BLACKBURN Harrier Curtis Pearce has clinched the Reebok Cross Challenge after winning four major awards at the televised Inter Counties on Saturday.

The 12-year-old has focused on the seven-race cross country series all season and had won rounds at Liverpool, Margate, Edinburgh and Belfast prior to last weekend's race at Nottingham. He finished second at Birmingham and missed the Cardiff race.

He already had one hand on the trophy, but with the final race carrying double points, he could not afford a slip.

Despite suffering hamstring problems in the run-up - and being dealt a blow with an unfavourable starting pen draw - he won bronze.

Sky TV offered extensive coverage as Christian Booker from Worcestershire raced to gold.

Curt still earned a gold medal, though, as the Lancashire squad headed the team standings.

And further celebrations were in store when, just 24 hours later, he won the National Catholic Schools Championships at Whiston, Liverpool, for the second consecutive year.

His school, St Bede's in Blackburn, finished second in the Year Eight/Nine race.

Back at Nottingham, Preston Harrier Nathan Bibby finished sixth while Peter Matthews, Pearce's Blackburn Harrier team mate, placed 32nd.

Philip Berry of Park High School AC, Colne, was the final counter. He played a crucial role as his 56th was over 50 places ahead of the next Lancastrian.

The team also won the cup for being the highest placed Northern County.

Preston Harrier Helen Pattinson, who will join Liz Yelling and Paula Radcliffe for a month's altitude training in Albuquerque, New Mexico, prior to the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland at the end of next month, was fifth in Nottingham and the race doubled as the World Championship Trial for the seniors.

There was no joy for Blackburn's Pauline Powell, though, despite a splendid 14th place. That is expected to leave her just short of making the World Championship squad.

Results - Boys and Men: Under 13: 1 Christian Booker (Worc) 10:51, 2 Tom Carpenter (Avon) 11:02, 3(1st Lancashire) Curtis Pearce (Black Harr) 11:06, 6(2) Nathan Bibby (Preston) 11:14, 32(3) Peter Matthews (Black Harr) 11:41, 56(4) Philip Berry (Park HS) 11:52 Under 15: 1 Adam Hickey (Essex) 15:35, 24(1) Ben Rusius (Pen) 16:22, 31(2) Callum Fitzpatrick (Black Harr) 16:28, 118 (4) Paul Bradshaw (Black Harr) 17:17 Under 17: 1 Anthony Moran (Gtr Man) 20:44, 110(5) Matt Wood (Black Harr) 23:01 Junior (Under 20): 1 Tom Humphries (Staffs) 26:08, 64(1) Tom Cornthwaite (Hynd) 28:59 Senior: 1 Glynn Tromans (Warks) 37:42, 69(3) Neil Tattersall (Pen) 40:35

Girls and Women: Under 13: 1 Sarah Simpson (Beds) 11:58, 67(2nd Lancashire) Sam Murray (Hynd) 13:04, 72(3) Leigh Lennon (Hynd) 13:06, 80(4) Sarah Crossley (Hynd) 13:08 Under 15: 1 Charlotte Browning (Sussex) 15:42, 51(1) Emma Graham (Black Harr) 16:49, 108(3) Louise Highton (Hynd) 17:27 Under 17: 1 Morag McLarty (Scot East) 18:43, 67(2) Vicky Snape (Chor AC) 20:57, 91(3) Laura Finucane (Pen) 21:16, 110(5) Laura Livesey (Chor AC) 21:35 Junior (Under 20): 1 Charlotte Dale (Kent) 22:48, 30 (1) Katie Ingram (Chor Harr) 26:02 Senior: 1 Hayley Yelling (Middlesex) 28:04, 5(1) Helen Clitheroe (Preston) 29:00, 14(2) Pauline Powell (Black Harr) 29:55, 101(6) Maureen Laney (Clay) 32:33