ST HELENS Sutton AC members took part in the Northern Counties Cross-Country Championships at Witton Park, Blackburn, probably the toughest park course in the North West with a steep hill to be tackled on every lap.

The under 13s ran a 3.1 km course with Catherine Fitzhenry recording 17min 46secs in the girls race, while in the boys race John Appleton completed the course in 16min 50secs, ahead of Mike Griffiths who did 17min 42. The club had just one runner in the under 17s group, Luke Benyon running the 5.6km course in 26min 37secs.

A weakened mens team took the field for the senior event over 11.7km which included four climbs of the hill.

Barry Graney led the team home in a time of 47min 40secs. Anthony Davies was next with 49min 52secs, well clear of Chris Geraghty who lost a shoe and could only manage 51min 40secs.

Stan Erlam had to stop on a number of occasions and his time was a disappointing 57mins. Richie Bradshaw managed a time of 57min 31secs, the counting six being completed by Gary Freeman in 58min 19secs.

Tony Raffle could only manage a time of 62min 48secs, with Alan Davies completing the turn-out in 75min 4secs.

Only one senior lady turned out, Cecilia Fitzsimons completing the 7.4km course in 17min 46secs.

Some of the club's younger athletes have been representing their schools in the County Cross-Country Championships. Pride of place goes to Jodi Nelson who ran in the Cheshire event for Years 8 and 9 and finished in seventh place earning selection for the county team for the inter-counties event.

The Merseyside event was held on the still very heavy course in Arrowe Park, Wirral. Running in the Years 8 and 9 girls event over 2.8km, Stephanie Jackson had a good run for 15th spot, Elizabeth McNally was 24th, Jenny Graham 30th and Catherine Fitzhenry 40th.

The boys race was over 4km and there was good team packing with Ian Griffiths in 56th, Ben Simister 61st, John Appleton 63rd, Mike Griffiths 64th and Daniel Horton 65th.

Luke Benyon ran in the Years 10 and 11 event over 7km finishing in 23rd position.

Some of the club's senior runners who will be taking part in the London Marathon later in the year, decided to test their fitness in the Four Villages Half-marathon held on roads in the Helsby/Frodsham area. Fastest for the club was veteran lady Cecilia Fitzsimons with a creditable time for the conditions of 1hr 45min. Pam Appleton just managed to hold off Lynn McEvoy as both were comfortably under two hours in 1hr 52min and 1hr 54min respectively. Phil Skerry just managed to finish ahead of Janet Holmes, both recording 1hr 57min, while Pauline Picton was happy with her time of 2hrs 6min.