BLACKBURN Harriers have retained the Althams Challenge Trophy after sending a strong team to the annual event held at Barden in Burnley.

The Harriers proved to be too good for the three other competiting clubs with host side Burnley having to settle for runners-up spot while Pendle were in third place ahead of Rossendale.

The competition was scheduled to include six clubs but both Preston and Hyndburn had to withdraw due to other commitments.

However, organisers are hoping that next year's event will include eight teams.

And that should help strengthen the competition against Harriers who have now lifted the trophy in the two years the event has been running.

While there were no records broken, the Harriers stars of the day came in the throwing events with a number of athletes in excellent form.

Alf Oddie threw 46m to win the senior javelin while a throw of 38m by Anthony Kinder earned him the junior men's title.

Zac Lake with a throw of 9m won the boys under 13s shot and Caris Lake won the girls under 13s with a 7m throw.

Harriers Carrie Hamilton was in fine form on the track and field winning three events in the girls under 15s section.

Carrie won the high jump with a leap of 1.45m then ran a fast time to win the 800m final. Her hat-trick of wins was complete when she won the 200m final.

Sister Candy was also in winning form in the throwing events, winning the under 17s hammer with a throw of 16.57m.

E Morris of Burnley also had a good day in the throwing events and won the senior women's shot with a throw of 10.21m.

Ben Fish picked up maximum points for the Harriers in the men's 1500m finishing first in a time of 4.03.6.

The event included all 14 track and field events split into boys and girls under 13s, 15s and 17s and senior men and women.

The sprint finals were dominated by the Harriers but R Thompson of Pendle won the senior women 200m final in a time of 28.6secs.

Burnley's S Woods won the under 17s male in a time of 25.4 and N Williams of Rossendale won the under 17s in 28.3. And A Leeming of Burnley won the under 13s in 29.6.

The popular relay races were well supported with Blackburn Harriers winning the senior men and women 4x100m and the under 15s and under 17s.

Pendle triumphed in the boys under 13s and Burnley were first in the girls under 13s.