After the disappointment of last month's opening meeting, Shaftesbury Barnet men bounced back to win their British League match at Birmingham.

Though Shaftesbury have enjoyed the longest uninterrupted run in the league's top flight, it was their first ever league success, by a point from Belgrave.

The first team was strengthened by the return of many of the younger members of the squad from representative duty at the Loughborough match which clashed with the previous round.

Former world junior triple jump champion Larry Achike won with a fine leap of 16-7m, and new member Andy Colvin took the steeplechase in 9-01-59sec.

They were backed by B string 800m success for Jason Dupuy, with a personal best of 1-50-17m and a repeat victory for Pamenos Ballantyne in the 5,000m.

But it was the team's strength in depth and commitment which was the difference. For example, Dave Parker interrupted his A level revision to come second in the javelin with a personal best of 71-57.

Another all-time best came from Remi Edu with 51-30 for second place in the 400m hurdles and sixth slot on the club's all-time best.

An excellent high hurdles performance by Lloyd Cowan, second with 14-35, signalled his return from injury, ably backed by new member Ben Warmington, second in the B race in 14-95.

Improved results were achieved in the sprints from the back-up squad, given an overseas commitment for top sprinter Jason Livingston, and injuries to Onochie Onuorah and top junior Luke Davis.

The results in the 400m from Chris Carson, still a junior, and Dan Donovan were first class. They were joined by Remi Edu and Alex Fugallo in a brilliant 4 X 400m relay effort for second place in 3-11-16 behind Belgrave's all international squad, securing a place in the club's all-time top ten, and the match victory by the narrowest of margins.

After two rounds Shaftesbury lie in second place, three points behind leaders Belgrave. The next match is at Edinburgh on July 4.

SHAFTESBURY PLACINGS: 100m A: 4 Andy Hughes 10-77. B: 7 Achike 11-10. 200m A: 3 Senie Edu 21-88. B: 3 Fugallo 21-94. 400m A: 3 Chris Carson 47-75. B: 2 Donovan 48-39. 800m A: 5 Justin Swift-Smith 1-53-9. B: 1 Dupuy 1-50-17. 1,500m A: 8 Colvin 4-20-1. B: 3 Trapmore 3-53-88. 5000m A: 4 Nick Francis 14-39-49. B: 1 P Ballantyne 14-40-51. 3,000m steeplechase A: 1 Colvin 9-01-59. B: 2 Orlando Edwards 9-30-84.

110m hurdles A: 2 Cowan 14-35. B: 2 Warmington 14-95. 400m hurdles A: 2 Remi Edu 51-30. B: 2 Greg Dunson 53-02.

Relay 4x100m: SBH disqualified (Donovan, Hughes, Fugallo and Seni Edu) 42-01. Relay (4x400m): 2 SBH (Donovan, Fugallo, Carson and Remi Edu) 3-11-16.

High jump A: 5 Colin Bent 2-05. B: 6 Colin McMaster 1-90. Long jump A: 5 Gary Smith 6-82. B: 3 Chris Cotter 6-78. Triple jump A: 1 Achike 16-07. B: 2 Ezra Clarke 14-66. Pole vault A: 4 Chris Linskey 4-80.

Discus A: 4 Neville Thompson 47-79. B: 2 James South 46-31. Javelin A: 2 Parker 71-57. B: 3 Tony Smith 52-30.

Shot putt A: 2 David Callaway 15-97. B: 2 South 13-50. Hammer A: 8 Chris Walsh 55-03. B: 8 Kevin Davies 45-08.

MATCH RESULT: 1 Shaftesbury 330 points. 2 Belgrave 329. 3 Newham 301. 4 Birchfield 297. 5 Sale 277. 6 Border 226. 7 Puma TVH 217. 8 Edinburgh 200.

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