Manchester’s LGBT community is kicking off a summer full of sport with a brand new festival of fitness and activity throughout this month and the annual Pride Games.

Jessica Ennis-Hill was the star that shined the brightest – with the London 2012 heptathlon champion and media darling competing for the first time since July 2013, after the birth of her first child.

Greg Rutherford will be looking to underline his status as the world’s number one long-jumper ahead of the World Championships in Beijing this August, after a successful 2014 saw him add Commonwealth and European Championship gold to his London 2012 victory.

A Salford University lecturer and student are hoping to help kickstart ‘stellar’ athletic careers when they arrive in China for tomorrow’s World Cross Country Championships.

Jessica Ennis-Hill will make her competitive return at the Manchester Great CityGames on May 9.

Manchester’s 400 metres specialist Seren Bundy-Davies was left with a tinge of disappointment despite winning two medals at the European Indoor Championships in Prague last weekend.

Bundy-Davies suffered heartbreak at the national championships in Sheffield on February 15 as she tripped while leading the 400m final, seeing the crown slip away.

Former Sale Harrier Kirsten McAslan’s mother competed in a home Commonwealth Games in 1986 and the 21-year-old says she wants a longer career after Fiona retired early owing to injury.

Sale Harrier Abigail Irozuru recorded a personal best of 6.73m to win gold at Sheffield’s EIS arena on Sunday, putting her joint-third on the Great British indoor all-time list.

Manchester’s Bowness kicked off his indoor season with a fourth-place finish at the Emirates Arena on Saturday – clocking an indoor personal-best time of 1:49.8 minutes.

Hudson-Smith, 20, powered England to gold in the 4x400m relay at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before repeating the feat with Great Britain in Zurich at the European Championships, also adding individual silver in Switzerland.