THEA Smith made a sensational debut in Sports Hall Athletics at the opening meeting of the season at Blackpool.

The Hyndburn youngster won the coveted Athlete of the Match title in the under 11 girls section with a near perfect score. She won three of her four events, the one lap, two laps and triple jump, but had to be content with the runners-up spot in the vertical jump.

A second Hyndburn athlete, Charlotte Baron won the standing long jump with a distance of 2.36m which would place her second in the country on last year's rankings. Charlotte took Athlete of the Match in the under 13 age group ahead of team-mate Anna Griffiths.

Pendle's Sam Crabtree won the under 11 boys title with two firsts and two seconds, while Burnley's new cross country star Danielle Walker was a winner in the under 11 four-lap race. The next fixture is at West View Leisure Centre, Preston on Sunday January 9. RESULTS - PENDLE - Under 11 Boys: Athlete of the Match: Sam Crabtree (2nd one lap, 1st two lap, 1st vertical jump, 2nd long jump), Joshua Sinclair (1st sitting ball throw, 1st javelin). Under 15 Girls: Hayley Greenwood (1st speed bounce), Kate Franzke (1st shot).

BURNLEY - Under 11 Girls: Danielle Walker (four lap 1st). Under 13 Girls: Rebecca Gregory (triple jump 1st).

HYNDBURN - Under 11 Boys: Callum Fitzpatrick (long jump 1st). Under 11 Girls: Athlete of the Match: Thea Smith (1st one lap, 1st two lap, 1st triple jump, 2nd vertical jump). Under 13 Girls - Athlete fo the Match: Charlotte Baron (1st two laps, 1st long jump, 1st vertical jump, 34d shot). Second overall: Anna Griffiths (1st four lap, 2nd two lap, 3rd vertical jump).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.