ATHLETICS: THE impact of Vale Royal AC's super talented under 17s girls team can be seen in the season's final North of England rankings.

Between them five girls hold down nine leading positions with two - Stevie Stockton and Hayley Jones - turning in the region's best performances of 2005.

Middle distance coach Andy Carter said: 'We have got a good crowd and they work hard together.

'They have ability and are prepared to put in the effort so they do well. We have got others who could get in the top 10 as well if they knuckled down.

'The club's success goes beyond middle-distance. Good results bring in good people and if a youngster has ability and are prepared to work hard we will coach them for the race they wish to do.

'But we are lucky to have such a talented crowd and they all get on socially as well.'

Stockton, a Sir John Deane's College student, and Jones are both from Crewe.

Jones tops the North's 300m list with a best time of 38.43 and also won English Schools and national AAA gold medals over the distance.

Stockton is ranked fifth over 800m (2mins 14secs) one place behind Hartford High student and clubmate Laura Lambert, who lives at Darnhall (2-12.58).

Stockton, an English School silver medallist, is also the North's fastest over 1500m (4-31.79) and 3000m (10-06.48).

Morgan Brown, who lives at Winnington and attends St Nicholas RC High, is placed eighth over 100m in 12.37, while Winsford based Verdin student Hannah Hewitson is third in the triple jump (11.54m) and is at the younger end of the age group.

Carter, whose own children Alex and Tom are both internationals, added: 'It's not just the girls - James Griffiths is also in the North's top 10 over 800m.'

Club spokesman and coach Shaun Mc-Grath said: 'We are lucky to have such a good crop of athletes, but it isn't just this particular girls U17s team.

'At the relays our B team beat a lot of big clubs and our under 17s have twice been northern cross-country champs and one runners-up over three years with age groups moving in two-year blocks.

'Our under 15s and 17s squad is 64 strong and is probably the biggest anywhere in the country. It's an age when it is supposed to be difficult to get girls interested in sport and we've got masses of them.

'Andy's input and knowledge is immense and the presence of a man who has ran in the Olympics and held the British 800m record for seven years before Seb Coe is an influence.

'I think our club has a good reputation. When you are among thousands of people, as we were at the relays at Mansfield, and Vale Royal is announced over the public address system as the northern champions, it makes you feel proud.

'Probably the only time the name Vale Royal is heard of nationally is through us.

People join our club from Crewe, Runcorn even Whitchurch so we must be doing something right.'