The club went into the match with 12 team points, but several of their rivals had real strength on depth on the day, while Wakefield did not have a full compliment of athletes, due to holiday commitments and injuries. Fortunately, the Harriers athletes on the day did themselves proud during a compelling competition.

Subject to scrutiny of the results at the finish, Wakefield were left in fourth place in the table, an excellent result applauded by many of their opponents in the top flight of British athletics.

The most notable performer was Fiona Westwood, who led the long jump event into the last round with a personal best of 5.93m - only to be pipped by training partner Margaret Veldman (Sale Harriers), who jumped one centimetre further with 5.94m.

Helen Taylor continued her good hammer throwing, but found seasoned internationals Lorraine Shaw and Lynne Sprules in top form as they threw over 60m.

Penny Thackray forced the pace in the women's 3000m, held in extremely warm conditions, and led a pack of four athletes going into the last 400m. Sue Lamb (Sale Harriers) then burst into the lead, closely followed by Thackray to edge her out, Julie O'Mara finished fourth, but had some consolation after winning the B race.

Emily Freeman looked certain to win the 200m B race, but was edged out by Sale Harriers' Liz Fairs. Conditions were perfect for Shirley Griffiths in the 1500m and she produced a season's best to finish second behind Amanda Parkinson (Sale). Sharon Marshall finished third in the B race.

The 4x100m relay team ran 47.06 secs, a season's best, but were only good enough to finish fourth - such was the quality of the opposition. The 400m race was won by Helen Frost (Birchfield) in 52.62 secs - with Frost expected to figure well at this weekend's AAA championships at Birmingham along with Sale athlete Keri Maddox, who ran the 100m hurdles in 13.2 secs, despite a 1.6m/sec headwind.

Individual results:
A events: 100m: Nicole Crosby 12.19 (+1.3) (4th); 200m: Nicole Crosby 25.18 (-1.4) (4th); 400m; Alice Butler 58.19 (7th); 800m: Alice Butler 2.111.23 (4th); 1500m: Shirley Griffiths 4:24.48 (2nd); 3000m: Penny Thackray 9:46.09 (2nd); 100m hurdles: Ruth Dales (8th); 400m hurdles: Sarah Beevers 65.63 (5th); discus: Susan Backhouse 42.42 (5th); hammer: Helen Taylor 46.05 (5th); high jump: Kerry Jury 1.70 (4th); javelin: Michelle Lonsdale 37.85 (5th); long jump: Fiona Westwood 5.93 (2nd); pole vault: Vicki Mills (8th); shot putt: Kerry Jury 11.14 (7th); triple jump: Kelly Brow 10.75 (7th); 4x100m relay - Fiona Westwood, Kerry Jury, Emily Freeman, Nicole Crosby - 47.06 (4th); 4x400m relay - Sarah Beevers, Helen Singleton, Julia Sykes, Alice Butler (7th).

B events: 100m: Emily Freeman 12.42 (-0.8) (4th); 200m: Emily Freeman 24.77 (+0.6) (2nd); 400m: Helen Singleton 61.66 (8th); 800m: C Bacon 2:14.69 (3rd); 1500m: Sharon Marshall 4:47.61 (3rd); 3000m: Julie O'Mara 10:02.14 (1st); 100m hurdles: Emma Morris (8th); discus: Amanda Sheppard 39.85 (3rd); hammer: Amanda Sheppard 33.11 (7th); high jump: Judith Payne 1.65 (3rd); javelin: Emma Morris 28.07 (6th); long jump: Kerry Jury 5.63 (2nd); pole vault: Judith Payne (5th); shot putt: Emma Morris 10.90 (5th); triple jump: Judith Payne 9.93 (5th).

Match result: 1st - Shaftesbury Barnet 205, 2nd - Sale Harriers 203, 3rd - Windsor, Slough and Eton 190, 4th - Trafford 154, 5th - Wakefield Harriers 143, 6th - Birchfield Harriers 135, 7th - Aldershot and Farnham 126, 8th - City of Glasgow 80.