LEE McCash has won an English National Cross Country Championship for the second time in his career.

The 19-year-old former Pendle Athletic Club runner took the Junior Men's Race in the grounds of Ashton Court in Bristol on Saturday to add to his success at under 17 level three years ago.

The result was a welcome confidence booster after he had been forced to drop out of the World Championship Trial at Nottingham with a throbbing pain in his shin - his first ever failure to complete a race.

Lee described it as "a hard race" because of the conditions.

"It was windy and slippery and I had to use 15mm spikes," he said.

But in the absence of arch-rival Mohamed Farah he was able to control the race.

Three runners established a gap over the chasers early on in the 10K event, then up the last hill, less than a kilometre from home, Lee proved too strong for rivals Adam Bowden and Andy Sharman.

Like the true racer he is, he admitted that he would have liked to have taken on Farah as they would surely have run a faster race.

Since Lee moved to London in September, he has become friends with Mo Farah, and has even joined his club Shaftsbury Barnet.

Former club Sale Harriers have been helpful in facilitating the change, and they have extended an invitation to Lee to rejoin when he moves back north.

Lee and Mo both attend St Mary's at Staines and Lee believes that college life is benefiting his running.

"We eat and sleep running here," he said. He will be at St Mary's for a minimum of two years, but already hopes to stay longer.

Over Christmas he spent four weeks in Florida warm weather training with a small group of half a dozen athletes.

Under the watchful eye of Alan Storey he ran around 85 miles a week.

For Easter he'll be back in Barnoldswick, before moving into the track season where he'll be concentrating on the 5000m but with an occasional outing at 10000m.

Blackburn Harriers young star Ben Fish finished 17th in the same race while Chorley Harrier David Mulvee was 66th.

David, who is studying in London, competed in the British University Cross Country Championship in Belfast a fortnight ago.

Team mate Katie Ingram put in a solid display in the Under 17 Women's race coming through strongly into 20th after finding herself well down the field at the start.

With the final Mid Lancs Cross Country fixture being held on Saturday, League Secretary Dawn Lock is reminding runners that the best four scores out of a possible five are counted.

Further, "a club must have four scores to win promotion, trophies and prizes" and "four scores are also required to win individual awards."

Tickets for the Presentation Evening on Friday April 5 will go on sale at Lancaster on Saturday, and early booking is advisable as there are only 200 available because of the fire regulations at the Salwick Club.

Prize winning teams can order extra T-shirts and medals and if ordered by March 16 they should be available on the night. Last year's winners are reminded that they should return their trophies on Saturday.

Men: Seniors: 1Sam Haughian (Windsor) 39:26; 170 Mark Brown (CleM) 44:53; 266 Lee Passco (CleM) 46:08; 312 Mark Aspinall (CleM) 47:00; 442 Andy Orr (CleM) 48:28; 502 Mark Wightman (CleM) 49:35; 537 Neil Worswick (CleM) 50:05 Team: 31st Clayton Juniors: 1 Lee McCash (Shaftsbury Barnet) 30:49; 2 Adam Bowden (Harrow) 30:59; 3 Andy Sharman (Swindon) 31:07; 17 Ben Fish (Blackburn Harriers) 32:28; 66 David Mulvee (Chorley Harriers) 34:46; 74 Michael Hammer (Blackburn Harriers) 34:59 Under 17: Tom Humphries (Cannock) 19:29; 41 Chris Hart (Burnley) 21:08

Women: Seniors: 1 Liz Yelling (Bedford) 27:36; 103 Anna Kelly (CleM) 33:44 Juniors: 1 Jane Potter (Charnwood) 17:47; 28 Sarah Willimott (Blackburn Harriers) 19:50 Under 17: 1 K Woolton (Bedford) 18:09; 20 Katie Ingram (Chorley Harriers) 19:57