DANIELLE Walker won her fifth cross country race of the season in Saturday's Mid Lancs Meeting at Blackpool to tighten her stranglehold on the under 13's age group.

Last season she won both the Mid Lancs and Red Rose titles, and it seems that having reached the top of her age group this year, there is no stopping her.

Before November was out, the 12-year-old Burnley athlete had clinched the Red Rose title again with three straight wins, and after a comfortable win at Stanley Park gave her a second Mid Lancs victory of the winter, she is poised for another title.

The only blip came in a recent Reebok Challenge Race when she took a wrong turn when leading, and that is just what happened to man of the moment Callum Fitzpatrick on Saturday.

The unfortunate youngster from Hyndburn AC fought back to finish sixth in the under 13 event, a race which was notable for another stirring run from Philip Hayton of Burnley.

Philip was runner up to Adam McKell of Blackpool and helped his club to finish third team. Newcomers Daniel and Philip Berry from Park High School AC also made their mark with top ten finishes in the under 11 and under 13 races.

On a rainy day which made the going heavy, Pendle AC's Ben Rusius showed in the under 15's boys race why he has become the club's "Young Athlete of the Year ," finishing second to Preston Harrier Richard Newton.

Elder brother James, competing as an under 17 was seventh, but it was Burnley's Chris Hart who was again the leading local with second spot.

Chorley Harriers have split their interest between two leagues this year, but the club won a second place in the ladies under 20 race with Joanne Gill.

Meanwhile Clayton Harriers had the first veteran lady and man home. Mark Aspinall was the first male veteran to cross the line while Anna Kelly won the ladies prize. Champions Clayton were the top club in the senior men's event, although it was Pendle's Neil Tattersall who was best placed East Lancs runner with second place.

The Mid Lancs League were holding their AGM this week, and in her report, Secretary Dawn Lock remarked that the Hyndburn fixture a month ago "had a massive attendance, the best (for any Mid Lancs fixture) for two years."

It attracted 568 competitors - excluding under 11's and guests - and at Blackpool there were 494 runners which was also up on last year.

Dawn also reported that Reebok Cross Challenge organiser Tim Hutchins was pleased with the Mid Lancs entry of 438 at the combined event at Liverpool and has expressed interest in another joint venture next year.

Innovations such as on line entry for races and a sliding scale of subscriptions which is fairer to the smaller clubs are also under consideration for next season.

Boys and Men: Under 11: 1 Thomas Farrell (Border) 4:58, 8 Daniel Berry (PHS) 5:17, 9 Philip Woodhead (P) 5:19 Under 13: 1 Adam McKell (Blackpool) 10:42, 2 Philip Hayton (B) 10:48, 6 Callum Fitzpatrick (H) 11:05, 10 Philip Berry (PHS) 11:10 Teams: 3rd Burnley Under 15: 1 Richard Newton (Preston) 14:06, 2 Ben Rusius (P) 14:19, 7 Marc Hartley (B) 15:20 Under 17: 1 Alan Stewart (Liverpool Pembroke) 16:05, 2 Chris Hart (B) 16:16, 7 James Rusius (P) 17:03 Under 20: 1 Henry Stewart (Liverpool Pembroke) 28:44, 10 William Unsworth (CH) 34:17 Senior: 1 Chris Winward (Barrow) 40:17, 2 Neil Tattersall (P) 40:22, 5 Scott Monk (BH) 41:54, 8 Andy Stubbs (C) 42:12, 11(1st Vet) Mark Aspinall (C) 42:30, 12 Garry Wilkinson (C) 42:34, 13 Richard Thomas (D) 42:37, 20 Lee Passco (C) 44:06, 24 Andy Orr (C) 44:37, 26 Rob Wynne (Blackburn RR) 44:48, 38 Andy Smith (D) 45:34, 40 (M40) Tony Chew (C) 45:48, 41 (M40) Alan Alty (CH) 45:50, 68 (5th M50) Barry Mitchell (C) 48:26, 72 (6th M50) Jeffrey Pickup (C) 48:59, 97 (9th M50) Dave Scott (C) 50:59, 100 (10th M50) Pete Gillham (CH) 51:08

Girls and Women: Under 11: 1 Rhea Ellis (Southport) 5:14, 2 Emma Thompson (P) 5:20, 3 Sarah Chapman (B) 5:21, 5 Maisie Bonney (B) 5:35, 7Rebecca Thompson (P) 5:51, 8 Leanne Dixon (P) 5:52, 9 Jessica Graham (B) 5:53 Under 13: 1 Danielle Walker (B) 7:57, 6 Carly Thompson (BH) 8:22, 9 Alison Leonard (CH) 8:36 Team: 3rdPendle Under 15: 1 Amanda Pyrah (Lancaster) 11:41, 4 Laura Livesey (CAC) 11:56, 8 Louise Highton (H) 12:09 Teams: 3rdBurnley Under 17: 1 Kelli Roberts (Kendal) 16:49, 4 Laura Finucane (P) 17:01, 6 Rachel Holt (BH) 17:36 Under 20: 1 Rebecca Robinson (Kendal) 19:13, 2 Joanne Gill (CH) 20:06 Senior: 1 Caroline Betmead (N Fylde) 18:19, 9 (1st veteran) Anna Kelly (C) 20:03, 12 Liz Crawshaw (P) 20:13, 13 Linda Clarkson (D) 20:19, 17 (5th veteran) Claire Goulden (CH) 20:28, 22 (7th veteran) Janet Pound (CAC) 20:47, 23 Zoe Braithwaite (D) 20:50 Teams: Division 2-3rd Darwen Dashers, Division 3-1st Pendle, 3rd Blackburn RR Veteran Teams: 2nd Chorley Harriers, 3rd Clayton

Key to Clubs; B-Burnley, BH-Blackburn Harriers, C-Clayton, CAC-Chorley AC, CH-Chorley Harriers, D-Darwen Dashers, H-Hyndburn, P-Pendle, PHS-Park High School