HYNDBURN Athletic Club became the first of our local clubs to earn promotion this season when they won their final Young Athletes Match of the summer at Robin Park, Wigan.

It was their third win in four fixtures in Division 2NW, and they were second on the other occasion.

The junior section of the club is certainly flourishing since the near half million pound update on their Wilson Playing Fields facility was completed last year, and the evidence was clear with another newcomer making a mark.

Francis Waddington was the female Field Athlete of the Match after winning the under 15 shot with a putt of 9.09 metres. Established squad members like Leigh Lennon and Robbie Schofield in the 1500m, and under 17 Heather Donald in the triple jump were also A string winners.

Promotion could earn Hyndburn a tilt at local rivals Blackburn Harriers next season in Division 1W, but the Harriers will have other ideas as promotion to the Northern Premier League is still on the cards, despite being beaten into second place by Stockport on Sunday at their Woodbank Park facility. Blackburn still have one match to play and are joint first with Macclesfield.

A victory at Oldham on July 31 would clinch promotion and team manager Richard Taylor is calling for everyone to make themselves available, if possible confirming by e-mail.

Two of the Harriers' under 13 prospects won Athlete of the Match awards at Stockport. Sam Pearson took boys' field honours with a Grade 3 Standard in the long jump.

In all, Sam took three A string wins and three personal bests in the 1500m, 200m and long jump. Jessica Lewis was the girls' Track Athlete of the Match for a Grade 2 10.6 seconds in the 75 metres, and she also won the B string long jump. Bracken Sturgess and James Wisdom also excelled.

Pendle were fourth of four in the same Stockport fixture hampered by a small squad. The under 17s especially showed that there was no lack of quality with Harry Lawson winning the 1500m and 800m A races and Aldo Trapanese producing his own pair of A string firsts in the discus and shot. Eleanor Markendale scored a treble in the 100m, 80m hurdles and 300m hurdles and with Katie Lord taking the B race, the pair made a maximum score in the 100m. Katie also won the 200m and was second in the long jump, both in the A contests. Stacy Cook was the club's outstanding under 15 winning the A discus and shot and the B 100m.