A TEAM from St Helens Sutton AC took part in the first Tesco Great North Women's Run held in Manchester.

Designed to encourage as many ladies as possible to take part, regardless of their fitness, the race was a success, attracting nearly 2,000 competitors. An added attraction of the 5.25 mile multi-lap course of central Manchester was a run down 'Coronation Street' on the Granada set.

The winner was Irish international and Olympic athlete, Sonia O'Sullivan, who showed her class by dominating the field.

St Helens Sutton came away with one prize winner, Cecilia Fitzsimons, who once again proved to be the best over-50s lady in the area as she took first prize in her age group with a performance which saw her finishing 71st overall with a time of 38mins 7secs.

Louise Casey made a welcome return to competition to finish just four places behind Cecilia with a time of 38mins 39secs. Youngest member of the team, Diane Appleton was the club's next finisher in 85th place with 39mins 0secs, while her mum, Pamela finished 181st with a time of 41mins 58secs.

Janet Holmes continues to make progress and ran 42mins 28secs for 205th position. Next was Pauline Picton, now recovered from her marathon debut, with 44mins 0secs for 289th. Dorothy Fairhurst would be pleased with a position, well in the first quarter of the field, of 408thand a time of 45mins 42secs and it was good to see Margaret Hunter-Frackleton back in action as she ran 46mins 30secs in 461st.

Janice Lawson, running in such a big field for the first time, enjoyed the experience, running 53mins 41secs to take 1,131st position.

Training for all ages and standards continues on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Sutton Leisure Centre, Elton Head Road.