RACHEL Pounds pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the season to be crowned Northern Champion at Heaton Park on Saturday.

The 12 year-old Bolton Harrier took the honours after a three-way sprint in the most exciting finish of the day.

Rachel was one of three athletes who broke away at the halfway point. The trio were led by Bury's Laura Evans, who had twice beaten Rachel to win the Red Rose League before Christmas. Evans established a 20 metre lead and looked to have the race won with only 400m to go with Rachel in third.

Kicking up the final hill, she burst past Evans, who faded to third, before holding off the second athlete by a single second.

The delighted Turton High School pupil, who has been running for 2 years, explained that her storming finish was down to the speed and hill work she puts in with coach Jack Caldwell. More of the same could make 2003 a memorable year.

Rachel said: "I was just trying to get past the second girl, but then I saw the leader was tired too."

Liz Holt was 21st in the Under 15 girls, and Katie Smith an impressive 13th in the Under 17s, as she continues to battle back to form after injury.

There was slight disappointment in the Under 17s for the club's England Junior Fell International, Tim Ellis. After a superb start to the season, including top-ten finishes in the National Reebok Cross series, Ellis was full of confidence and bravely took the race on in his bid for a surprise medal. He led early in the race before dropping back to 15th.

Meanwhile, a week previously, the club's new signing, David Ricketts, marked his debut in a Bolton vest with a huge PB and 6th place in the Helsby Half Marathon. His time of 67:52 knocked more than 2 minutes off his previous best.