DANNY Whittaker left it late. The 16-year-old Burnley Athletic Club sprinter has been flying all year, but had narrowly missed the big win.

It arrived finally at the last major meeting of the season, the Northern Inter Counties match at Cudworth where he won the Under 17s 100m and 200m double for Lancashire on Saturday.

"It was a cracking good performance - he ran very very well," enthused Team Manager Brian Craig.

Danny, from Bacup, joined Burnley AC almost by accident. He started as an Under 15 representing his school, All Saints, in the Rossendale Schools Championships. He qualified for Lancashire Schools where he finished second in the 100metres.

His teachers urged him to find a club and he rang around. "Burnley were the only club to reply," said Danny.

Now after two years as a club runner, he is beginning to fulfil his potential.

Second at the Lancashire Championships in the 100m and 200m in May followed by two third places in the North of England Championships at the City of Manchester Stadium earned him a debut in the English Schools Championships in the Intermediate 200m.

His leg had cramped up the night before the event and he suffered a recurrence while leading his heat. Although he finished, he missed a place in the semi-final by one hundredth of a second.

That disappointment was quickly forgotten as he was chosen for the English Catholic Schools Team - after winning the Lancashire Schools 200m - to compete in the European Championships in Malta where he picked up two more silver medals.

Lady luck deserted him for a second time in the AAAs Championships when he qualified for the semi-finals of the 100m and 200m but pulled a hamstring and was unable to try for the finals.

There were no setbacks on Saturday though as he won the 200m by five metres in 22.38 seconds and the 100m comfortably in 11.0 seconds.

Burnley team mate Chris Hart was drafted into the team at the eleventh hour and won the Under 17 1,500m at a canter, while Pendle brothers Ben and James Rusius each contributed second places to the team effort.

Under 17 James clocked 4:42.49 in the 1,500m steeplechase with Under 15 Ben returning 4:19.5 in the 1,500 flat as both missed victory by one second.

Meanwhile Chorley AC's Lee Pursglove cleared 1.85m for second spot in the Under 17 high jump.

Lancashire's women took third on aggregate with the Under 17s the most successful in second. Outstanding performances in this age group came from Vicky Snape and Laura Finucane.

Chorley AC's Vicky crushed the opposition in the 3,000m taking the lead at the bell to win by 50 metres. Pendle's Laura was equally dominant in the 300m - 12 metres clear in 40.65.

Pendle's Nikala Smith was called into the team to run her first ever 300m hurdles after successes at 80m hurdles and 300m flat and she justified her selection by grabbing second place by just one hundredth of a second.

The real hero of the weekend though was Pendle athlete Matthew Clough who finished fifth in the Under 17 shot only three months after suffering a life threatening illness.

Men and Boys: Under 15: Ben Rusius (P) 1500m 2nd 4:19.5; Paul Bradshaw (BH) 800m 3rd 2:09.74 Under 17: Danny Whittaker (B) 200m 1st 22.38, 100m 1st 11.0; Chris Hart (B) 1500m 1st 4:13.6; James Rusius (P) 1500m steeplechase 2nd 4:42.49; Danny Eckersley (B) 800m 3rd 2:03.77; Mark Fletcher (Blackburn Schools) long jump 3rd 6.29m; Jason Wade (P) hammer 7th 33.28m; Matthew Clough (P) shot 5th 11.42m; Lee Pursglove (CAC) high jump 2nd 1.85m Senior: Colin Bailey (B) pole vault 3rd 3.60m, 110m hurdles 3rd 15.59 Teams: U15s 4th; U17s 4th; Senior s 2nd

Women and Girls: Under 15: Caroline Smithson (H) 100m 3rd 12.83; Danielle Walker 1500m 8th 5:24.63; Anna Griffiths (H) 75m hurdles 3rd 12.00, shot 4th 9.79m; Alexis Walker (B) javelin 5th 26.68m Under 17: Nikala Smith (P) 300m hurdles 2nd 47.72m; Laura Livesey (CAC) 1500m 4th 5:01.01; Laura Finucane (P) 300m 1st 40.26; Vicky Snape (CAC) 3,000m 1st 10:44.41 Senior: Jennifer Tunstill (PHS) 800m 6th 2:30.53; Vicki Gorton (P) hammer 6th 34.74m, discus 6th 32.40m, shot 7th 7.74m Teams: U15s 3rd; U17s 2nd; Seniors 5th; Aggregate 3rd