Two of Bury AC’s talented combined events athletes represented Greater Manchester last weekend at the English Schools’ Combined Events regional finals, at Litherland.

Oliver Cooper, competing in the junior boys’ pentathlon, had a superb competition. He set new personal bests in the 80m hurdles (12.1secs), shot (11.88m), 800m (2:30.6), together with strong performances in the long jump and high jump (5.59 and 1.56 respectively) to amass a new personal-best score of 2,544. He placed second overall and qualifies for the English Schools’ final in September.

Jemima Miles was competing in the intermediate girls’ heptathlon. She ran a nippy 80m hurdles (12.5), cleared 1.41 in the high jump, set a PB of 10.40 in the shot, ran her 200m in 27.4, leapt 4.70 in the long jump, threw the javelin 17.84 and covered the 800m in 3:03.5. This gave her a total point score of 3,553 to take seventh place and she will also progress to the English Schools’ final.

The previous Wednesday Bury played host to the second of its series of Mini League track and field competitions. This saw nearly 80 youngsters from local athletic clubs competing over a range of events.

On hand to present medals was Bury’s 800m England international, Anna Gisbourne, who proved to be popular with the youngsters. Gisbourne’s summer season has been blighted by an injury but she is now back in training, setting her sights on the indoor season.

There were some great performances from Bury youngsters in the competition, organised by club secretary and coach Helen Vaughan.

Gold medals went to Hamish Simpson (U9 600m, long jump and javelin); Isaac Abeng (U9 80m and 150m); Niamh Murray (U11 80m); Hugo Wells (U11 80m and long jump); Luca Abeng (U11 150m); Violette Overlunde (U11 150m, long jump and javelin); Rocco Hunter (U11 javelin) and Ella Straffon-Finch (U13 javelin). Silver medals went to Hamish Simpson (U9 80m); Myla Bryan (U11 80m and javelin); Isaac Abeng (U9 600m); Violette Overlunde (U11 600m); Isaac Cullen (U11 600m); Rahmese Knight (U9 150m); Mylah Collier (U11 150m, 600m and long jump); Hugo Wells (U11 150m); Kai Hilton (U9 javelin) and Lois Green (U13 javelin). Bronze medals were awarded to Rahmese Knight (U9 80m); Luca Abeng (U11 80m and long jump); Lila Metcalfe (U9 600m and javelin); Henry Beale (U9 600m and long jump); Ella Straffon-Finch (U13 600m); Efi Moutsopolous (U9 long jump); Myla Bryan (U11 long jump) and Hugo Wells (U11 javelin).

On Saturday the club hosted the Bury Primary Schools’ Athletics Championships, with several club members volunteers. The youngsters, representing 18 of the town’s primary schools, produced some brilliant performances as St Joseph and St Bede’s were crowned as champions this year, just ahead of Holly Mount.