Antony Ford,the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Athletic Club's international distance runner, was the only senior athlete in action on the track, last weekend Antony, who is in strict training for the Olympic Trials next month, took on the cream of the country's distance runners in the BMC Nike Grand Prix at Sports City Manchester.

Competing in the 5000m A race won by former European silver medallist Andy Vernon, in a time of 13 mins 45.35 secs, Antony was involved in a blanket finish for second place, finishing in fourth place in 13 mins, 49.45 secs, with the first six out of a field of 14 athletes, achieving personal best performances in the race.

However, Blackpool Wyre and Fyldes young athletes enjoyed a busy weekend with a Mid Lancs track and field fixture,where they were called upon to assist their senior colleagues, last Saturday followed by a young athletes' league meeting on Sunday.

Luis Blyth was the most successful junior athlete at the Mid Lancs meeting at Hyndburn, winning the under 13 boys' high jump with a personal best performance of 1.36m, followed by third place in both the long jump with 4.30m and the 100m sprint with a time of 14.30 secs.

Other winning efforts were made by Megan Healey in the under 17 women's triple jump with 9.52m and Lyndsey O'Brien in the under 13 girls javelin with a throw of 24.77m.

BWFAC were also well represented in the junior girls' sprints with identical winning times of 13.10 secs in the under 15 girls' 100m heats by Sophie Riley and Beth Towers. Tash Gardner was also a double winner for the under 13 girls with 13.70 secs in the 100m and 28.80 secs in the 200m.

In the Young Athletes meeting,the following day at Robin Park,Wigan,a strong BWFAC team jumped two places in the league from 4th to 2nd position with many excellent performances, despite the damp conditions.

Jack Scarr and Dominic Garrett dominated the under 17 mens' 800m scoring maximum points with times of 2 mins 6.6 secs and 2 mins 6.7 secs respectively, with Jack still finding enough energy to take third place in the 400m A race with 54.4 secs with Dominic winning the B race in 54.6 secs.

James Davies once again rose to the occasion winning the under 17 men's triple jump with a leap of 13.02m. before just missing out on a double win in the long jump where he recorded the same distance as the winner, Craig Jones of Liverpool Harriers, six metres - but was relegated to second place on countback.

The star performers for the under 15 boys were Joe Gigli and Alex Evans who scored maximum points in the 1500m with times of 4 mins 39.8 secs and 4.41.5 while Lewis Arbron scored valuable points for the club with first place in the discus with 24.38m. and runner-up in the high jump with a clearance 1.60m.

Luis Blyth and Finn Walker came first and second in both the high jump and long jump with Luis clearing 1.25m and 4.33m and Finn, 1.20m. and 3.98m. Finn was also runner-up in the 100m sprint with 14.4 secs and Luis was second in the B race with 14.7 secs with these two joining forces with Jack and Ashley Hails to win the 4 X 100m relay in a photo-finish from a fast finishing Josh Eme of Liverpool Harriers.

Lytham's Ben Everson and Alex Cross scored another clean sweep in the 1500m with times of 4 mins 46.0 secs and 5 mins 10.3 secs respectively.

Kristie Leybourne from Poulton was a convincing winner in the under 17 women's 1500m in a time of 4 mins 50.1 secs and Katy Wyper triumphed in the long jump with 4.72m. Lucy Mansfield and Katie Wyper once again teamed up in the sprint events where they came second in both the 100m and 200m A and B races with times of 12.6 secs, 25.5 secs and 12.8 secs./26.3 secs.

BWFAC scored no less than six wins in the under 15 girls' age group with Sophie Riley (12.9 secs.) and Kassidy Knight (13.6 secs.) scoring maximum points in the 100m sprint together with Bianca Pedersen (4 mins. 56.9 secs.) and Lydia Critchley (4 mins.57.4 secs.) in the 1500m.

In the field events, Chloe Needham and Kate Wood were also successful in the discus with 18.86m and 15.76m. while Kate also took second place in the shot putt event with a throw of 7.79m with Chloe only 1 cm behind in third place.

In the under 13 girls 800m, Jodie Ferguson snatched victory from Rachel Mason of Liverpool in the excellent time of 2 mins, 34.2 secs and Lyndsey O'Brien was an easy winner in the shot putt with a throw of 7.08m.

Darrell Constantine took a courageous second place in the Steeplechase in a time of 5 mins 24.7 secs with a fast finishing Jack Scarr just missing out to Mark Loveridge of Liverpool who won the B race in a time of 5 mins 29.3 secs against Jack's 5.29.7.