The fourth round of the Mid Lancs Track and Field League at Wilson’s Playing Fields was one of the most exciting local fixtures in recent history with the top three women’s teams ending the day virtually tied.

League leaders Blackpool Wyre and Fylde just held sway on 145.5 points with hosts Hyndburn scoring 144.5 and Horwich RMI Harriers 144.

As usual, Hyndburn depended heavily on their throwers who contributed seven of their nine victories. The under 17s managed to win every throw with Eve Parkinson taking the hammer and shot, Heidi Hamshire the discus and Tara Proctor the javelin.

Sarah Cowgill contributed with a double in the senior discus and javelin and Lucinda Mulligan chipped in with first in the U13s javelin. With strong points in the men’s competition too, the club can anticipate both of their teams retaining their places in the top division for 2011.

Blackburn Harriers’ women have left their promotion charge late, but were the match winners in Division 2 with 156 points, moving from fifth to third in the process with one match left.

The Harriers won 13 times with Rebecca Shorrock their ace with her three wins for the seniors coming both on the track and in the field.

She took the 400m in 66.7 seconds and tasted more success in the shot and javelin. Abby Edmundson proved equally versatile winning the triple jump and the 100m while under 13s Elizabeth Greenwood and Polly Pearse each won twice, Elizabeth on the track and Polly in the throws.

Meanwhile, Blackburn’s men were the match winners with 200 points and now will surely stay in the top flight.

The second promotion place for the men will go right to the wire with near rivals Pendle and Burnley split by only nine points in the battle to go up with Bolton, the winners of every match so far.

Each club had a hero at Wilson’s with James Blackburn winning three times for Pendle and Alan Plumb taking his own treble for Burnley.

Blackburn, nowadays in the senior ranks, won the 200m in 23.9 seconds and added the long and triple jumps with distances of 6.24m and 12.58m.

Senior thrower Plumb was unbeatable in the shot (9.93m), discus (30.81m) and hammer (32.15m). All the issues will be resolved at Lancaster on August 7.