STOCKTON Heath shot put star John Nicholls will be challenging for honours at the North of England Championships in Manchester on Saturday.

The 40-year-old will represent Sale Harriers at the event at SportCity, while Culcheth's Roger Bate will compete for Trafford Athletics Club in the hammer.

Nicholls finished fifth in the second round of the British League in his last major event, also held at SportCity, as well as finishing seventh for Cheshire in the Inter Counties Championships in Bedford at the end of May.