KENDAL Ladies took part in the North of England Vets Cross-Country Championships at Graves Park, Sheffield, and returned with an individual and team gold.

The women had to jostle for position along with Men 50, 60 & 70 categories.

Among the men was Northern Vets member Harvey Gott, from South Lakeland, in his first season at V60 level.

Gott ran a well-judged race, shadowing one of his rivals and overhauling him in a sprint finish to win bronze medal.

A downhill frozen start continued to a long uphill drag through a muddy wooded section before turning into the wind, past the start for a second lap.

Once able to get a clear run the athletes picked up pace. Dianne Priestley finished strongly to be fifth V50, with team-mate Marrion Smith enjoyed the challenge to be eighth V50.

Heather Goodman added yet another gold to her collection in the V60 category well ahead of any rival, and securing gold for the Kendal Ladies team.

n Spectators from Kendal AAC had a heart-thumping time watching Gemma Phillips up there alongside the best at the North of England Cross-Country Champion-ships held in St Helens.

Those taking part in Sherdley Park faced a true cross-country course with both uphill and downhill sections, long straights, plenty of mud and a cool wind.

It looked a particuarly tough 8k assignment for Gemma considering she had been ill and had not trained over Christmas, although you would not have guessed it by the manner in which she cruised home to finish fifth.

Rebecca Robinson, in her first senior Northerns', showed courage and maturity to fight up the final hill and overtake two rivals for a well-earned 16th.

Dianne Priestley was 127th in the formidable 224-strong field.

Another Kendal team member Danny Edmondson was bottom of his age group but ran a well-judged race, finishing strongly for a respectable 53rd from among 200 others.

The well-organised event was again a stepping stone to the Nationals in March, which this year will be held closer to home than usual at Leeds.