THE Northern Cross Country Championships at St Helens gave athletes a last chance to win themselves a coveted Lancashire vest.

The top six in the recent Lancashire Championships at Blackburn were guaranteed selection for the Inter Counties, but selector Brian Craig delayed naming the rest of the team to give candidates a second bite of the cherry.

Six East Lancashire athletes grasped their opportunity at Sherdley Park - Blackburn Harriers' Rachel Searson, Katie Morris and Peter Matthews, the Blackburn-based Preston Harrier Richard Shuttleworth, Pendle's Ben Rusius and Chorley Harrier Alison Leonard.

Leonard in particular seemed to be well out of contention after finishing 11th at Witton Park earlier in the month, but Craig said she "had a blinder" at St Helens to be 31st in the Northern, where she was the highest placed in her race from our area.

It's been quite a week for the under 15 who has just been voted Chorley Harriers' Junior Athletes Athlete of the Year.

On an undulating and well engineered course, Rachel Searson cemented her place in the under 13 team with 37th place while Burnley's Leanne Scott in 39th was only a second behind but missed selection after not running in Blackburn.

Leanne is on standby and intends to take her kit to Nottingham in case anyone drops out!

Emma Graham was 15th in the under 17s, and with Sophie Croxson, Katie Morris and Kelly Clegg in the first 51, Blackburn Harriers took fifth in the team standings, missing the bronze by only 10 points.

In spite of her success, Emma will not be available for the Inter Counties. She is one of several who are targeting the English Schools Championships, which is only a week later.

Senior Rob Hope is another to reject Lancashire - he will run in the first round of the English Fell Championships on the same day.

Katie Ingram and Laura Finucane were the only athletes from our area to finish in the top ten on Saturday, as they took seventh and eighth respectively in the under 20s.

As in Blackburn, the fell runner defeated the track star, a fact that was emphasised when World Junior Fell Champion Karrie Hawitt won the race.

Both Horwich Harrier Katie and Pendle's Laura were already guaranteed selection for Nottingham, but there is a shortage of junior women, and the squad may be boosted by the inclusion of some under 17s including Chorley Athletic Club's Laura Livesey.

Lancashire Champion Sarah Willimott was 21st for Blackburn Harriers in the seniors but felt unwell afterwards.

Sarah is two months pregnant and although provisionally selected for Nottingham, she has indicated that her season may have finished.

The senior teams can't yet be finalised because of the inclusion of short course races at Nottingham which will interest some elite athletes. Still Amanda Parkinson, Kerry Gillibrand and Pauline Powell have all been short-listed for the Inter Counties (long course) squad.

Blackburn Harriers and Pendle were both well represented in the men's races with Tom Cornthwaite our highest placed male with 11th in the under 20 race. Like Tom, Blackburn club mates Peter Matthews, Richard Stones and Michael Hammer were also the highest placed East Lancastrians in their races with Peter 55th under 15, Richard 24th in the under 17s and Michael 51st senior.

For Pendle, Phil Bacon was 37th under 13 and Ben Rusius was 53rd under 17.

Ben's comeback from injury is timely. After missing the County Championships, his performance will get him to Nottingham, but Bacon and Stones are both unavailable for selection.

The Nottingham races on Saturday March 6 not only include the Inter Counties Championships but also the World Championship Trials and the final round of the Reebok Cross Challenge.

The itinerary is not yet finalised, but Sky Television is intending to cover all 12 races in a five hour programme.

East Lancashire selections for the Inter Counties:

Boys: Under 13: Robbie Schofield (H), Richard Shuttleworth (Preston) Under 15: Callum Fitzpatrick (BH), Curtis Pearce (H), Peter Matthews (BH) Under 17: Matt Wood (BH), Ben Lindsay (P), Michael Smith (H), Ben Rusius (P) Under 20: Tom Cornthwaite (BH), Toby Banfield (BH), Michael Unsworth (CH), James Rusius (P) Senior: Neil Tattersall (P), Mark Aspinall (C)

Girls: Under 13: Sarah Crossley (H), Leigh Lennon (H), Rachel Searson (BH) Under 15: Danielle Walker (B), Samantha Murray (H), Anna Anderson (P), Carla Garnett (PHS), Alison Leonard (CH) Under 17: Sophie Croxson (BH), Kelly Clegg (BH), Katie Morris (BH) Under 20: Katie Ingram (Horwich), Laura Finucane (P), Laura Livesey (CAC) Senior: Sarah Willimott (BH), Sarah Scarrott (CH) and provisional selections Amanda Parkinson (Sale), Kerry Gillibrand (Sale), Pauline Powell (BH)