Chris Hart has won the 3000 metres steeplechase at the British Universities Sports Association Championships in his first track competition of the season.

Competing at Bedford, the Blackburn Harrier was the only athlete to break nine minutes, clocking 8:59.76 for a five second advantage over Stephen Sligo.

Hart was representing St Mary's College at Twickenham, while fellow Harrier Paul Bradshaw, of the University of Wales, in Cardiff, reached the final of the 800 metres, taking eighth in 1:53.27 against several internationals.

Pendle's Laura Finucane, better known for the 400m and 800m, was sixth in the women's 1500m in 4:34.88, while Hyndburn's Nicola Breaks cleared 11.01 metres in the triple jump for ninth.

l Elsewhere, local athletes were in league action over the weekend with the first rounds of the Northern League for seniors and the Young Athletes League.

After last year's promotion to Div 2WC of the Northern League, the combined Burnley and Pendle team suffered a reality check finishing last of six at Stanley Park, Blackpool.

But the women were fourth with 15-year-old Sophie Hitchon winning the hammer by over 15 metres with a distance of 49.49m - only 12 cm short of her recent UK record.

Eleanor Markendale set a personal best of 25.4 seconds to win the A string 200m in 25.4 seconds and also took the A long jump with 5.39m. The pair then joined forces with Liz Clarke and Faye Holden to win the 4x100m relay in 54.9 seconds.

In the same fixture, Blackburn Harriers won by 93 points with three athletes setting club records along the way. Christina Carr set senior and under-20 marks in the 400m hurdles with 66.8 seconds, Holly Bleasdale clocked 16.0 seconds in the 100m hurdles to break the under 17 and under 20 records, and Claude Peter-Thomas set veteran records in the triple jump and long jump with respective distances of 13.43m and 6.32m. The day after, Bleasdale set a new under 17s 80m hurdles record in the Young Athletes Match at Derby.

l Hyndburn and Chorley AC opened their Northern League campaigns at Cleckheaton. Hyndburn were third of six, despite missing a few regulars. Lauren Grime won three A string throws - hammer, discus and shot - but Stephen Sumner went one better with victories in the A 100m, 200m, long jump and triple jump.

Claire Mitchell ensured the women won all four throws by taking the javelin as Sophie Hart won the A 100m. Kelly Hilton was Chorley's star with wins in the long jump 5.01m, triple jump 10.63m, high jump 1.53m and the 100m hurdles, completed in 17.7 seconds.

Laura Livesey was first in the 1500m in 5:19.3 while former junior fell international Nathan Lawton won the 3000m steeplechase in 11:40.4.

l The results of the YAL fixture at Moorways, Derby is still provisional and will be subject to close scrutiny as all four clubs were covered by fewer than 30 points.

Competing in the Northern Premier Division, Blackburn Harriers are provisionally third with 367 points.

Luke Evans was the Boy Track Athlete of the Match after winning the under 17s 200m in 23.1 seconds. Pendle were at Robin Park, Wigan in Div N1W but were short in numbers and were fourth of four. Under 17s Ryan Inglis and Stacey Cook provided the quality.