Ben and Sophie on county duty at the Inter-Counties Mountain Races and Isla wins at Clowbridge

Two members of Bury AC were selected to represent Greater Manchester at the Inter-Counties Mountain Running Championships at Sedbergh on Sunday. The course was a straight up and down over 14.5 km with nearly 1000 m of ascent. Ben Coop was racing in the men’s event, starting at 1.00pm and placed 69^th overall, covering the course in 1:27.31. He commented after the race that it was “a disaster of the highest order” and that his legs cramped from the start of the race. Sophie Whittaker competed in the senior women’s race that started at 1.15pm. She produced her usual strong run and placed an excellent 43^rd in 1:37.24 and was first Greater Manchester finisher.

Two young members of the club competed at the Clowbridge 5k on Thursday evening. Under 14 Isla Taylor underlined her ability as an athlete by finishing first woman overall, covering the course in 21.04.3. Team mate Nina Boodhun was the second finisher in the under 14 category with a time of 25.30.5.

Four members of the club competed at the Trafford AC Medal Meeting on the Bank Holiday Monday. First on the track was Agatha Wragg competing in the under 16s 300m where she was the fastest girl with a time of 44.64. Next was Mylah Collier competing in the under 14s 800m. Making a welcome return to racing in a Bury vest, Mylah produced an excellent run to claim victory in 2.27.41, a PB by 4 seconds. She displayed her versatility as an athlete by also taking second in the discus with a best throw of 18.79 (also a new PB) and fourth in the javelin with a best effort of 17.91. Talented middle distance runners Ethan Statham and Lucy Dent competed over 1500m. Running in the first heat, Ethan was second under 14 in a time of 4.26.98, slicing over 5 seconds off his previous best for the event and moving him up in to the top 10 in the UK for the distance. Lucy ran in the second heat and was first under 16 girl with 4.56.36, a PB by nearly 2 seconds.