THE cat is finally out of the bag.

For the past six weeks, 19-year-old Getu Assefa has been training with Pendle Athletic Club, but had not entered any races.

Coach Terry Wilkinson chose the Wesham 10K at Kirkham to be his first outing, a flat and fast road race which would pit Getu against the best the county could offer.

Paul Muller is the Lancashire champion having won the title only two months ago on a similar course in Kirkham, and Alex Rowe, captain of organising club Wesham Road Runners, was last year's 10 mile champion.

Before the race Terry asked the race director for a course map because Getu was afraid of getting lost. "I've left it at home," came the reply. "Just tell him to follow the others."

After a couple of miles Muller tried to break clear from a group of five, but in Rowe's words "Getu was having none of it."

Instead he moved away to beat the two local favourites by a minute. The mystery of his identity deepened when he left before the presentation.

Assefa is an Ethiopian who ended up in Britain after being forced to flee his own country for political reasons surrounding his family.

The authorities sent him to Brierfield three months ago and he will be here for at least six months.

He would love to stay and is hoping that he will be given permission to settle here.

In his efforts to integrate with the local community, he is studying English three days a week at Nelson and Colne College.

He isn't very fluent yet, but he understands well. A friend told him about the running club, and he joined as soon as the club gained the necessary permission from the Northern Counties. When he arrived he had virtually no kit and he was running in Hi-Tec squash shoes, but even then the coaches could see he was talented.

He has a slim build and a languid style and it was obvious that he loves to run.

As an asylum seeker he would never be able to afford any equipment, but everyone has rallied round to help.

Several individuals have made donations including club president Alan Ashworth, and the other members of his training group have had a whip round.

Brierfield Sports Charities have also given their support, and Terry Lonerghan, of the Complete Runner shop in Nelson, has made sure that the money raised has gone a long way.

Getu runs every day. Two days a week he runs on the track, Monday and on club night which is Wednesday.

Coach Terry Wilkinson has gathered a strong squad of mixed age groups and the sessions also attract athletes from other clubs.

For his longest run of the week, usually on a Saturday, he runs with Phil Hall of Clayton Harriers.

Phil, a regular prize winner in local events, has been showing Getu the best routes in the area. For the last three weeks they have been running over Pendle Hill.

At first Getu lacked a little stamina, but now he is racing ahead on all of the climbs. Phil said: "I think he will take the road racing circuit by storm, I don't think there is anyone to touch him in this area."

Because of the language difficulties a full picture of his athletic career in Ethiopia is still emerging.

It is apparent that he was a full time athlete and trained within a group. Some of Pendle's officials think he is a Junior International.

His best times are 14mins 28 secs for 5K, 30:02 for 10K (both on the track) and 65 minutes for the half marathon. Michael Green, the Blackburn Harrier currently studying in America, is slightly faster for 5K having run 14:10, but is three or fours years older.

Great Britain Junior International Lee McCash, who has recently left Pendle to attend Bath University, is the same age as Getu and has run 14:40.

"I would love to see them train together," says Lee's former coach Mark Ashworth.

So would I.