UNDOUBTEDLY the most unusual athletic club in East Lancashire is Park High School in Colne.

The school used to enter the schools championships, but wanted to compete with athletic clubs too. The only way they could do so was by becoming a fully affiliated athletics club themselves, which they did in 1994. The constitution of the club specifies that only the school's pupils or former pupils can join making it a rare, and in this area, unique closed club.

Although the school itself has 800 pupils, membership of the club stands at just 15, the smallest in the area by some distance. Nonetheless, under the watchful eye of coach Michael Hindle, a former teacher at Park High, no less than six of the squad are nationally ranked or have won County Championships. One, Catherine Riley, is a National Champion.

Last year Catherine topped the rankings in the under 17s 800m after a string of major championship victories including the Lancashire County, Lancashire Schools, Northern, English Schools, International Schools, and National Indoors. Only the National Outdoors eluded her when she pulled a hamstring.

Still only 16, she is now competing with the same success in the under 20's against girls three years older than her. In February she became the AAA's Indoor Champion and earned a place in the Great Britain under 20 team, and a place with an England squad warm weather training in Florida. This month she became Lancashire Champion at 400m, a distance she rarely runs. Her brother Scott is also a fine middle distance runner, last year winning the Lancashire Schools Senior Boys 1500m title.

Two other Park High runners are also nationally ranked at 800m. Jennifer Tunstall and Kirk Lee are both almost 15 and have just moved into the under 17 age group.

Last year in the under 15s, Jennifer won the Lancashire County, Lancashire Schools and National Indoors Championships and represented Lancashire in the English Schools Cross Country Championships.

Kirk took second in the Lancashire County and Lancashire Schools Championships and third in the AAA's Indoors. In 1999, Kirk has already added third places in the Lancashire Championships at both 400m and 800m.

Anne Smith won the Lancashire Cross Country at Witton Park in January and went on to win the bronze medal in the Lancashire Schools at the same venue.

Another under 13, sprinter Louise Dickinson also took her first Lancashire title at Witton Park, that was in the sprint triathlon which consists of 75m, 100m and 200m runs. Two weeks later she took County titles at both 100m and 200m.

Last week Park High athletes travelled to meetings at Trafford and Boggart Hole Clough. At Trafford, Kirk ran a PB of 2:00.08 in the 800m, Jennifer won the 300m and Scott the 1500m. Catherine, returning after a foot injury, was third in her 800m race behind two seniors. Louise won both the 80m and 150m at Boggart Hole Clough and Anne was runner-up in her 800m.

The club's star performers however, were Luke Turner who set PBs in three events - 80m, 150m and 600m and Charlotte Bickerstaffe who knocked 15 seconds off her best for the 800m. Other local clubs were involved in the Mid Lancs League fixture at Blackpool.

Mid Lancs League - Burnley - Under 13 Boys: Mark Hartley (800m 2nd, 1500m 3rd); Under 15 Girls: Carol Glover (1500m 1st); Under 15 Boys: Ian Sturdy (javelin 3rd); Under 17 Girls: Liz Vipham (javelin 2nd); Under 17 Boys: Simon Bissell (discus 1st, shot 2nd); Senior Women: Emma Morris (shot 1st, javelin 2nd, discus 3rd); Senior Men: Shaun Windle (400m 3rd), Mick Linacre (javelin 3rd), John Linacre (discus 2nd), Mick Lister (3000m 2nd).

Hyndburn - Under 13 Girls: Charlotte Wild (long jump PB), Anna Griffiths (800m PB, high jump 2nd PB); Relay 3rd (Justine Anderton, Anna Griffiths, Samantha Mullen, Claire Mitchell); Under 13 Boys: David Emmett (800m PB); Under 15 Boys: David Lowe (long jump 3rd); Under 17 Boys: Simon Pollard (shot 2nd); Senior Men: Neil Tattersall (3000m 1st).

Blackburn Harriers - Under 13 Girls: Anna Brooks (1500m 1st); Under 15 Girls: Helen Leigh (1500m 3rd, high jump 3rd).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.