WESTHOLME showed they aren’t ready to relinquish their Lancashire Sportshall League title just yet after getting the new season off to a flying start.

The defending girls under 11s champions were the top team at Blackpool Sports Centre with talented young Eloise Littlefair named athlete of the day in the same age group.

The year five pupil, who made the Lancashire Sportshall League team last year, won three of her four events.

It was an impressive performance especially as their more than 100 girls competing in the age group.

Littlefair won the triple jump, vertical jump and chest push and was fourth fastest in the three lap race. It was an individual display that went someway to helping the Blackburn school take the team title.

Teams representing Blackburn, Chorley, Hyndburn and Pendle all took part in the season opener but it was only Westholme who enjoyed team success.

They took a team of 22 athletes up to Blackpool with Phoebe Waddicor, who finished eighth overall, and Lois McTiffin, 12th, also impressing.

All three girls will be hoping to make the county squad when it is named in the New Year – and Westholme coach Frances Griffiths is not ruling out Westholme retaining the title.

“After last year I didn’t think we could do it again,” said Griffiths. “We had an exceptional year and had a very talented team.

“But the way the girls have started this season I am not so sure. There are still two more events to go so anything can happen but the girls have again shown they can compete with other teams, many of whom are from actual Athletics club.”

She added: “Eloise is an exceptional young athlete and will again be hoping to get in to the Lancashire team for the regional sportshall athletics competition. But Phoebe and Lois also did very well and they too will be looking to make the county team.”

Meanwhile, Hasnain Ehsan took it to the max after winning all of his events in Blackpool.

The Hyndburn Athletics Club athlete completed a rare clean sweep, picking up maximum points from his four events.

Ehsan, named athlete of the match in the under 13s, won the two lap and four lap races, the long jump and the triple jump to pick up 28 points.

And Hyndburn had double the reason to celebrate after Louis Ofoluwa won the under 15s boys event.

The Bowland High School pupil won three of his four events – the triple jump, shot put and two lap race – and was second over four laps.

“It’s very rare for someone to win all four events,” said Norman Mitchell, president of Hyndburn Athletics Club. “It was an exceptional performance from Hasjain. Louis also did very well and to get two athletes of the match at the first event bodes well for us for the rest of championship.”

The Lancashire Sportshall Athletic championships have been running for around 15 years. The next event takes place on January 15 and concludes on February 19, both at Blackpool Sports Centre.