LAURA Finucane of Pendle AC and Chris Hart from Burnley AC have been invited to join the North West World Class Potential Squad.

The under 17 middle distance stars were nominated by their clubs, and were chosen after their race results were submitted to NW Co-ordinator Mike Dooling.

Already they have attended the first of their monthly training sessions under Preston distance star John Nuttall with a group of two dozen athletes.

That meeting was in St Helens, and subsequent days will be held across the region. On December 9 they will be training on the sand dunes at Formby, and further events are planned at Stockport and Blackpool.

At the recent Presentation Night held by Pendle AC at Nelson Cricket Club, Laura was honoured with a 'Special Trophy' to mark her achievements last season which led to her selection for the elite squad.

It was one of three trophies she won as she was also the club's top Female Sprinter and the joint winner of the Jim McElhone Trophy for the Female Cross Country Runner of the year.

Victoria Rusius, who shared the Cross Country award this year won her title for the seventh consecutive year.

AWARDS: Under 11 Female Athlete: Emma Hornsby;

Under 11 Male Athlete: Kyle Biddle; Female Cross Country (Jim McElhone Trophy): Laura Finucane & Victoria Rusius

Male Cross Country (Jim McElhone Trophy): Ben Rusius

Under 13 Female Sprint: Stephanie Brown & Eleanor Markendale

Under 13 Male Sprint (Tommy Jackson Trophy): Sam Crabtree

Under 13 Female Middle Distance: Jade Hartley

Under 13 Male Middle Distance: Steven Dickson

Under 13 Female Field (Renee Jackson Trophy): Eleanor Markendale & Stephanie Brown

Under 13 Male Field Sam Crabtree

Female Sprint: Laura Finucane

Male Sprint: Nick Taylor

Female Hurdles: Ruth Thompson

Male Hurdles: Frankie Vargacz

Female Middle Distance: Laura Finucane

Male Middle Distance: Ben Rusius

Female Field: Vicky Gorton

Male Field: Jason Wade

Female Endeavour: Grace Biddle

Male Endeavour: James Finucane

Female Stainthorpe Trophy (Mid-Lancs League Points): Stephanie Brown

Male Stainthorpe Trophy: (Mid-Lancs League Points) James Robinson

Marsden Trophy (Pendle Open): David Lowe

Raymond Wild Trophy (Athletes' Athlete): Fiona Corrigan

Special Trophy (Past year's achievement a result of which she is now a member of the North West World Class Potential Squad): Laura Finucane

Rotary Club Young Athlete of the Year Trophy: Ben Rusius