ROSSENDALE Harriers have maintained their promotion bid from Division Three of the North of England Track and Field League for senior athletes after an excellent showing in Cumbria on Saturday.

In their third match of the season at Carlisle’s Sheepmount Stadium, Rossendale opened up a two point gap on nearest challengers Leigh Harriers.

With just meeting left this season, at Leigh on August 14, Rossendale are now well placed to finish top of their six-team division.

It proved a closely-fought contest at the weekend, Rossendale coming first with 375 points, just six more points than runner-up Seaton AC, with Leigh (366) a further three behind.

Junior Ashley Kay was among the top pointscorers for Rossendale, coming first in the 400m and 800m B races.

Also in fine form was Phil Bolton, finishing second in the 110m and 400m hurdles, third in the 3000m steeplechase, and winning the pole vault B with 2.80m, a height which was matched by club-mate Aaron Barker.

The men’s 4x400m relay proved a real highlight, Rossendale taking the honours from Border Harriers with a time of 3:31.50.

Emma Flanagan and Sarah Yeomans both picked up full points in the women’s 3,000m, with Yeomans also taking maximum points in the pole vault.

In Division One, Blackburn Harriers are facing a major challenge to defend their title after coming third for the second league meeting in succession.

On home territory, Preston came first with City of Manchester taking second, the latter now leading the division by one-and-a-half points over Preston and Blackburn in joint second.

The combined Burnley and Pendle team came fourth in their Division Two match at Witton Park.

In Division Four, Hyndburn came fourth on home soil, with Chorley coming last.