Pendle AC won that honour on Sunday after four wins out of four in the under-11 boys one lap, two laps, four laps and long jump.

The Hyndburn club is active in the local schools and is currently working with Hyndburn Borough Council to bring us the Hyndburn Olympiad where local schools will each represent a country.

The indoor competition for 8-10 year-olds, and involving 32 schools, starts in March.

In the summer, the competition moves outdoors for 10-11 year olds.