PLUCKY Laura Finucane shrugged off a bout of ill health to keep alive her hopes of lifting the Mid Lancs Cross Country title.

The reigning Lancashire Schools Champion hadn't trained for a week and had even been forced to take time off school, but she was just strong enough to win the Under 17 Race at Round Three of the Mid Lancs Cross Country at Burnley on Sunday.

She was given mixed advice as to whether she should run, but having been unfit for the opening round at Liverpool she couldn't afford to miss another race.

Her father Noel admitted that she didn't look her usual bouncy self and although she was always in front, she had to rely on her track speed to seal victory in the closing stages.

Pendle's Laura has been training with the UK Athletics Elite Squad this winter following a track season which saw her make a major breakthrough to become the English Schools' Champion at 800 metres.

The Northern Athletes meet once a month, but she is also a member of the England A Squad which includes the country's top 20 junior middle distance athletes.

There have already been weekend sessions at Birmingham and Loughborough Universities. She will continue to represent Pendle Athletic Club although she has recently joined elite Manchester club Sale Harriers too.

Local girls won three races at Towneley Park with Samantha Murray of Hyndburn and Danielle Walker of Burnley also victorious.

Talented modern pentathlete Samantha returned to her own age group this week after snapping at Danielle's heels at Hyndburn, and this time she got the result she wanted in the Under 13 race.

Sam attacked from the start and held her form to defeat a couple of Southport athletes.

Danielle, already crowned Red Rose League Champion, beat an old adversary Emma Graham in the Under 15s. Emma ran the Red Rose season as Danielle's team mate, but has now switched allegiance to Blackburn Harriers who had a second counter Carly Thompson in fourth.

Consistent Mark Aspinall was the only local male winner when he was the first Over 40 past the post in the Senior Men's race. Last year's veteran silver medallist is always a threat over the country and the Clayton Harrier finished fifth overall. Clayton were prominent in the veteran standings with Ian Greenwood fourth and Maureen Laney, Vanessa Peacock and Anna Kelly among the top five women.

League Champion Neil Tattersall took second place in the Seniors. It's not often the Pendle man is headed these days and it wasn't until the last lap that Preston Harrier John Nuttall edged away.

It was a strong run by Tattersall against a class act who won the 1996 National Cross Country Championship and competed in the 5,000 metres at the Atlanta Olympics.

The Park High School production line continues to unearth new prospects. The latest are the Berry family who returned three second places in the youngest age groups. Eight-year-old Melissa was the runner up against much older girls while Daniel's second came against the Under 11 Boys. Meanwhile, only Reebok series contender Nathan Bibby from Preston had the legs to beat Philip in the Under 13 event.