SPORT in the area received a £200,000 boost this week.

The brand new club house opened last Wednesday much to the pride of the Lancaster & Morecambe Athletics Club's 330 members. And as soon as the doors to new facility next to the Salt Ayre sports complex opened the club's eager athletes were already competing in a packed programme of events. The money for the new clubhouse (members from the organisation have been using the track at Salt Ayre since 1992) came from a £150,000 lottery grant, a £2,000 council grant and private fund-raising and sponsorship.

It's all a long way from the club's humble beginnings in 1965 when a few enthusiastic runners met at a church room in Bowerham.

The club grew in size with the marathon and fun-running boom in the 1970s and 1980s and now boasts members as young as ten right through to runners in their 70s.

As well as bringing on talent the club aims to promote general fitness and fun as well as working closely with local schools.

One of the club's most fine hours was when local hero Mark Croasdale won the 1993 British Fell Running Championships.

During the athletics meeting which followed the opening Ben Sullivan won both the under 13 boys 100 and 200 metre races. He equalled the club record in the 100 and beat it in the 200 completing the race in 26.7 seconds.

Malik Devlin (under 15 boys), Robert Parker (under 13 boys) and Matthew Dennison (under 15s) all distinguished themselves winning two races apiece.

Lancaster and Morecambe Athletics Club meet every Tuesday and Thursday between 6.30pm and 8.30pm. To join just show up to the clubhouse on either night and ask for Steve Armer, Arnold Bibby or Colin Gemson.

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