THERE have been complaints that the Lancashire Track and Field Championships were being held too early in the season, but at Stanley Park, Blackpool last weekend, East Lancashire athletes showed that they were well prepared as 22 of them scooped 29 county titles, writes ANDY McALLISTER.

Laura White of Pendle AC, took three victories and another five athletes took two, while six set championship bests.

Pendle AC were the most successful of all with 10 different athletes winning, and few could have worked harder over the weekend than senior Laura White who ran, jumped and threw her way to three gold and two silver medals.

Throwers Kate Franzke and Vicky Haydock also enjoyed a memorable championship with Kate winning the under 15 shot and discus events, the latter in a PB, and Vicky taking the under 17 discus with a new championship best of 29.14.

Lee McCash was another to improve a championship record as he lowered his own PB to 8:32.2 in the junior men's 3,000m, defeating rival Adam Sutton (Preston) in the process.

Victories with lifetime bests were recorded by Anita Saunders (senior javelin), Debbie Lund (senior shot), Victoria Rusius (under 17 3000m) and Lisa Ashworth (under 15 200m). In addition, Matthew Holding won the under 17s 100m hurdles and Vicky Gorton the senior discus.

Sisters Anna and Karen Brooks are both Lancashire Champions at 800m. Under 13 Anna set a new championship best of 2:30.5 and also won the 1500m, Karen took her title in the under 17 age group.

Their Hyndburn team-mate David Lowe won both the under 15 jumps, and Vikki Grime set a new championship best of 33.30 in winning the junior women's hammer. Catherine Riley of Park High School sprung a surprise as she opted out of her specialist event.

The 16-year-old is already the national under 20 indoor champion at 800m but at Blackpool she ran the 400m and won the title in a championship best of 47.7. She almost made it a double, but was beaten into second in the 200m by 0.1sec.

Louise Dickinson did achieve a double, the 12 year old winning both sprints, and lowering the championship best in the 200m. Unfortunate Jennifer Tunstall was disqualified from the under 17 800m after crossing the finish line first, apparently after breaking early from her lane.

The Burnley team won 11 medals, including three golds. Carol Glover took the under 15's 800m and junior man David Bailey went highest in both the high jump and pole vault.

Younger brother Colin took two silvers.

The Barton twins from Blackburn Harriers were both inside the old championship best in the under 17's 1500m steeplechase. Liam's winning time of 4.32 took nine seconds off the record and was comfortably inside the English Schools qualifying time. Robert took the silver medal in 4.39.

Nick Samuels and Sarah Willimott were the under 20s winners at 1500m and John Wiggins won the senior triple jump. The Harriers team also featured a rare father and son combination with Tony Wood third in the veteran's 5000m and Matthew Wood fifth in the under 13s 100m. Results - Burnley AC - Under 15 girls: Carol Glover (800m 1st, 1500m 2nd). Under 15 Boys: Simon Bissell (discus 2nd, shot 3rd), Jonathan Hunter (long jump 3rd). Under 17 Boys: Colin Bailey (hurdles 2nd, high jump 2nd). Junior Women: Emma Morris (shot 2nd, discus 2nd). Junior Men: David Bailey (high jump 1st, pole vault 2st).

Hyndburn AC - Under 13 Girls: Anna Brooks (800m 1st championship best, 1500m 1st), Justine Anderton (800m 2nd, 1500m 2nd), Charlotte Baron (100m 2nd, 200m 3rd, long jump 4th), Anna Griffiths (200m 4th), Samantha Bullen (800m 6th, 1500m 7th). Under 13 Boys: Andrew Charlesworth (800m 2nd, 1500m 5th, 100m 7th). Under 15 Girls: Claire Mullen (discus 3rd, shot 6th pb, 800m 10th), Naomi Biddle (shot 7th). Under 15 Boys: David Lowe (high jump 1st, ong jump 1st, 200m 7th, 1500m 7th). Under 17 Girls: Karen Brooks (800m 1st, 1500m 2nd), Rachel Jackson (discus 4th), Hayley Bullen (800m 3rd, 1500m 4th), Casey Dean (long jump 3rd), Alex Noblett (80m hurdles 5th, javelin 5th, long jump 5th). Under 17 Boys: Aaron Wilson (shot 2nd, discus 3rd, 800m 4th), Simon Pollard (high jump 3rd, shot 3rd, discus 4th, 100m hurdles 4th), Matthew Anderton (400m 7th, 800m 8th). Junior Women: Vikki Grime (hammer 1st championship best, shot 4th). Senior Men: Neil Tattersall (5000m 2nd), David Thornton (800m 2nd).

Park High School - Under 13 Girls: Charlotte Bickerstaffe (1500m 9th PB), Louise Dickinson (100m 1st, 200m 1st championship best, equals PB). Under 15 Girls: Anne Smith (1500m 5th PB, 800m 8th PB). Under 17 Girls: Jennifer Tunstall (3000m 4th equals PB). Under 17 Boys: Kirk Lee (400m 3rd PB, 800m 3rd). Junior Women: Catherine Riley (400m 1st championship best and PB, 200m 2nd PB). Junior Men: Scott Riley (800m 4th PB). Pendle AC - Under 13 Girls: Michaela Smith (long jump 3rd PB, 100m 4th). Under 13 Boys: Matthew Chorley (100m 6th), Ben Rusius (1500m 6th), Mark Docker (long jump 7th). Under 15 Girls: Laura Finucane (800m 8th), Lesley Oliver (high jump 2nd, 200m 4th), Kate Franzke (shot 1st, discus 1st PB), Lisa Ashworth (200m 1st PB). Under 15 Boys: David Riley (1500m 2nd, 800m 2nd), James Robinson (shot 4th, 200m 5th, 100m 6th), James Rusius (800m 3rd PB, discus 4th, 1500m 5th PB). Under 17 Girls: Victoria Rusius (3000m 1st PB, 1500m 3rd), Vicky Haydock (discus 1st championship best, shot 3rd, 200m 8th), Lisa Cockerill (long jump 2nd, 80m hurdles 4th), Laura Griffiths (300m hurdles 2nd), Charlen Halliday (300m 3rd PB), Katie Trickett (1500m 5th, 800m 6th). Under 17 Boys: Matthew Holding (100m hurdles 1st, 400m 2nd), John Riley (1500m 7th, 800m 9th), Chris Rusius (1500m 9th), Nicky Taylor (100m 3rd), Ben Marsh (100m 6th). Junior Men: Chris White (100m 6th), Lee McCash (3000m championship best and PB). Senior Ladies: Laura White (100m hurdles 1st, long jump 1st, high jump 1st, shot 2nd, javelin 2nd), Anita Saunders (javelin 1st, long jump 4th), Vicky Gorton (discus 1st, shot 3rd), Debbie Lund (shot 1st PB, discus 4th), Elizabeth Crawshaw (800m 2nd), Kirsty Wilkinson (800m 3rd). Senior Men: Leroy Golding (100m 4th, 400m 6th), Bryce Butterworth (800m 3rd).

Blackburn Harriers - Under 13 Boys: Matthew Wood (100m 5th). Under 15 Girls: Samantha White (100m 6th). Under 17 Boys: Robert Barton (1500m steeplechase 2nd, 1500m 2nd), Liam Barton (1500m steeplechase 1st championship best), Michael Hammer (800m finalist, 1500m finalist), Jonathan Holt (800m finalist, 1500m finalist). Junior Women: Sarah Willimott (1500m 1st). Junior Men: Nick Samuels (1500m 1st, 800m 6th), Ben Fish (1500m 2nd, 3000m 4th), Jon O'Dea (3000m 3rd), Mark Emmett (800m 8th), James Bowler (400m finalist, PB), Dale Jones (100m 3rd PB), John Paul Clements (100m hurdles 3rd). Senior Men: John Wiggins (triple jump 1st), Mike Hazlewood (discus 3rd), Chris Perry (400m 5th). Veteran Men: Tony Wood (5000m 3rd).

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