THERE was joy for Blackburn Harriers on the first day of the Northern Women's League as the team finished second in their Division Four match in Macclesfield.

In an eight team division only the host club managed to beat them despite the Harriers fielding a inexperienced team.

The format has changed this year with the scrapping of the junior age groups so the squad's youth was quite a disadvantage.

Club Chair Tony Wood praised their efforts: "This young team exceeded expectations.

"The star performer was Rachel Coar who won the javelin, triple jump, high jump and 100m hurdles."

Pendle are our highest ranked women's team following last year's promotion to Division One and they opened their campaign with a solid fourth place at Lancaster.

Although they didn't manage any A string wins they still finished only a single point behind third club Rotherham.

Although in a lower league, Hyndburn were also at Lancaster where Anna Newell in the 800m and triple jumper Nicola Breaks were A winners.

Claire Mitchell and Vikki Grime were B winners in the high jump and discus respectively, while Lauren Grime set a PB 27.50m in the discus to finish second in the A competition.

Colin Bailey spearheaded the challenge of Burnley Men in the third division of the Northern Mens League at Oldham.

The decathlete displayed his full range of skills to win the pole vault, high jump, triple jump, javelin and 110m hurdles, and finish second in the long jump.

Danny Whittaker won the 100m before retiring injured. John Bruce was another to win the 100m, he scored for Hyndburn at Macclesfield. As an under 17, his time of 11.5 seconds was a Grade 2 Standard.

Neil Tattersall broke the Pendle Club Record for the 3000m steeplechase twice last season, and he wasted no time in lowering it again this term to 9:50.4.

Bang on form he also set a PB 15:28.2 in the 5000m, while Marc Hartley logged a PB 4:18.7 to win the B 1500m.

The team finished second to Sale B at Oldham. Like Pendle, Blackburn Harriers reached the play-offs for promotion to Division One last year, and this season they kicked off at Bebington where they were third behind Trafford and Wigan.

There were excellent wins for John Gibson and Alf Oddie in the discus with Chris Hart winning a fast 3000m steeplechase in 9:51 in his debut at the distance.