THE rollercoaster track and field season for the women of Sale Harriers continued at Birmingham on Sunday with yet another magnificent performance, this time by the under 17s girls squad.

Defending the McDonald's National Cup, they lost out by the narrowest of margins to arch rivals Liverpool in a battle of the North West which has taken place over the past decade.

Amazingly no other clubs, apart from Sale and Liverpool, have ever won the trophy.

The competition comprises three age groups, under 13s under 15s and under 17s to encourage a grass root development athletic plan and, despite being depleted in certain areas, the Harriers fought tooth and nail to retain their title.

As always the team spirit was superb and although there were many outstanding achievements, Rebecca Sweeney must be singled out for collecting gold medals in the under 17s, 100, 200 and 200 metres, adding a further gold in a record breaking 4 x 100m relay.

Hayley Hood was another star winning the under 15s shot and discus in fine style, Georgie Shaw followed suit in the long jump and young sprinter Jenny Ogbokwe is definately one for the future.

Next Sunday an exhausting but highly successful season draws to a close with the under 20s cup final, again at Birmingham, the winners representing Great Britain in Europe next year.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.