DEFENDING champion Anna Griffiths has retained her Pentathlon title at the Lancashire AA and Lancashire Schools Multi Events Championships at Preston Sports Arena.

The Hyndburn junior girl battled against terrible conditions, particularly in the high jump where the wind not only blew over the bar, but also blew down the post themselves! Blackburn Harrier Caris Lake was third while her brother Andy was second in the intermediate age group.

Pendle under 13's Sam Crabtree and Eleanor Markendale were the winners in the three event Miniathlon.

Stadium rush

THE North of Engand under 20, under 17 and under 15 Championships take place on May 25 and May 26.

It will be the only chance young athletes have to compete in the City of Manchester Stadium as it will be used for only three events before it becomes Manchester City FC's ground. The only other fixtures there are the Commonwealth Games Trials, and the Games themselves. Entrants must be quick as the closing date is tomorrow.

For the entry form log on to www.noeaa-athletics.org.uk.

Sheila's gud run!

SHEILA Gudgeon was third lady in the George Lockwood Six Hour Track Challenge at Sheffield.

The veteran Darwen Dasher ran 34.1 miles in some of the worst conditions possible.

For five of the six hours she battled through wind and torrential rain in temperatures that dropped dramatically as evening fell.

Personal bests

TWO Park High School AC athletes have returned from the Sheffield Festival of Sport with new personal best times.

An unusual format which matched athletes of equal ability - regardless of age and gender - helped to spur under 17 's Louise Dickinson and Charlotte Bickerstaffe to new marks.

Louise set times of 12.4 and 25.4 for the 100m and 200m while Charlotte recorded 2:29 for the 800m. Hyndburn's under 13 Damien Rawcliffe broke his 3000m PB by nearly a minute to win in 10:50.

Grade One show

CURTIS Pearce is set for a successful Lancashire Championships in a fortnight after running almost four seconds inside the existing Championship Record in the under 13s 800m.

His success, which was also a AAA's Grade 1 performance, came in the opening Mid Lancs League fixture of the season at Blackpool. Blackburn Harrier team mate Carly Thompson converted her fine cross country form to success to the track with a PB 2:27 over the same distance.

Wade's hit

PENDLE thrower Jason Wade set a club record 28.80m in the hammer at Blackpool and also won the discus with 29.78m.

In the same age group Matthew Clough set PB's in both shot and javelin.

Hyndburn's Lauren Grime was another to set a new mark, 26.98m in the under 17s discus while Nicola Breaks won the under 17 javelin in a PB 30.31m.

Two more local clubs picked up wins in the javelin with English Schools finalist Eloise Manger the senior winner for Chorley AC and Alexis Walker of Burnley being the under 15s victor.