WARRINGTON Athletics Club had a double mission going into the weekend's Northern track and field league meetings.

The women were looking to secure promotion to Division Two while the men were intent on avoiding the drop. Both sections pulled out the stops to pull off a successful weekend.

Warrington's men were third at Bebbington Oval on Saturday to finish fourth overall ahead of Liverpool Harriers B and Stockport.

The women, hosting the meeting at Victoria Park, came first on Sunday and in doing so clinched the Division Three West Championship.

Men's team manager Jim Russell called on a blend of experience and youth to save Warrington's relegation blushes.

Stalwart John Nicholls had to settle for an A event double and a B event win in the throws when young protg Roger Bate won the A discus. Roger also won the B hammer and was second in the B shot put.

Another club stalwart, Neil Petley, won the triple jump, backed up by seconds in both hurdles races, third in the long jump and fourth in the high jump.

European Veterans 400 metres champion Phil Knowles won the 400m and Matt Lockett travelled from his summer employment in Southamption to win the 3000m steeplechase.

An excellent 5000m produced a great battle, eventually won by Stuart Juine of Manx Harriers from identical twins Tony and Mick McDevitt. Tony ran for Wirral AC, getting the better of his Warrington AC brother Mick in the finishing straight.

Another winner was Under 17s runner Anthony Bradish, who clinched the 400m hurdles B race and backed this up with a second place debut in the 110m hurdles B race and fourth in the A javelin.

The final match score was: 1, Blackburn 289; 2, Wirral AC 269; 3, Warrington AC 256, 4, Liverpool B 233; Manx Harriers 228, 6, Stockport H & AC 152.

Final League positions were: 1, Blackburn 23; 2, Manx Harriers 16; 3, Wirral 14.5; 4, Warrington 12; 5, Liverpool B 9.5; 6, Stockport 9.

Individual performances are in the Glance Guide section on Guardian Sport Six

Warrington Athletics Club's men's results from Bebbington Oval meet of North of England League:

Neil Mercer, 3, 100m A, 11.2secs; 3, 200m A, 23.4secs; Jonathan Horlock, 5, 100m B, 15.2secs(injured); David Irons, 3, 200m B, 24.1secs; Long jump B, 5.13m; 4, Triple jump B 9.94m.

Phil Knowles, 1, 400m A, 51.6secs; Matt Daley, 3, 400m B, 53.6secs; Ian Bateman 4, 800m A, 2min.00.7secs; 4, High jump B 1.45m; Ian Costello, 5, 800m B 2min 11.3secs; 1500m B, 4min 34.3secs; Matt Lockett, 1, 3000m steeplechase A, 9mins 45.8secs; 5, 1500m A, 4min 27.1secs

Mick McDevitt, 3, 5000m A, 15mins 31.8secs; Steve Burthem, 6, 5000m B 16min 38.9secs; Neil Petley, 2, 110m hurdles A 15.9secs; 2, 400m hurdles A 60.4secs; 4, High jump A 5.82m; 1, Triple Jump A 11.98m.

Anthony Bradish, 2, 110m hurdles B 19.4secs; 1, 400m hurdles B 62.65secs; 4, javelin A 37.51m; John Nicholls; 1, shot put A 14.74m; 1, hammer A 43.29m; 1, discuss B 37.42m.

Roger Bate; 2, shot put B 10.48m; 1, hammer B 42.38m; 1, discus A 38.75m. Ian Plevin, 2, Javelin B 35.85m; Jim Russell, 6, 3000m st'chase B 12mins 47.8secs.

4x100m relay: Matt Daley, David Jones, Anthony Bradish, Neil Mercer, 3rd, 47.0secs; 4x400m relay: Ian Bateman, Neil Pewtley, Matt Daley, Phil Knowles, 3rd, 3mins 35.6secs.

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