Boston and District Athletic Club have won through to the Regional Plate Final in this year's North of England knock-out competition.

Competing in the first round competition at Hull, the Gold Tops exceeded all expectations by finishing in third position to claim a place in the 2009 Plate Final at Manchester on September 12.

A favourable draw held before the meeting began had Boston competing against Kingston upon Hull, Rotherham, Durham, Cleethorpes and Hull Achilles in match one in the "double header" contest with places in the Northern Clubs Final up for grabs.

Five members of the team achieved impressive first places on a day when Boston and District A.C. representatives combined well and showed a tremendous fighting spirit to clinch an unexpected place in this year's Plate Final.

It was the jumpers who led the way on this occasion with "Gold Tops" achieving victories in all three men's competitions and adding seconds in two of the women's events.

Mark Bridges gained a comprehensive win in the long jump recording 6.44m to finish some 48cm ahead of his nearest challenger and Jeremy Baily's triple jump victory was equally emphatic with his best effort of 12.25m giving him a winning margin of 74cm.

Jake Brittain scored a terrific double, claiming first place in high jump with a clearance of 1.70m and crossed the line ahead of the rest of the field in the 110m hurdles recording 19.6 seconds.

The Boston women's 4 X 100m relay quartet also secured an unexpected victory with Melanie Bristow, Wednesday Pywowariw, Jasmine Orrey and Isabelle Whitehead , who combined really well to secure first place in 54.8 secs.

Chelsea Brockett finished second in two events clearing 1.50m in high jump and 2.40m in pole vault and together with Louise Rutt, Isabelle Whitehead and Wednesday Pywowariw, claimed another second position for the club in the 4 X 400m relay finishing in a time of just over four minutes.

Men's captain Mark Bowler closed in second at the end of the 400m hurdle, clocking 62.8 secs. and women's captain Isabelle Whitehead claimed runners up spot in the triple jump with a leap measured at 10.28m.

A Javelin throw of 26.80m, earned second place points for Melanie Bristow and the men's 4 X 100 metres team, led off by Mark Bowler and with Mark Bridges, Luke Chester and Oliver Phillips continuing the baton challenge, crossed the line second in 46.8secs.. On a splendid day for the "Gold Tops" their athletes also notched up eight third places.

Jasmine Orrey's leap of 4.71m gave her third position in long jump and Chelsea Brockett contributed further with a third in the 400 metres in a time of 62.4 seconds.

Louise Rutt claimed third places in both 800 metres and 3,000 metres and Wednesday Pywowariw tackled the difficult 100m hurdles event with great determination and not inconsiderable success to record 19.8 seconds for another third.

Enhancing his achievements at Hull, Jake Brittain ran the 400 metres in 54.2 seconds in third position and two throwers chipped in with further third place points.

Marc Bradbury threw the discus 33.45m and Haden Brittain tossed the 7.25k hammer out to 35.01m.

Topping up the points total for Boston and District A.C. in individual events were the contributions of Owen Msimango, Emma Pennistone, Oliver Phillips and Luke Chester to give the local club passage to the North of England Plate Final.

Results : 1. Kingston upon hull 199, 2. Rotherham 164, 3. Boston and District A.C 152, 4. Durham 137.

Lincoln Wellington Athletes have been in action over the last two weeks.

At the Final Northern League Match of the season, under-17 girl Ellis Whyler finished first in the 'B' 100m hurdles in 16.3seconds.

In the 'B' high jump, Ellis earned top points with a winning jump of 1.50m and finished with a third place in the 'A' long jump.

Fellow under-17 girl Sarah Stanhope finished first in the 'A' hammer with a throw of 43.28m, sealed fourth place in the 'A' discus with a throw of 27.71 and threw 29.08m in the 'A' javelin.

Paige Mitchell threw 28.10m in the 'B' hammer to gain a second place for the club.

Sarah and Paige were also in action the previous weekend at the UKA jumps and throws fest at Birmingham.

Sarah was seeded eighth in the B competition but after throwing 43.56m, just 2cm short of her personal best, she finished fifth.

Paige Mitchell, threw 29.50m in the C competition and finished in 4th place.

Under-15 boy Dominic Sykes threw a personal best of 53.72m in the Hammer.