Blue Haywood has produced a series of eye catching runs during the current season and another very strong effort over a testing course at St Helens saw her lead the Wellington squad back in 5th place in a very big field. Not too far behind her two more of the Wellington team had their own private duel. And it was Lara Thomas who just had the edge at the line in 21st place with Charlotte Hanson a couple of seconds adrift in 22nd spot. These were terrific performances from the two youngsters who gave it absolutely everything in the closing stages. The gold medal clinching performance came from Chelsea Coyle who is a year younger than the other trio. She was back in the fifties in the early stages but her abundant stamina took her steadily through the field and 28th position at the finish was easily enough to see the girls on top of the podium. The same quartet will shortly represent the club in the National cross-country championships at Leeds where they will clash with the all-conquering squad from Aldershot, Farnham and District - the Southern champions.

There were two further fine Wellington performances at the Northern Championships. In the under 13 boy's race Jake Coyle ran exceptionally well to finish close behind the medal winners in 11th place in another very big field. And in a huge senior men's turnout with 662 finishers Tommy Doe produced a strong effort to cross the line in 28th place among some very classy athletes.