PENDLE Athletic Club opened their Seedhill facilities to their neighbouring clubs on Sunday in their annual show of hospitality which marks the start of the summer season.

Until now there have been lean pickings for the track and field athletes, mostly just indoor events and a few floodlit meetings, but within a few weeks the local leagues will be in full swing.

No points were at stake here, but it was a great opportunity to blow the cobwebs away and test the success of the winter training.

There were several vests on display from distant clubs like North Devon and Oxford City and John Barron made his regular trip from Leeds City to compete in the 300m hurdles, returning a creditable time of 54.3 seconds at the age of 65.

East Lancashire clubs made up the bulk of the athletes though, with the home club, not surprisingly, having the largest entry.

The Pendle club were also the most successful notching up 23 wins.

Two of their under 15's returned the perfect record of three wins out of three, coincidentally in exactly the same events. For the girls, Nikala Smith logged 13.2 seconds for the 100m, 28.0 secs for the 200m and jumped a distance of 4.37m, and that was matched by Robert Brown who timed 13.7secs and 29.2 secs for the sprints and leapt 4.92m.

Two of their nationally ranked athletes also struck form early despite moving up the age groups. Sam Crabtree was the winning under 13 boy in both the 100m and long jump, while Laura Finucane, now an under 17, didn't run in her favoured 800m distance, but was still too good for her opponents in the 200m and 1500m.

It is a landmark season for Burnley's Colin Bailey who can now compete in the decathlon as he has reached the senior ranks. Colin won the high jump with a clearance of 1.65 and also took two second places.

Sprinter Danny Whittaker has already shown good form this season, and that continued as he took the 100m and 200m double at under 17 level. Chris Hart, Marc Hartley and Danielle Walker all demonstrated the value of a good cross country season with victories in the middle distances. Danielle returned a Grade 1 standard and a PB of 5:08.4 in the 1500m. Under 15 throwers Stewart MacGregor and Martin Wall tasted success with respective wins in the shot and javelin, and former Burnley star Simon Bissell, now an under 17, won the hammer, shot and javelin.

The star turn for Hyndburn was Beth Highton who won the under 11's 75m and long jump, and the club could celebrate four other wins shared by Joe McGuinness, Callum Fitzpatrick, Benjamin White and Vicky McNeill. Mark Birchall was the senior winner in the long jump and javelin -- an unusual double, and there was further success for Blackburn Harriers when Alastair Crooks won the under 10's long jump. MEN: Pendle AC: Seniors: Leeroy Golding (100m 1st 12.5) Thomas Bennett (800m 1st 2:19.4) Frankie Vargacz (300m hurdles 2nd 46.6) Under 17: James Robinson (200m 2nd 26.4, shot 2nd 11.33m) David Lowe (400m 1st 58.1) Lee Leishman (800m 2nd 2:14.6) Under 15: Robert Brown (100m 1st 13.7, 200m 1st 29.2, long jump 1st 4.92m) Matthew Chorley (100m 2nd 14.6, 200m 2nd 30.7, long jump 2nd 4.74m) Chris Monks (800m 2nd 2:34.1) Under 13: Sam Crabtree (100m 1st 14.5, long jump 1st 3.94m) Jack Van Wren (100m 2nd 15.6, 1500m 1st 5:12.4) Steven Dickson (200m 1st 32.1, 1500m 2nd 5:12.9) James Finucane (shot 1st 7.69m) Burnley AC: Seniors: Colin Bailey (high jump 1st 1.65m, long jump 2nd 5.60m, javelin 2nd 40.18m) Under 17: Danny Whittaker (100m 1st 11.9, 200m 1st 24.7) Chris Hart (800m 1st 2:12.0, 1500m 1st 4:30.3) Simon Woods (100m 2nd 12.4, long jump 2nd 4.97m) Simon Bissell -- former Burnley (shot 1st 13.52m, hammer 1st 53.27m, javelin 1st 32.41m) Under 15: Marc Hartley (1500m 1st 4:42.4) Stewart MacGregor (shot 1st 4.93m) Martin Wall (javelin 1st 20.96m) Blackburn Harriers: Seniors: Mark Birchall (long jump 1st 6.35m, javelin 1st 48.31m) John Paul Clements (100m 2nd 12.5, 200m 2nd 26.0) Under 10: Alastair Crooks (long jump 1st 3.09m) Hyndburn AC: Under 17: Joe McGuinness (long jump 1st 5.13m) Under 13: Callum Fitzpatrick (800m 1st 2:31.8, 200m 2nd 32.8, long jump 2nd 3.79m) Under 10: Benjamin White (150m 1st 27.3, long jump 2nd 2.98m) Clayton Harriers: Seniors: Paul Targett (1500m 2nd 4:41.4) Chorley Harriers: Under 17: Nathan Lawton (1500m 2nd 4:39.9)

WOMEN: Pendle AC: Seniors: Fiona Corrigan (400m 2nd 62.3) Ruth Thompson (300m hurdles 1st 48.2) Victoria Rusius (800m 1st 2:28.4) Anita Saunders (long jump 1st 4.26m) Debbie Lund (shot 2nd 9.54m, hammer 2nd 33.20m) Under 17: Sally Targett (100m 1st 13.5) Laura Finucane (200m 1st 27.7, 1500m 1st 5:00.3) Under 15: Nikala Smith (100m 1st 13.2, 200m 1st 28.0, long jump 1st 4.37m) Under 13: Stephanie Brown (200m 2nd 31.4, long jump 1st 3.81m) Eleanor Markendale (800m 1st 2:42.5) Hayley Manning (shot 1st 6.81m) Burnley AC: Under 17: Laura Dunlop (high jump 1st 1:40m) Under 15: Alexis Walker (1500m 2nd 5:26.8, javelin 1st 18.14m) Susan Bissell -- former Burnley (shot 2nd 8.70m, javelin 2nd 18.07m) Under 13: Danielle Walker (1500m 1st 5:08.4) Blackburn Harriers: Under 13: Carly Thompson (800m 2nd 2:44.5) Hyndburn AC: Under 13: Vicky McNeill (100m 1st equal 14.7 Under 11: Elizabeth Highton (75m 1st 12.4, long jump 1st 3.40m) Chorley AC: Under 15: Laura Livesey (1500m 1st 5:05.2) Chorley Harriers: Under 17: Victoria Snape (1500m 2nd 5:04.9) Amanda is part of Paula's successful team AMANDA Parkinson and Helen Pattinson were both counters for Great Britain and NI's most successful team at the World Cross Country Championships.

While the attention was focused on Paula Radcliffe's gold medal winning performance over the long course on Saturday, the team backed Paula's second place finish over the short course by packing their first four finishers in the top thirty five.

That left them just three points short of the bronze medal won by the top Europeans Romania with only the crack African squads from Kenya and Ethiopia in front. It also earned the team $10,000 in prize money.

With Dublin having been ruled out because of foot and mouth concerns, the event was switched to the Wellington Racecourse in Ostend -- and it was wellington boot weather with clinging mud over most of the course. It was also bitingly cold with strong winds off the sea which was only about 100 yards away.

Although not ideal conditions for Amanda, she started well and continued to make progress as other girls tired. At the end she was the third GB counter after Paula and 12th placed Kathy Butler.

Her 32nd place showed a great improvement on 76th in Morocco in 1998 in her only previous appearance.

"It all went by so fast, I can't remember a lot about the race," she admitted. "But I'm pleased. This is the best winter I've ever had, and I feel that I've moved on a stage."

Preston Harrier Pattinson was three seconds and three places behind as she was the fourth and final counter in the six woman team.

"Helen's best is 34th, so I think she was a little disappointed at missing that by one place," remarked Amanda.

Amanda, who learned her trade at Hyndburn AC, is intending to run more 5,000m races this season although she will still run 1500's too.

"I'll see how it goes," she said. Her track season will get underway in mid May when she hopes to run for Sale Harriers in the European Club Championship.

Next month she takes part in the 3K event at the Balmoral Road Races where Kelly Holmes is expected to be among her opponents. Round Up Linda leads

by example DARWEN Dashers lady captain Linda Clarkson led by example when she broke the ladies club record at the Ackworth Half Marathon at Pontfract with a time of 1:35:14. That beat the existing mark by four minutes and her PB by a staggering 17 minutes. Blackburn Harrier Eric Wilson was second M45 in 1:16:29. Elsewhere Blackburn Road Runner Sandra Snape was first lady and John Wieczorek of Clayton Harriers first man in the Witton Park four mile charity fun run. McAllister ROGER Brewster of Clayton and Rossendale's Mervyn Keys overcame arctic conditions to finish first and second veterans in the Vera Hirst 5K road race at Littleborough. Roger, now over 45 was third overall behind Salford's Ken Chapman, while Mervyn took ninth place. Thea's hurdle THEA Smith won the 70m hurdles at the Carlisle Open Meeting. The Hyndburn under 13 also finished third in the long jump. At a windy and cold Trafford last Tuesday, Louise Dickinson of Park High School AC still managed a PB of 19.2 seconds in the 150m, and ran a competitive 8.2 seconds for the 60m. Louise was the only under 15 in her events and had to cope with mixed age group races. Fred's champion RED Rose Road Runners held their Presentation Evening on Saturday. Although it is a Preston based club they draw their support from across the county. East Lancashire athletes in the prizes included Fell Champion Fred Lynch and Road Champion Will Garner both from Blackburn, Richard Packer from Padiham who is the over 60 Champion, and Clitheroe's Jennifer Adams who is the club's leading lady marathon runner. Bunny run's THE Bunny Run series of fell races has beaten the countryside ban and will go ahead -- but with different dates and a new location. They move, from Tuesdays to Thursdays, now the fifth, 12, 19 and 26 April with the Relay on May 3. New venue is Cliffe Castle, off Skipton Road, Keighley. Registration is at St Annes Social Club, about 100 yards from Cliffe Castle. Race distance is still 3M and start times are as shown in FRA Calendar. Fell off THE FRA has now cancelled all FRA registered races until further notice. Where races have the facility to switch to an urban or non livestocked venue permission may be granted for the race to continue. Other races off include: Sat March 31: Coniston 14M (now 13 October), Carnforth 10K, Hyndburn and District Primary School Cross Country, Schools International Cross Country (Northop) Sunday April 1: Bolton Blast, Lancaster and Morecambe Golden Ball 5K (now November 25) Sat April 7: Tulketh Trundle, Sun April 8: Medicine and Chernobyl 10K Fri April 13 (Good Friday): Caldervale 10M Sun April 15: Moonraker 5M (Middleton) Sun April 29: Garstang Gallop Contributors CONTRIBUTORS for this page please contact Andy McAllister on andy.mcallister@virginnet.co.uk. Park

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race SALFORD Harriers are promoting the Salford 5K Road Race on Saturday. It is at Heaton Park, Prestwich starting at the Grand Lodge entrance off the A665 Bury Old Road.

Entries on the day can be obtained from the Farm Centre Clock Tower which is a mile from the start.

The main race starts at 2pm, and there is an under 17's 3K at 1:30pm.

Both runs are on a traffic free course inside the park.

The Oldham Mayor's Half Marathon is on Sunday at 11am. I

t is a single loop Town and Country road race from Oldham town centre into undulating Saddleworth countryside. Start is at the Oldham Sports Centre, Lord Street, Oldham.

The Gorden Baker Charities 5K Road Race is at 7pm on Wednesday from the Falcon Inn, The Square, Littleborough on the A58 Halifax Road.

On Thursday (5th April) the first fell race since February is due to take place. Bunny Run (1) with Easter Eggs as the prizes will start at 7pm. (Races On)

Sun April 8th: Wakefield Hospice City 10K

Tues April 10th: Coppice 5M Fell Race (Accrington)

Wed April 11th: Gordhen Entwistle 5.5M road race (Rochdale -- a new course and distance)

Thurs April 12th: Bunny Run (2) 3M fell race (Keighley -- new location)

Good Friday April 13th: Southport 10K road race, Salford 10K road race

Wed April 18th: Phil Roberts Rochdale Hospice 4.3M road race

Thurs April 19th: Bunny Run (3) 3M fell race (Keighley -- new location)

Sun April 22nd: London Marathon, Bolton 10K road race

Wed April 25th: Steve Rothwell Memorial 4M road race (Rochdale)

Thurs 26th April: Bunny Run (4) 3M fell race (Keighley -- new location)

Tues 1st May: Bill and Janet Farrow Race (Littleborough)

Thurs May 3rd: Bunny Run Fell Relays (Keighley -- new location)