by Harry Harvey

CITY of Stoke were convincing winners of the opening Midlands Division One fixture of the National Junior League after a brilliant team performance at the Moorways Stadium in Derby.

Rival teams from Derby, Telford, Tamworth and Wolverhampton and Bilston were swept aside as Stoke triumphed by almost 100 points over their nearest rivals.

But of the club's many outstanding displays, Ben Williams, right, and Jade Weston were Stoke's star performers as they won their respective boys' and girls' athletes of the match awards.

Williams continued his superb form of late with a winning leap of 15.20m in the triple jump, while Weston got her season off to an excellent start with a 11.57m victory in the women's shot.

The 800m saw a personal best from Tom Guy who, although still under 17, clocked a winning performance in 1.59.2, while Rob Cook claimed the B race to give Stoke maximum points.

Guy later went on to win the 1,500m and score another clean sweep after Liam Hendricken took the B event.

Michael Harding and Nathan Ainsworth made it another double over 3,000m before Liam Tracey and Matt Scragg cleaned up in the 400m.

A close 110m hurdles race saw Brad Garside snatch a fine victory in 14.6.

Martin Bartholomew confirmed he is in good early-season form with impressive winning throws in both the discus and shot before ensuring a maximum score for Stoke with success in the hammer B event. Rob Dean threw 55.65m to win the A hammer competition.

James Gardner and Reece Davies made it another clean sweep in the long jump with two winning performances of well over six metres.

Gardner later teamed up with Williams to make it a maximum score in the triple jump.

Multi-event athletes Chelsea Cooper and Alice Lennox made a huge contribution in the women's events.

Lennox won the 200m in 25.8 and Cooper the 400m in 60.1 before they both moved to the field events.

Here Cooper signalled she is getting back to her best with a sound leap of 5.75m to win the long jump. Kate Gardner won the B event.

Lennox joined winner Weston in the shot and took the B competition with a best of 11.27m.

Weston rounded off her day with a winning throw of 31.06m in the discus.

Stoke also came out on top in three of the four relays to post an overall total of 460 points with hosts Derby second on 366 and Telford third on 347.