PENDLE Athletic Club are hot favourites for promotion after taking their second successive victory in the McDonalds Girls League on Sunday.

The win was far from straightforward however, the club tied with Horwich on 197 points, but were awarded the match by recording more victories than their rivals.

In an amazing contest at Seedhill, every point won was vital, and Hyndburn AC were only two points behind in third place. They were left to rue the fact that if they had raised a team for the final relay, they would have won the day.

Laura Finucane of Pendle was voted track athlete of the match after winning the under 15A 800m in a personal best of 2.25. In addition she set a PB with second in the 200m B race, and took third in the B long jump. Laura was also a member of the winning relay squad along with Laura Dunlop, Kate Franzke and Lisa Ashworth. Kate won three events for the under 15's, the A shot, A discus and B 100m, Lisa Ashworth and Laura Dunlop were both individual and relay winners and Gemma Goodwin was first in the B javelin. The under 13s contributed to the team effort by setting six PBs including two for Kate Walker in the 150m and 800m. Laura Griffiths and Vicky Haydock each won three events as the under 17s took 11 individual wins. Lisa Cockerill and Hannah Smith were both double winners, with Hannah setting PBs in both the 200m and discus. Victoria Rusius took the 1500m and the sprint relay team of Laura, Vicky, Lisa and Hannah emulated the under 15s with victory.

Hyndburn were once again short of numbers in the under 17s, but those who did compete performed heroically to provide the team with five of their nine wins. Ursula Walmsley and Alex Noblett had a winning double in the A and B javelin, and Alex added victories in the A long jump and B high jump. On the track Hayley Bullen won the A300m.

Hayley's sister Samantha won both the 800m B and 70m hurdles B for the under 13s and Nicola Barnes (1200m B) and Anna Griffiths (long jump A) were also winners. Anna was one of three under 13s to set PBs along with Justine Anderton (1200m) and Lauren Grime (shot). Emma Taylor also set a new mark when finishing third in the under 15s 200m.

Results - Pendle AC - Under 13: Samantha Birtwell (long jump A 2nd PB, 75m B 3rd), Amanda Lund (shot A 3rd PB), Sarah Bennett (long jump B 3rd PB), Kate Walker (800m PB, 150m PB), Kate Halley (800m PB). Under 15: Kate Franzke (shot A 1st, discus A 1st, 100m B 1st), Lisa Ashworth (200m A 1st, 100m A 2nd, long jump A 2nd), Laura Finucane (800m A 1st PB, 200m B 2nd PB, long jump B 3rd), Laura Dunlop (javelin A 1st, high jump A 2nd), Gemma Goodwin (javelin B 1st), Anna Bennett (shot B 3rd, discus B 3rd PB), 4x100m 1st (L Dunlop, K Franzke, L Finucane, L Ashworth). Under 17: Laura Griffiths (300m hurdles A 1st, 80m hurdles A 1st, long jump B 1st), Vicky Haydock (shot A 1st, discus A 1st, 100m B 1st), Lisa Cockerill (high jump A 1st, long jump A 1st, 80m hurdles B 1st), Hannah Smith (200m A 1st PB, 100m A 2nd, discus B 1st PB), Victoria Rusius (1500m A 1st), Joanne Eyre (javelin A 2nd), 4x100m 1st (V Haydock, L Cockerill, L Griffiths, H Smith). Hyndburn AC - Under 13: Charlotte Baron (75m A 2nd), Anna Griffiths (75m B 2nd, long jump A 1st PB), Laura Honeybell (800m A 2nd), Samantha Bullen (800m B 1st, 70 hurdles B 1st), Emma McGuinness (1500m B 2nd), Justine Anderton (1200m A 2nd PB), Nicola Barnes (1200m B 1st), Claire Mitchell (long jump B 2nd), Lauren Grime (shot A 2nd PB), Charlotte Wild (shot B 2nd). Under 15: Emma Taylor (200m B 3rd PB, Kirsty Sharples (800m A 3rd, 75m hurdles B 2nd), Lucy Yates (800m B 2nd), Kerry Barnes (75m hurdles A 3rd, high jump A 3rd, javelin A 2nd), Hilary Dicken (Javelin B 3rd). Under 17: Rebecca Haworth (100m A 2nd), Ursula Walmsley (200m B 3rd, javelin A 1st, long jump B 2nd), Hayley Bullen (1500m A 2nd, 300m A 1st, high jump A 2nd), Alex Noblett (javelin B 1st, high jump B 1st, long jump A 1st).

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