SCHOOLBOY athlete Curtis Pearce enjoyed the best result of his fledgling career - after ignoring his coach's instructions.

The 12-year-old Blackburn Harrier - son of former Burnley goalkeeper Chris Pearce - took on and beat the nation's best Under 13 cross country runners in the opening round of the Reebok Cross Challenge at Sefton Park in Liverpool.

As well as excelling in athletics, Curtis is also a fine goalkeeper and has recently been invited to join Manchester United's Academy.

"He's a character," said his athletics coach Arthur Almond.

"It's been hard work, I've been trying to get him to run to my instructions for six months.

"I told him to run behind the leader, but he ran with him."

When Curtis saw his opportunity near the finish he attacked on a downhill stretch.

"He went like a bat out of hell," said Arthur.

The final run-in was uphill and Preston Harrier Nathan Bibby closed the gap over the last 250 metres as Curtis tired and the pair were given the same time as they crossed the line together.

Curtis will be hoping to run in all the Reebok races this season after Warburtons the Bakers backed him with sponsorship of £1,500 to help with travelling expenses.

The St Bede's pupil has certainly made an impressive start to his athletics career. It was only last November that he ran his first race for the school, representing them at cross country, but he went on to become the Year Seven Blackburn with Darwen Schools Champion.

On the track this summer he was a double Lancashire Champion at 800m and 1,500m, setting new Championship Records in both events.

He prefers the country, though, and rates his win in the Great Britain Catholic Schools Championship last season as his previous best victory.

Pearce is also a goalkeeper of considerable promise, following after his father Chris. He was at Rochdale where Chris is the goalkeeping coach, but is just about to start a six week trial with the Manchester United.

"I had to leave Rochdale to join United," says Curtis "but they have told me that I can come back afterwards."

Meanwhile, coach Almond is just looking forward to the next round of the Reebok at Birmingham.

"If I get him running to plan it will be brilliant."

For the second year the opening round of the Mid Lancs League was incorporated into the Reebok race at Liverpool giving an opportunity for local club runners to rub shoulders with the elite.

The Blackburn Harriers Under 13 Boys, led by Curtis, were first team in the league after Adam Hurley and Peter Matthews were sixth and seventh Mid Lancs finishers with Liam Holden the final counter.

After graduating from the Under 20s, Blackburn Harrier Sarah Willimott was running against some big guns in the Senior Women's race. While sisters-in-law Liz and Hayley Yelling finished one-two, Loughborough student Sarah won the battle for Mid Lancs supremacy.

Finishing 19th overall, but less than two minutes off the pace, it must be rated as one of the performances of the day.