CITY of York Athletic Club finished in a creditable third place on their return to North of England Track and Field League Division 1.

Promoted from Division 2 last year, York are now competing at their highest level since 2010 so it was imperative to get off to a good start in this home fixture against Wakefield Harriers, Wigan and District Harriers, West Cheshire, City of Sheffield II, and Preston.

Reigning champions Wakefield Harriers (385) took the spoils with West Cheshire (368) five points ahead of York (363).

Wigan and District (341), Sheffield (315), and Preston (288) completed the field.

The women led the way for York, picking up 10 individual victories.

Field eventer Christina Nick was the leading individual with three victories. She won the A-String discus with a throw of 44.64m and took the shot putt honours in 13.13. She added a B-String hammer victory with 37.22.

Charlotte Stamp won a competitive women’s A-String 400m race in 58.6secs and also finished first in the B-String 400m hurdles, recording 68.4secs.

Stamp’s latter effort followed a dominant victory by GB junior international Chelsea Walker in the A-string race (61.0secs).

The 3,000m proved an equally strong event for York with Charlotte Mason taking the main honours in 10mins 25.1secs and Emma Ballantyne (10.40.7) adding the B-String spoils.

Ruth Brandon (62.4) and Lara Sterritt (5.24.2) completed York’s female successes with B-String victories in the 400m and 1500m respectively.

English U17 Schools' 800m champion Alex Botterill produced the best performance for York’s men - winning the main 400m race by a full second in 49.5.

Andrew England was the host club’s only other A-String winner, claiming the high jump in 1.70m.

Tom Flatters made it a double by adding the B-String win in 1.65.

Ben Schofield bagged York’s fourth and final men’s success in the B-String 400m hurdles (68.7).