One of the BWFAC's brightest young stars, Tash Gardner (pictured), has been crowned "Athlete of the Month" for September in recognition of her consistant high performances over the latter part of the track and field season in a variety of events.

During the month Tash won three gold medals at the Trafford Open Meeting in Manchester with victories in the 75m.sprint in 10.9 secs; the 150m.in 22.9 secs. and the high jump with a clearance of 1.15m.

The following week, she again struck gold, this time in the long jump at the Illuminations meeting in Stanley Park with a leap of 3.71m. Tash is surely a name to watch for in the future The club's successful squad of 11 athletes representing Great Britain, returned from the World Biathle Championships in Monaco, last week with a collection of four medals, one silver and three bronze for their efforts.

The medals were presented By Prince Albert who took a keen personal interest in the various competitions.

Veteran athlete Annaley Yates has been the most successful local athlete in the British team, carrrying off the silver medal in the Women's Masters A Class in a time of 10 mins. 02 secs. Annaley surprisingly found herself in the lead after the swim but the experienced South African, Treloar Childs just managed to catch and overtake Annaley by the end of the run to snatch the gold medal by a margin of 13 seconds.

Annaley's ten-year-old son, Bradley almost matched his mother by taking the bronze medal in the Youth's E event in a time of 4 mins. 34 secs. and Nicola Rowley, who has been running for the club since her early teens also struck bronze in the junior womens event with a time of 5 mins. 57 secs.

Steve Mason was the other BWFAC bronze medallist with a time of 13 mins. 07 secs. in the youths A event.

Former Blackpool & Fylde athlete, Rachel Jones, who now represents Salford Harriers but still trains with Blackpool coach Alan Seddon's squad at Stanley Park, came a close second in the senior womens race where she was timed at 14 mins. 17 secs. - 12 seconds behind the gold medallist, Emma Davies of the Republic of Ireland.

Other BWFAC athletes who performed well at the championships were King Edward and Queen Mary students, Beth Everson(5th) and her brother Ben(7th), Arnold School's Marcus Quarmby (7th) and his brother Daniel(13th), Tom Rowley(8th), Darren Yates(9th) and Joe Gigli(12th).