LAURA Evans' talisman, her lucky green 'Paula hat', has brought her a good deal of luck this season -- and she worked extremely hard for all of it.

Hopefully, we'll be seeing a lot more of the hat as well as Laura on the winner's podium.

She dominated both the Red Rose and North West Women's cross country leagues with no-one in sight as she won all six races.

The pressure then started to build with four major championships.

After winning the Greater Manchester at Moss Park in early January, the Northern Cross Country in Heaton Park was next.

Laura was quite nervous ahead of this event, nevertheless she led almost all the way before two fellow northern girls, working together, outsprinted her in the last 20 metres.

By Laura's excellent standards third place was a disappointment -- but not for long. Selected for Greater Manchester in the Inter Counties at Woolaton Park, Nottingham, she had another exciting race, beaten only by the South of England champion Sarah Simpson.

The rematch was not long off. The fourth and final championship and the biggest cross country race of the year -- the National -- this year at Parliament Hill Fields, London.

Again her brilliant green hat was clearly visible at the front of the 255 runners.

Leading at the top of every hill, again Sarah pulled back that lead on the downhill.

The finish of the race was flat and despite her best efforts and an excellent finish in what was one of her best races, Laura finished second.

WELL DONE LAURA!