Jean Lochhead had no difficulty in retaining her Northern title on a tough undulating course over the hills of Rossendale.
Only National 4000m winner Liz Connors was prepared to match Jean's pace on the first of the two laps, but going out into the country for the second time Jean opened a gap which never looked like being closed. Over the last half mile Barbara Banks, a previous winner, overtook Connors to take second place. With Wallasey packing their four counters into the first 16 they just won the team race, with Stretford having to wait till 20th for their fourth counter.
Jean Haigh, who won the Yorkshire schools' title the day before, also successfully defended her Intermediate title. Halfway through the race, Jean and Julie Horan had opened up a 20-yard gap on Tina Wilde, but when Horan seemed to slip and fail the way was left open for Jean to score an easy win. Sale won the team race by over 50 points with Longwood and Stretford fighting hard for 2nd and 3rd places.
In fact, the Sale girls seemed to revel in the heavy conditions as Anne Marie Robinson and Joyce Williamson packed in one and two in the Junior race with Liverpool's Pat Burns third.
Ends
Source - Athletics Weekly - Saturday, 19/02/1972 by N. Nuttall
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