WITHIN a month the track and field season will be in full swing, and with the County Championships being held early athletes are looking for a flying start to the year.

Pre-season meetings like the one hosted by Pendle Athletic Club on Sunday add that vital sharpness to the winter's endurance work, and around 250 athletes flocked to East Lancashire's first meeting of the summer.

For many of the youngest competitors in the under 10 and under 11 age groups it would have been their first ever meeting and West Street Junior School in Colne enjoyed some success against regular club athletes.

The youngsters could draw inspiration from watching established stars such as Danny Whittaker of Burnley Athletic Club.

Described by coach Dave Goodwin as 'very impressive', Danny won the under 17's 100m by over a second in 12.3 secs, then took on and beat the seniors in the 200m, breaking the tape in 23.0 secs.

The Club's thrower of the year Abigail Ewart made a winning start to her under 15 career by taking the shot with 7.49m, then her mum Karen Vaughan made it a family double by taking the senior long jump.

Meanwhile sisters Alexis and Danielle Walker celebrated by taking javelin and 1500m titles, both at under 15 level.

Lauren Bridge of Pendle was singled out for praise by club statistician Sheila Markendale after winning the under 15's 800m in a personal best 2:39.3 and pulling Carla Burns of Park High School AC around to PB 2:42.9. Carla is showing great form and logged 3:58 for 1200m at Wigan recently.

Park High did get revenge over Pendle in the under 17 sprints where English Schools finalist Louise Dickinson beat Nikala Smith in both the 100m and 200m.

Nikala, who is a schoolmate of Louise, still set PB's of 12.9 secs and 26.5 secs and she also finished as runner up in her debut at 300m.

Pendle's senior ladies, Jubilee Cup Plate finalists last season, lived up to their reputation by winning three titles. The 200m went to Jane Hancock, Ruth Thompson took the 300m hurdles and Vicki Gorton triumphed in the hammer.

Callum Fitzpatrick made a seamless transition from cross country to middle distance track runner winning the double of 800m and 1500m in his new under 15 age group. Pendle's main sponsors Robert McBride are also assisting Hyndburn's rising young star this season.

Hyndburn look to be strong in the longer distances this year, Samantha Murray and Tom Cornthwaite were 1500m winners in the under 13 girls and under 17 men age groups, although Callum's dad Shane was beaten into second by former Hyndburn man Neil Tattersall in the seniors. Neil, running for Pendle, clocked 4:10.3.

Key: B-Burnley AC; BH-Blackburn Harriers; CH-Chorley Harriers; H-Hyndburn AC; P-Pendle AC; PHS- Park High School AC; WS-West Street Junior School, Colne

Women and Girls: Under 10: A Bolton (H) (75m 2nd = 13.0; 150m 2nd 26.6 ) Clemmie Leaver (P) (75m, 2nd =, 13.0) S Brown (WS) (150m, 1st 26.0; 600m 2nd 2:13.1) Rebecca Thompson (P) (long jump 2nd 2.93m-PB) Under 11: M McNeill (H) (75m 1st 11.7) Emma Thompson (P) (150m 2nd 24.8-PB; 600m 2nd 2:06.2; long jump 2nd 3.17m PB) Maisie Bonney (H) (600m 1st 2:03.9; long jump 1st 3.20m) Under 13: Eleanor Markendale (P) (100m 1st 13.6-PB; long jump 1st 4.24m) Vicky McNeill (H) (100m 2nd 14.1; 200m 2nd 30.3) Samantha Murray (H) (1500m 1st 5:29.4) I Walters (H) (shot 1st 6.78m) Under 15: Stephanie Brown (P) (100m 2nd 13.7-PB; long jump 1st 4.42m-PB) Lauren Bridge (P) (800m 1st 2:39.3-PB) Carla Burns (PHS) (800m 2nd 2:42.9-PB) Danielle Walker (B) (1500m 1st 5:09.9) Louise Highton (H) (1500m 2nd 5:14.0) Thea Smith (H) (high jump 1st 1:32; javelin 2nd 14.68m) Emily Walters (H) (high jump 2nd 1:24m) Abigail Ewart (B) (shot 1st 7.49m) E Dunlop (H) (shot 2nd 6.21m) Alexis Walker (B) (javelin 1st 25:21m) Under 17: Louise Dickinson (PHS) (100m 1st 12.8; 200m 1st 26.3) Nikala Smith (P) (100m 2nd 12.9-PB; 200m 2nd 26.5-PB; 300m 2nd 44.3-PB) Rachel Curren (H) (800m 1st 2:33.9) Laura Finucane (P) (1500m 1st 4:55.5-PB) Nicola Breaks (H) (javelin 2nd 25.34m) Lauren Grime (H) (hammer 2nd 17.76m) Senior; Jane Hancock (P) (100m 2nd 13.6; 200m 1st 29.8) Ruth Thompson (P) (300m hurdles 1st 49.1) Karen Vaughan (B) (long jump 1st 3.13m) Laura Dunlop (B) (high jump 1st 1.40m; javelin 2nd 29.68m) Vikki Grime (H) (shot 1st 7.93m; hammer 2nd 29.60m) Vicki Gorton (P) (hammer 1st 32:29m)

Men and Boys: Under 11: Matthew Tindall (PHS) (75m 2nd = 11.5) M Yates (CH) (600m 2nd 2:14.2) Under 13: Sam Crabtree (P) (100m 2nd 14.1; long jump 1st 4.36m; shot 2nd 7.17m-PB) Damien Rawcliffe (H) (1500m 1st 5:03.9; long jump 2nd 3.90m) Under 15: Callum Fitzpatrick (H)(800m 1st 2:26.9; 1500m 1st 4:46.7) Under 17: Danny Whittaker (B) (100m 1st 12.3) Joe McGuiness (H) (100m 2nd 13.5; 200m 2nd 24.9) Tom Cornthwaite (H) (1500m 1st 4:29.2) Jason Wade (P) (shot 1st 10.39m; hammer 1st 26.93m) Senior; Danny Whittaker U17 (B) (200m 1st 23.0) John Linaker (B) (400m 2nd 56.9) Phil Hall (BH) (800m 1st 2:03.3) Neil Tattersall (P) (1500m 1st 4:10.3) Shane Fitzpatrick (H) (1500m 2nd 4:30.8)