AMANDA Parkinson and Helen Pattinson were both counters for Great Britain and NI's most successful team at the World Cross Country Championships.

While the attention was focused on Paula Radcliffe's gold medal winning performance over the long course on Saturday, the team backed Paula's second place finish over the short course by packing their first four finishers in the top thirty five.

That left them just three points short of the bronze medal won by the top Europeans Romania with only the crack African squads from Kenya and Ethiopia in front. It also earned the team $10,000 in prize money.

With Dublin having been ruled out because of foot and mouth concerns, the event was switched to the Wellington Racecourse in Ostend -- and it was wellington boot weather with clinging mud over most of the course. It was also bitingly cold with strong winds off the sea which was only about 100 yards away.

Although not ideal conditions for Amanda, she started well and continued to make progress as other girls tired. At the end she was the third GB counter after Paula and 12th placed Kathy Butler.

Her 32nd place showed a great improvement on 76th in Morocco in 1998 in her only previous appearance.

"It all went by so fast, I can't remember a lot about the race," she admitted. "But I'm pleased. This is the best winter I've ever had, and I feel that I've moved on a stage."

Preston Harrier Pattinson was three seconds and three places behind as she was the fourth and final counter in the six woman team.

"Helen's best is 34th, so I think she was a little disappointed at missing that by one place," remarked Amanda.

Amanda, who learned her trade at Hyndburn AC, is intending to run more 5,000m races this season although she will still run 1500's too.

"I'll see how it goes," she said. Her track season will get underway in mid May when she hopes to run for Sale Harriers in the European Club Championship.

Next month she takes part in the 3K event at the Balmoral Road Races where Kelly Holmes is expected to be among her opponents.