BLACKBURN Harriers earned four top 10 finishes at the Northern Cross Country Championships as gale force winds swept the north east coastline.

Sarah Willimott won the bronze medal in the junior ladies race as she passed her biggest test of the season at South Shields. Sarah has been dominant in the Mid-Lancs League and is trying to secure sponsorship to help her compete regularly at a higher level, this result will further her cause.

Pauline Powell was equally impressive in the senior race, seventh in a large field of nearly 200 runners, and the Barton twins Liam and Robert took eighth and 10th as the under 17 team finished a single place outside the medals. Anna Brookes was within 30 seconds of the winner as she took 11th in the under 13 race.

Like Anna, England Fell Internationals Katie Ingram of Chorley Harriers and Lisa Richardson from Chorley AC were the highest placed East Lancastrians in their races with Katie sixth under 15 and Lisa 11th in the under 17s. Katie Trickett was delighted with her 17th place as she led home a Pendle team which took fifth in the under 17 championship. Lancashire Championship silver medallist Andy Morgan-Lee, who lives in Clayton but runs for Salford, was 10th of over 500 runners in the senior men's event, while Clayton Harriers were ninth team with Phil Hall their first counter. Red Rose League bronze medallist Sue Becconsall was first home for Todmorden as the team finished 12th in the senior ladies race.

Two Darwen Dashers travelled in the opposite direction to compete in the North Wales Cross Country Championships at Northrop. Richard Thomas took fourth place with veteran Russell Owen 11th. On the strength of his run, Richard has been selected to run in the Inter Counties Championship on February 12.

He has settled in Darwen after marrying a local girl, previously he spent five and a half years in the Air Force. He decided to join the Dashers after running in the David Staff Fell Race, and trains with Blackburn Harriers under coach Arthur Almond.

Northern Championships

Key: BH Blackburn Harriers, C Clayton Harriers, CAC Chorley AC, CH Chorley Harriers, P Pendle AC, R Rossendale Harriers, T Todmorden Harriers.

Girls/Women

Under 13: 1 J Scott (Sunderland) 12.30, 11 Anna Brookes (BH) 12.56. Under 15: R Smith (Durham) 16.02, 6 Katie Ingram (CH) 16.28, 45 Rachel Holt (BH) 17.33, 123 Carrie Hamilton (BH) 19.57, 130 L Gibbons (CAC) 20.57. Under 17: 1 R Smith (Bingley) 19.19, 11 Lisa Richardson (CAC) 20.07, 17 Katie Trickett (P) 20.36, 33 Victoria Rusius (P) 21.08, 34 Karen Brookes (BH) 21.10, 52 Rachel Parker (P) 21.59, 61 Jane Parker (P) 22.30. (Team: 5th Pendle). Juniors (U20): 1 R Brown (Darlington) 18.22, 3 Sarah Willimott (BH) 18.33. Seniors: 1 S Young (Salford) 28.40, 7 Pauline Powell (BH) 29.58, 49 Sue Becconsall (T) 33.20, 58 L Hainsworth (T) 33.45, 101 Janet pound (CAC) 36.49, 106 H Allcock (T) 37.26, 17 Sue Middleton (C) 38.33, 121 C Rogers (T) 39.09, 147 J Mayor (CAC) 41.50, (Team: Todmorden 12th). Boys/Men

Under 13: 1 N Shrubb (Wallsend) 11.25, 24 Ben Rusius (P) 12.13. Under 15: 1 S Enright (Halifax) 14.04, 75 Jamie Rusius (P) 15.44. Under 17: 1 C Hawkins (Derby) 19.46, 8 Liam Barton (BH) 20.17, 10 Robert Barton (BH) 20.25, 24 Michael Hammer (BH) 20.45, 97 Daniel McKinley (BH) 22.42, 107 Chris Rusius (P) 22.55, 144 Anthony Lloyd (CAC) 28.27 (Team 4th Blackburn Harriers). Junior (U20): 1 S Vernon (Stockport) 25.49, 14 Ben Fish (BH) 27.15. Seniors: 1 J Wild (Sale) 36.36, 10 Andy Morgan-Lee (Salford) 37.24, 72 Scott Monk (BH) 40.03, 80 Phil Hall (C) 40.12, 82 Mark Brown (C) 40.16, 96 Gary Wilkinson (C) 40.42, 127 Dave Walker (C) 41.55, 144 Andy Stubbs (C) 42.27, 151 Jason Harbour (C) 42.36, 156 R Glover (T) 42.42, 158 Steve Duxbury (R) 42.44, 169 M O'Donnell (CAC) 42.59, 213 Brian Horrocks (C) 44.20, 233 S Anderton (T) 44.52, 301 James Hickie (C) 46.21, 314 M Anderton (T) 46.40, 359 J McGinty (CAC) 47.52, 381 G Wilkinson (C) 48.16, 397 Pete Browning (C) 48.51, 401 S Fletcher (CAC) 49.01, 417 John Rusius (P) 49.31, 429 Lee Passco (C) 49.58, 453 D Rawlinson (T) 51.25 (Team 9th Clayton).

York 'Brass Monkey' Half Marathon

Three West Pennine runners took part in the York 'Brass Monkey' Half Marathon on Sunday. Yjeor times were: Neil Holding 1.19.41, Sheila Fogg 1.49.47 and Ken Sibbering 1.54.55.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.