Bristol and Yate revive promotion bid

The promotion hopes of both Bristol & West AC and Yate & District AC have been re-ignited in the Midland Track & Field League.

Rock bottom after last month's opening round of matches in Division One and Three respectively, the local clubs bounced back to win the second matches last weekend.

"It was a tremendous effort by everyone to win the match at Rugby by 70 points," said Bristol & West team manager Chris Elson.

"If we can repeat that sort of form in the next match, which we are hosting at Bath University (Saturday, July 4), then who knows what might happen with regards to promotion."

Bristol & West claimed top spot with a total of 380 points, 70 clear of Stoke, with Rugby & Northampton third. Overall, Bristol & West are still in bottom place but all six Division One clubs have seven match points and are only separated by total points scored in the opening two fixtures, leaving everything to play for in the second half of the campaign.

Yate's win on home soil lifted them to third overall. "It was a great day and the athletes were excellent," said Yate team boss Graham Howell. "If we can get out a team like that for the remaining two fixtures we may have a chance of promotion."

Midland League overall team positions after two matches – Division One: 1 Birchfield Harriers 7pts (652); 2 Coventry Godiva 7 (641); 3 City of Stoke 7 (628); 4 Mansfield 7 (626); 5 Rugby & Northampton 7 (623); 6 Bristol & West AC 7 (621).

Division Three: 1 Birmingham Rowheath 10 (682.5); 2 Halesowen 9 (691); 3 Yate & District AC 7 (632); 4 Wolverhampton & Bilston 7 (626.5); 5 Tipton Harriers 6 (657.5); 6 Telford 3 (583.5).

Division One match at Rugby, Bristol & West AC performances – 100: 3 Ben Coghlan 11.0; B: 1 Derek Morgan 11.1; 200: 1 Coghlan 22.0; B: 4 Anthony Mattis 23.0; 400: 3 Andrew Dean-Young 50.4; B: 3 Alex Fields 51.7; 110H: 5 Steve Parker 18.5; B: 1 Ding Yang 16.2; 400H: 1 Gustav Klingstedt 55.3; B: 2 Parker 59.9; 800: 1 Steve Mitchell 1:53.8; B; 4 J Tugwell 2:02.7; 1500: 2 Nathan Young 4:03.5; B: 4 Tugwell 4:20.1; 3000: 1 Mitchell 8:32; B: 1 Dan Woolford; 3000 S/C: 2 Sean Hazell 10;24; B: 2 Dave Austin 12:43; LJ: 4 Ding Yang 6.44; B: 5 Mattis 5.10; TJ; 2 Paul Weston 13.38; HJ: 2 Ding Yang 1.80; B: 2 Klingstedt 1.75; PV: 3 Martin Davis 3.32; SP: 2 James Preston 12.74; B: 5 Davies 7.30; DT: 4 Preston 35.74; B: 5 Bill Kingston 23.10; HT: 4 Preston 36.39; B: 6 Davies 14.80; JT: 4 Klingstedt 41.20; B: 3 Mattis 35.84; 4x100m relay: 2 B&W 43.7; 4x400m relay: 2 B&W 3:232.4

Women – 100: 4 Ramel Houson 13.3; B: 4 Valentina Santo-Fullerton 13.5; 200: 4 Santo- Fullerton 27.4; B: 4 Zoe Laing 28.5; 400: 3 Ruth Mitchell 61.3; B: 6 Grace Hogan 74.7; 100H: 3 Sam Moore 16.5; B: 3 Andrea Lock 20.9; 400H: 2 Hayley Pitman 65.2; B: 2 Lock 79.1; 800: 3 Mitchell 2:18.6; B: 1 Imogen Ainsworth 2:19.0; 1500: 2 Ainsworth 4:43.3; B: 1 Kate Goodhead 4:44.3; 3000: 1 Goodhead 10:00.3; B: 1 Eleanor Wimshurst 10:15.4; LJ: 3 Marianne Diomonde 5.36; B: 1 Laing 4.94; TJ: 1 Diamonde 11.82; B: 3 Hogan 8.71; HJ: 2 Pitman 1.65; B: 1 Moore 1.45; PV: 1 Lock 2.50; B: 1 Ruby Juan 1.70; SP; 3 Christina Jones 9.21; B: 4 Hayley Green 6.94; DT: 5 Green 32.00; B: 3 Jones 28.84; HT: 3 Jones 44.18; B: 2 Green 35.48; JT: 2 Jones 31.21; B: 5 Green 17.83; 4x100m relay: 5 B&W 54.2; 4x400m relay: 5 B&W 4:27.7.