ELEANOR Markendale of Pendle AC has won the under 15 pentathlon at the Lancashire Schools and County Combined Events Championships at Preston.

Setting personal bests in the hurdles, shot and 800m and missing her best by just 2cms in both the high jump and long jump she amassed 2479 points.

Along with Amy Leeming and Thea Smith of Hyndburn, who were second and third, she will go forward to the NW Regional Final at Telford while fourth placed Abigail Ewart of Burnley may be chosen.

In the under 17s, the Hyndburn pair Claire Mitchell and Emily Walters were third and fourth, while team-mate Maisie Bonney was eighth in the under 13 miniathalon.

Kerry in hot form

KERRY Gillibrand has helped Sale Harriers win the English National Six Stage Relays.

The former Hyndburn AC star, pictured, anchored the team to victory by nearly four minutes as she completed her stage of 2.995 miles in 16 minutes and 13 seconds.

Only top Great Britain international Hayley Yelling managed to go faster.

Gallop is not beyond our Ken

COMPETING in his first race for five years, Accrington Road Runner Ken Rishton was the winning over 50 at the Garstang Gallop 10K.

Our local runners were to the fore with Clayton's Mark Aspinall taking second outright and winning the over 40 title in 33:52, while two Blackburn Road Runners pocketed first prizes.

Mick Nester was the leading M45 finishing sixth in 36:43 and John Mitchell took M60 honours in 44:15.

Surprise visit

WHILE on holiday in the Isle of Man, Park High School athletes Carla Garnett and Tiffany Boswell took part in a Manx Harriers Track and Field League Meeting as guests - and got the shock of their lives when coach Mike Hindle arrived at the venue having flown over to watch them.

They responded by finishing first and second in the 1500m with runner up Tiffany slicing seven seconds off her PB.

Also visiting the island was Clayton Harrier Paul Thompson, who finished third in the 31mile long Manx Mountain Marathon.

Double dose

PENDLE earned double success at the first Chorley Park Series race when Neil Tattersall won the senior 5K race in 16:19 and 16-year-old Marc Hartley took the junior race in 5:36.

Their achievements were mirrored by Chorley Harriers 5/8 women with Gwen Farnworth the senior winner in 21:19 and 13 year old Alison Leonard first junior in 6:29. Meanwhile, over the Yorkshire border, Grant Cunliffe of Rossendale Harriers was first over 14 in the final Bunny Run. It was his third win in four races as he won the series with the maximum score. Burnley 5/8s Danielle Walker broke the under 16 record again, while only two senior women had her measure.