Blackpool ladies scored a convincing win in Division 1 of the first fixture of the Mid Lancs track & field league at Robin Park, Wigan, last weekend.

The BW&FAC squad finished with 151 1/2 points, which was comfortably ahead of second placed Bolton United Harriers on 115 points with Hyndburn AC third with 84 points.

However the tables were turned in Division 1 of the Mens league with Bolton emerging as victors with 191 1/2 points ahead of Blackpool on 147 1/2 with Blackburn Harriers in third place on 117 points.

Nia Rutter, the younger sister of the club's former discus international, Kara Nwidobie, was the most successful senior athlete at Wigan with an easy win in the triple jump with a distance of 10.36m. followed by third place in the long jump with a leap of 4.57m.

The club's top allrounder,Danielle Bamber, also showed good early season form, winning the 400m. in a canter, in a time of 61.4 secs. while distance runner Gemma Unsworth took second place in the 3000m. with a solid time of 10 mins.26.4 secs.

In the under 17 women's division,the club's two outstanding young sprinters,Lucy Mansfield and Katie Wyper, were on top form with Katie winning the 100m. in 12.6 secs. while Lucy won the 300m. in 41.7 secs.

Natasha Butler earned valuable points for the club with two runners-up places in the long jump with 4.55m. and the high jump with a clearance of 1.5m. with Megan Sweet taking 3rd.place in the high jump with 1.4m.

The under 15 girls provided the most winners on the day with Alicia Johnston winning the 200m. sprint in 27.1 secs. followed by 3rd.place in the 100m. in 13.3 secs.

Sophie Riley won heat 2 of the 100m. in 13.2 secs. with other wins being recorded by Claudia Fiddler in heat 2 of the 200m. in 28.3 secs., Lydia Critchley in the 300m. in 43.8 secs. and Bianca Pedersen in the 800m. with a good performance of 2 mins. 26.9 secs.

In the field events, Chloe Needham was runner-up in the shot putt with 7.44m. Emily Dickson was also runner-up in the long jump with a leap of 4.12m.and Alicia Johnson scored a well earned 3rd.place in the shot putt with a throw of 6.86m.

A further four winners emerged in the under 13 girls division. Taegan O'Hara led the largest field of the day in the long jump with a winning jump of 4.21m. ahead of 27 other competitors.

Taegan also took 3rd.place in the 100m. sprint with a time of 14.3 secs.

Lyndsay O'Brian showed her dexterity by winning heat 2 of the 800m. endurance race in 2 mins. 56.4 secs. followed by 2nd.place in the javelin with a throw of 18.85m. Alicia Roylance won heat 2 of the 100m. in 14.5 secs. and Rebecca Todd won the shot putt ahead of 17 competitors with a throw of 7.44m.

A depleted senior mens team resulted in the men being relegated to 2nd position behind Bolton United Harriers.

Veteran athlete Bob Wyper was the most successful senior athlete with 3rd. place in both the discus with 28.61m. and the hammer throw event with 28.32m.

Meanwhile, John Rutter supported his wife Nia with 3rd. place in the long jump with 5.24m. and Alex Bale fought hard to claim 3rd.place in the 200m. in 23.1 secs.

A much larger under 17 mens squad achieved two outright winners with Tom Baran winning the hammer throw with 28.06m and taking 2nd. place in the discus with 20.71m. while the club's Welsh and Irish imports contributed valuable points in the form of Gareth Jones who won the javelin with a throw of 34.89m. and Declan O'Hara who came 3rd. in the long jump with a leap of 5.17m.

In the under 15 boys division,James Thompson had a highly successful day winning heat 2 of the 200m. in 26.8 secs. followed by 2nd.place in the 400m. in 62.3 secs. and the shot putt with 8.75m.

Joe Gigli proved the benefits of a good cross country season with a solid second place in the 1500m. in 4 mins. 45.8 secs.

In the under 13 boys age group, Luis Blyth took 1st. place in the long jump with 4.11m. followed by 3rd. place in the 200m. in 29.7 secs. Finn Walker was a close second in the 100m.sprint in 14.1 secs., Ashley Hails won heat 3 in 14.2 secs.and David Jones earned two runners-up slots in the long jump with 4.04m. and the javelin with a throw of 17.97m.

One athlete not competing at Wigan was the club's Sportshall champion, James Davies who was representing Lancashire at the National Indoor Sportshall Championships at the NEC stadium in Birmingham.

James rose admirably to the occasion by winning the under 15 boys triple jump with a new Lancashire County Championship record of 9.05m.

Kassidy Knight has covered many miles over the past few weeks, competing in various open meetings around the North West.

Her best performances were achieved at the Reebok Manchester Open meeting where she won the 60m.sprint in a time of 8.7 secs. and the Warrington Open where she recorded 15.66m in the javelin. Bianca Pedersen also scored an outstanding win in the 800m. endurance event at Warrington with a time of 2 mins. 27.9 secs.

Over in the USA,the club's British Shot Putt champion,Carl Myerscough, signalled his return to top form with a winning throw of 20.38m at a meeting in Northridge CA.

All members of the club congratulate former international discus champion, Kara Nwidobie-Sharpe on being selected as "Panther" in the forthcoming series of "The Gladiators".

This morning, the club's Sportshall squad visited the Town Hall where they were given a civic reception by the Mayor, Coun Robert Wynne, for winning the award as Blackpool's outstanding sports team of the year.