Not only was the country celebrating a special moment in our sporting history down at Wimbledon but up in sunny and Blackpool the Harriers were proving to be the top dogs in Division 2WC of the Northern League winning for the third time this season, unbeaten and this time by almost 100 points.

Special mention must go to Sarah Henton our women’s team captain winning not only the A shot and B hammer with a 3rd in the javelin but going to third in the 2013 UK rankings for the discus when winning in a massive PB and club record of 52.84m beating her old best set in 1997! Brilliant Sarah and well earned by an athlete we all respect for her skill and power as well as dedication to her event and of course our Club. Rebecca Orrell fresh from the English Schools backed her up in the hammer with an A string 2nd and a win in the B discus.

For the women it was success throughout the day starting off with the 400 hurdles with Katie Buckingham with another big PB and under 17 club record when winning the A race in 67.1s and taking 2nd in the B 200m finally anchoring a winning 4 X 400 team with Rachel Leech Phoebe Howe and Jacinta Davison. Roxanne Oliver improved with 2nd in the B 400 hurdles.

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Abby Edmundson was unbeatable and again brilliant for her Club winning the long, triple and A high hurdles with Sophie Taylor, another from the Bob Groves stable, winning the B as well as 2nd in the B high and 3rd in the B triple.

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The endurance events this fixture were also fruitful especially in Candice Hey’s win in the 3000m backed by returning Beckie Shorrock along with Beckie Taylor in the 1500m backed by Shelley Tattersall. Phoebe Howe did the 8/15 double for a busy day.

One ever brightening light shining through into this young team was Olivia Brooks who won the A high jump,  B long and 3rd in the 100m and as part of the 4 X 100 relay.

On the men’s side team manager Richard Taylor was ensuring his team selections brought in new faces so there was a good team to pick from come the playoffs on the 7th September – note the date team and be available if called upon.

Paul Bradshaw was impressive in doing the 800/400 double with Holly Bleasdale cheering the team on from the sidelines. Get fit soon Holly. In the 800m B race Zac Howe took the win with a front running display. In the sprints Jamie Vickery was quick with a 11.2 for second in the 100 as was Paul Coffey with 11.6 for a 3rd in the B.

In the longer events it was a great double coming over the line with a first/second for Karl Billington and Rob Warner, Chris Davies took 2nd in the chase backed by Allan Hartley and in the 5000m a quick 14.38 from men’s captain Ben Fish won it backed by debutant Steve Chew.

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Despite a fall in the warm up and a rapid A and B race switch Connor Makin still won the B long hurdles as did Joe Pearse the A race – both were part of a victorious 4 X 400 team at the end of the meet with an added Jack Lonsdale and Zac Howe. Joe would also win the A high hurdles and Jamie Vickery the B.

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The shot was the most productive throw with Tony Balko taking a second in the A and Corrie Shorrock winning the B but the discus was close with a 3rd for Jack Vickery and a win for Balko in the B. Jack , versatile as ever opened up for the 4 x 100 relay team of brother Jamie, Michael Carr and Paul Coffey which took 2nd.

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In the jumps Joe Pearse and Connor Makin won the high and young Ben Aspinall had two 3rds in the long and triple which like many events on the day piled on the points for the blue and whites.

Our final winning total was a massive 450 points not surprising given the number of wins and high placings. Bring on the last fixture and of course the play offs at Doncaster.

Full Results HERE