HYNDBURN Athletic Club have made a great success of the first athletics meeting to be staged at Wilson Playing Fields for three years.
The problems with the venue's outdated facilities and the unsuccessful bid for National Lottery funding are well known across our region, but at Sunday's Medal Meeting the politics was put firmly aside as a 170 athletes were only interested in gold, silver and bronze.
The club is no longer able to host league meetings at the venue, so it was vital to maintain their profile by hosting a good fixture.
Thanks to Norman Mitchell and his team, they passed with flying colours.
After a wet week, there were concerns that the old fashioned gravel track would be waterlogged, but Sunday was sunny and it was remarkably dry, despite a soggy infield.
Even concern about some of the equipment, which included hurdles that hadn't been used for nearly a decade, was unnecessary.
Local clubs were well represented and athletes from further afield, including a large contingent from Carlisle, made the trip.
There was delight for Pendle's James Finucane as he set under15 club records in the javelin and discus on his way to three gold medals.
His new marks were 25.24m in the javelin and 18.87m in the discus while his third win came in the shot.
Burnley decathlete Colin Bailey was also a three time winner, remarkably tackling the triple jump for the first time in his career, somehow he managed 12.54m.
For the hosts, Caroline Smithson won the 100m, 200m and long jump at under 15 level, while Neil Tattersall completed another busy weekend with two wins on the track to go with road success the previous day. LOCAL WINNERS
HYNDBURN AC: Girls/Women: Under 11: Stephanie Dewhurst (600m 2:18.7), Sarah Jones (long jump 3.54m) Under 13: Joanne McVey (70m hurdles 16.9) Under 15: Caroline Smithson (100m 13.5, 200m 28.7, long jump 4.47m), Lauren Grime (discus 22.81m), Rachel Curran (triple jump 8.48m) Under 17: Senior: Boys/Men: Under 9: Jamie Lindsay (150m 30.1), Damian Brankin (long jump 3.45m), Matthew Parkinson (high jump 0.90m) Under 11: Ashley Rutherford (75m 12.1) Under 13: Damian Rawcliffe (75m hurdles 16.5), Luke Driscoll (100m 16.3) Under 15: John Bruce (100m 12.8, 200m 26.0) Under 17: Thomas Cornthwaite (3000m 10:12.2) Joe McGuiness (long jump 5.25m) Senior: Neil Tattersall (1500m 4:34.2, 3000m 9:24.8), Shane Fitzpatrick (800m 2:13.4), Nick Rawcliffe (100m 13.4)
BURNLEY AC: Girls/Women: Under 11: Jessica Graham (cricket ball 21.40m) Under 13: Danielle Walker (1500m 5:49.9) Abigail Ewart (high jump 1.25m) Under 17: Laura Dunlop (javelin 27:18, high jump 1.35m) Boys/Men: Under 9: Tee-Jay Walker (1200m 6:04.0) Under 15: Martin Wall (80m hurdles 13.6) Daniel Eckersley (long jump 4:09m) Under 17: Danny Whittaker (100m 12.2, 200m 24.5) Simon Woods (400m hurdles 71.0, shot 9.59m) Senior: David Stevenson (110m hurdles 17.3, long jump 5.00m), Colin Bailey (javelin 43.19m, high jump 1.80m, triple jump 12.54m)
PENDLE AC: Girls/Women: Under 9: Rebecca Thompson (1200m 5:16.3, 150m 28.4, long jump 2.75m) Ainsley Brown (75m 14.2) Under 11: Emma Thompson (1200m 4:50.8) Under 13: Eleanor Markendale (200m 29.9, 100m 14.6, long jump 4.33m) Under 17: Sam White (100m 14.4, 200m 28.9) Naomi Biddle (800m 2:46.8) Boys/Men: Under 13: Steven Dickson (1500m 5:10.0), Sam Crabtree (long jump 4.57m), James Finucane (shot 8.04m, javelin 25.24m, discus 18.87m) Under 15: Jason Wade (shot 11.02m, discus 27.17m) Under 17: David Lowe (1500m 4:55.2)
BLACKBURN HARRIERS: Boys/Men: Under 11: Morgan Lewis (150m 25.0) Under 13: Scott Goody (200m 31.4)
CHORLEY AC: Girls/Women: Under 15: Laura Livesey (1500m 5:20.7, high jump 1.38m) Under 17: Victoria Snape (3000m 11:17.0) Boys/Men: Under 11: Scott Bennett (cricket ball 35:00m) Under 17: Gary Wadsworth (javelin 44.80m)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article