Three of Bury’s very talented young athletes represented Greater Manchester at the English Schools’ Championships in Birmingham last weekend.

The standout performance came from Ben Clarke in the junior boys’ javelin competition. In his best throw he launched the javelin out 49.57 metres, a lifetime best, and took a brilliant bronze medal - a performance his coach, John Conroy, was delighted with.

Also competing in the junior boys’ age group, Oliver Cooper had to settle for joint sixth place in the pole competition with a best vault of 3.30. This is under his personal best, but nevertheless indicates the talent the young multi-eventer possesses.

In the senior boys’ 400m hurdles, Peter Gardner placed fifth in his heat recording 1min 00.52secs, but was disappointed to be outside his best of 57.11.

Another talented youngster, Ethan Statham, competed at the Townley Park Junior Races, in Burnley, on Sunday, and scorched around the course in 6:23 as a clear winner.

Bury AC hosted the third of the four Northern Track and Field Premier League fixtures on Sunday.

Missing a number of key competitors, the team had to settle for sixth place again behind a very strong Blackburn team.

However, once again, team manager Byron Edwards was delighted with the spirit with athletes taking on unfamiliar events.

The strongest performances came from the women’s middle-distance runners, with Abigail Warburton winning the A 800 in 2:20.80 and Alia Braithwaite winning the B 1500m (5:07.30) after taking runner’s-up place in the B 800m (2:32.90).

Katie Geelan took fourth in the A 3,000m (11:20.50), with Sarah Thomas third in the B (11:51.80). Martin Clark took an excellent second in the A 5,000m (15:31.90), with Christian Peters taking third in the B (16:21.80).

Patrick Babb and Declan Tattersall took third place in the A and B 3,000m steeplechase with 11:00.10 and 12:18.90, respectively.

Over the shorter distances there was a third place for Nathan Shepherd in the A 110m hurdles with 17.70, with Joshua Kantor, Harvey Rossington-Rose, Luke Drinnan and Conor Wilkinson all scoring vital points in the sprints for the men.

Elyse Mendell made her club debut, taking third in the B 100m (14.30). Bury’s younger under-17 athletes also scored well with Ben Gardner, Evie Elliott and Jemima Miles all winning vital points in sprints, jumps and relays.

As ever, club stalwarts Michael Arain, Bev McAuley and Oliver Kirkby performed in multi-events to support the team.

Halle Davies-Ferneyhough and Lucy Hill performed well in the throws and were supported by Olivia McAuley, while Bury’s men’s sprint relay team took an excellent third with 46.40.

The final fixture of the season will be at Ellesmere Port on August 17.