Both City of Bradford teams were edged out of a podium finish in tight battles at the the Pennine Fun in Athletics finals at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield at the weekend.

The girls, who had won their West Yorkshire Under-11 Sportshall Athletics Eliminator at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre in Odsal, finished fourth a point behind Sheffield and only nine adrift of runners-up Kirklees.

Selby were the surprise winners on 426, with Kirklees on 395, Sheffield on 386 and Bradford on 385.

To qualify, Bradford had totalled 446, with Kirklees second on 438 and Calderdale third on 427. Leeds (fourth) and Wakefield (fifth) missed out.

In the boys' competition at Sheffield, Bradford were again fourth on 375 behind Kirklees, Leeds and Sheffield.

Kirklees had won the qualfier at Odsal with 451, with Bradford runners-up on 428 and Leeds third with 411. Calderdale (fourth) and Wakefield (fifth) were the unlucky teams.

Individual winners for Bradford at Sheffield were Lucy Worrall in the target throw and boys Matthias Britton (balance test) and Chris Magudba (standing long jump) Sportshall Athletics is expanding rapidly throughout Britain and overseas, which is why the West Yorkshire region were told that only three places had been allocated to them at Sheffield. Teams consisted of 15 boys and 15 girls, making 150 children in all.

Events included team relay races, an obstacle race, a 1+1 relay, a 4x1 relay, Paarlauf races, hurdle relay races and, at the end, a Grand Prix relay using all the equipment and athletes' skills.

In addition to the running events, there were also throws (sitting throw, chest push, soft javelin and target throw) jumps (standing long jump, standing triple jump, vertical jump) and agility events (balance test and speed bounce).

Competitors - either two or three per team - had their scores or distances added together to get the overall placings in each event.

The girls' team finished in top place at Bradford thanks to individual victories by Charlotte Cox (javelin), Chloe Tindall (speed bounce), Holly Postle-thwaite (balance test), Sophie James and Lucy Worral in the target throw and Emily Middlebrough in the balance test.

These scores, coupled with maximum points in the over- under relay, hurdle relay, balance test, javelin, sitting throw and target throw gave them the edge over the Kirklees team.

In the boys' event, Madugba ranked first in the standing long jump with a leap of 2.13 metres.

This, coupled with team maximums in the chest push, sitting throw, speed bounce, standing long jump and target throw, gave then second overall.

Sportshall Athletics, a main feature of the Kirklees Youth Games, are proving immensely popular.

Andy Cook, Kirklees' community athletics coach, said: "With Sportshall Athletics being something of a new venture for Kirklees, it's fantastic to see our young people representing our area so well in competition."

The Pennine Fun in Athletics finals pitted West Yorkshire's representatives against boys' and girls' teams from South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Humberside.

Bradford officials wish to say thanks to all the volunteers, officials, sports centre staff and Bradford Council for providing the b active' T-Shirts and support and to West Yorkshire Sport and Sportshall Associates for assistance with software, certificates and general advice over the event.

Parents were also thanked for their help.