Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Athletic Club maintained their position at the top of the Northern League Division 2WC with another storming performance at Cleckheaton, last weekend.

Providing they can keep up this momentum, they will surely gain promotion to Division next season.

Pride of place must go to the senior ladies 4 X100m relay squad who broke the 50 second barrier for the first time in the club's 113 year history with a sensational run of 49.7 secs.

The team consisted of Katy Wyper who took off like greased lightning before handing over to Leigh Newton down the back straight.

At the second changeover, Leigh passed the baton to Lucy Mansfield with the lead already secured.

The final smooth changeover was a mere formality as Laura Davies powered down the home straight to secure victory a full four seconds ahead of her nearest rival.

As this is the first time this particular team has run together, there is obviously considerable scope to go even faster as they move through the season.

Not to be outdone the senior mens sprint relay team of Dominic Arnold, Ted Romney, Jon Rutter and Simon Wells also snatched victory from Wigan Harriers in a photo-finish with both teams registering the time time of 46.5 secs.

Individually, there were many fine performances, with long distance ace, Gemma Unsworth, scoring a spectacular double, winning the 1500m in a time of 4 mins, 55.7 secs followed by the 3000m, in 10 mins 27.8 secs.

The Blackpool ladies were particularly prominent in the short sprints where Laura Davies and Katy Wyper took both "A" and "B" race victories in the 100m in 12.3 secs and 12.8 secs while Lucy Mansfield and Robyn Starkey won the 200m "A" and "B" races in 25.3 secs.and 28.2 secs.

Dual wins were also recorded by Natasha Butler and Laura Deegan in the high jump (1.55m and 1.50m); the 3000m where veteran champion Carolyn Robbins complemented Gemma Unsworth's win with 11mins, 05.0 secs and Jon Rutter and Alex Bale in the triple jump with 12.20m.and 10.64m.

BWFAC reigned supreme in the mens middle distance events with Poulton's Tom Cunningham, taking time off from his studies at St Andrew's University to win the 800m in a fine 1 mins.58.7 secs and Lytham's Jono Prowse winning the 1500m in a seasons best time of 3 mins. 58.8 secs.

Spinter Katy Wyper showed great dexterity by also winning the long jump "A" event with a fine 5.26m and the triple jump "B" event with 9.00m.

Youngster, Katie Leybourne ran a strong race against senior opposition to take 2nd place in the 800m in a time of 2 mins.18.0 secs with Laura Deegan taking the runners-up spot in the "B" race in 2 mins.24.7 secs.

Malcolm Eadie consolidated on his win in the Lancaster 5K road race, the previous day by placing 3rd in the 5000m track event in a time of 16 mins 10.8 secs while in the field events, Nia Rutter was just edged out of first place in the triple jump with a distance of 11.05m and Lawrence Harwood was also a close second in the hammer throw event with a throw of 41.53m.

Other fine performances at Cleckheaton were recorded by Dominic Arnold 2nd.100m.12.5 secs; Alex Bale 3rd.400m, 52.4 secs; Brent Starkie 2nd.800m. 2 mins 4.9 secs; Luke Minns 2nd.5000m, 16 mins.31.3 secs; Jon Rutter 2nd.110m.hurdles, 21.2 secs; Dave Myerscough 2nd discus 29.33m; Laurence Harwood 3rd, high jump 1.50m and 3rd, long jump 4.79; Jon Rutter 2nd, long jump 5.60m; Bob Wyper 2nd.discus 26.72m.shot putt 9.68m and hammer throw.29.69; Nia Rutter.2nd.100m hurdles 17.6 secs. 2nd.400m hurdles 72.3 secs.3rd shot putt 8.83m and 3rd.long jump.4.59m; Stasia Bligh 3rd.1500m. 5 mins.27.8 secs; Laura Davies 3rd.discus 14.65m; Harley Green javelin 21.45m and Natasha Butler 3rd.shot putt.5.85m.

Both the mens and womens 4 X 400 relay teams came runners-up, with the ladies team of Kirsty Leybourne, Elizabeth Hodgson, Leigh Newton and Laura Deegan timed at 4 mins.12.0 secs and the mens team of Tom Cunningham, Alex Bale, Brent Starkie and Ted Romney timed at 3 mins 38.1 secs.

Over in USA, the club's British Shot Putt record holder, Carl Myerscough won the shot putt event at the Jim Bush track and field meeting at Eagle Rock, California with a throw of 19.72m although another British Shot Putter, Mark Edwards, won the event at the All Comers meeting at Mesa, Arizona on the same day with a throw of 20.88m.

This effort moves Edwards up to third place on the UK all-time list, behind only Carl and the former champion, Geoff Capes. Watch out Carl!