CANON Slade’s junior and intermediate girls’ athletics teams stepped up a level when they competed against the best in the country at the English Schools Track and Field cup final in Bedford.

Both teams showed great competitive spirit and determination as they improved on their showing in the North West Championships when they qualified for the nationals.

They secured more points than they did at the regional finals and were the only state school represented.

Competing against the likes of Millfield and Loughborough High School for Girls from the independent sector, it was always going to be a difficult task to get among the medals and the Bradshaw school can be proud of finishing positions of eighth out of 12 for the intermediates and 10th out of 12 for the juniors.

Many of the Bolton girls produced personal and season best performances on the big stage.

The inter girls secured 410 points, 13 more than they did in the regional round with Maya Erzan-Essien earning 49 points in her two events, the 800m and shot put.

Taiwo Taiwo gained more than 40 points from her two – the 200m and high jump – and Katie Howarth got 40 points in the 300m and javelin, and Imogen Schofield more than 35 points in the 300m and shot.

Team: Maya Erzan-Essien, Taiwo Taiwo, Katie Howarth, Imogen Schofield, Emily Wood, Emily Charleston, Olivia Kimbowa, Alice Tonge, Georgia Tansey, Holly Bentley, Niamh Thorne and Chloe Murphy.

The juniors gained 359 points in another high-quality competition in which eight schools finished with more than 400 points, and Loughborough High School for Girls got just one point better than Canon Slade.

Penny Townsend gained 47 points her two events – the 800m and long jump). Jasmine Pate, Anna Quinn, Abigal Adeniji scored more than 30 points each in their two, and overall the team gained seven more points than in the regional round.

Team: Abigail Adeniji, Christenvie Tshife, Anna Quinn, Jasmine Patel, Penny Townsend, Emily Russell, Ameila Bratt, Anna Potter, Ciara Gettinby, Lilia Thorne, Verity Lambert and Lois Mawhinney.

The team's tracksuits were sponsored by Bidvest Foodservice and the school would like to hear from anyone who may be interested in providing some kit for any of their teams that make it through to a national final.