Northwest Regional Final, Norwich Union Sportshall , Wigan, 23 February.

Vicky Johnson, Laura Savage, Mike Ehlen and Callum McDowell collected medals in the Norwich Union Sportshall Northwest meeting at Wigan. Vicky won the shot and together with Laura formed part of the winning 4 x 2 lap obstacle race team while Mike and Callum collected silver in the triple jump and Bronze in the vertical jump. Sarah Lewis,Ryan Tapley and Ben Clough also competed for Merseyside in another successful afternoon for St Helens-Sutton.   Results

National Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill, London, 22 February

Not for 20 years has the club experienced such an eventful National, with quality and quantity going hand in hand as today's athletes laid the foundations on which we will build over the next ten years. Twentythree athletes started the five events in which the club took part and twentythree athletes finished. Some were bathed in glory, others were covered in mud, all were outstanding ambassadors for the club.

Dave Forrester and Mike Burke finished 12th and 20th in the under 13 Boys' race, Dave continuing his fine run of form and Mike showing great character after recent setbacks. Mike Ehlen, running with one shoe, Ben Clough, John Dumbell and Steve Clague made up the squad which took 11th place, defeating all other Northern teams bar Leeds City who took the silver medals.

Dave Twigg, starting more conservatively than at the Inter-Counties, came through to 32nd place, in the under 15 race, thus placing three runners in the top forty of any National for the first time in more than 20 years. Barry Cunliffe made it five in 100, taking 87th place in the junior competition.

The first senior women's team to finish a National since 1996 were 40th our best result since Luton in 1995. Cecilia Fitzsimons, Louise Casey, Chris Dempsey and Pam Appleton making the count ahead of Julia Eccleston, Janet Holmes and Margaret Hunter-Frackelton. Chris had two falls but refused to submit as she collected half the course on her legs and shoes while Margaret was eight minutes ahead of the final runner to finish in a field of almost 400. The girls were the first Merseyside team to finish.

Gill Bacon continued her mastery, or should that be misstery, over Sarah Jones (Macclesfield) to finish 62nd. Gill has been chosen to represent Merseyside in the forthcoming inter-counties half marathon at Wilmslow.

The course got heavier as the day went on but Ray Vose led the team to a two place and 143 point improvement.The club was the second Merseyside team to finish behind Wirral A.C. Ray finished 110 places higher than he did at Bristol in 2002. Barry Graney's late night team talk didn't prevent him from picking up 40 places over last year while Ian White's Sunday morning training paid off as third man home for the team. Anthony Davies, Andy Boyack and Richard Bradshaw completed the count with John Irwin and Alan Davies completing the course before getting lost on the London Underground on the way back to the hotel!!

That only continued the tradition of those who couldn't find the hotel in the first place. Changing the name from the Howard Johnson to the Holiday Inn didn't help and having two Holiday Inns within 600 metres of each other was a crafty move but everyone got there eventually and enjoyed a convivial time eating at the Fox and Goose, ordering slow pizzas and exchanging tall tales. Many thanks to Duncan and Denise Twigg, Paul Forrester, Steve Eccleston and offspring, Sandra Dumbell, Sue Clague and Frank Ellis for being part of the club's travelling support and easing the burden of driving. A small thanks to Phil Thomas for administrative work before and on the day.

Many thanks too Joe Ehlen who provided a tent fit to sleep in, Sue Clague for providing wind shelters, Mrs Forrester, Colin Cunliffe, Luke Burke and Tom for travelling on the day to support the club and showing more stamina than most of us could manage. They all deserve a few days rest.  Dream On !

We missed Danny McLoughlin who was unable to travel owing to his wife's hospitalisation and Jodie Nelson who was doing course work but are looking forward to them taking part next year at Leeds, along with full teams in as many age groups as possible so we can expand on the superb performances at Parliament Hill on 22 February 2003.  Results

Cheshire League: Stockport 16 February

A dozen members competed at Stockport with David Forrester taking first place in the under 13 event. The Under 13 girls' trio, Sara McLoughlin, Lucy Cannon and Kim Bridge were fourth on a course not suited to their nimble feet and the under 11 team, Laura Crook, Zoe Woodward and Katie Jolly packed well for sixth.  The senior ladies, Louise Casey, Cecilia Fitzsimons & Julia Eccleston were eighth in the senior and veterans' contests. Mike Ehlen steered the under 13's into sixth place with Melissa McLoughlin defying the cold to claim 21st position and tenth in the team event. The aggregate team results are not yet available and, as the last match clashes with our own road race, attendance will depend on those positions, athletes' track preparations and our overall racing strategy. The senior men chose to rest prior to the National championships which remains an primary indicator of our overall strength as a club. Results

Parbold Hill Race: Parbold 15 February

St Helens-Sutton didn't appear in the results at Parbold, although three club members were in the top eight. Mark Laithwaite finished third in 42.17, Paul Singleton was sixth in 42.41 and Tony Smith eighth in 42.52. None are available for this weekend's National but hopefully their performances are indicative of good performances to come on the track.

Nick Beer 10k, Llandudno 9 February

One year on from fielding our first road race team of the new era the same trio of Louise Casey, Cecilia Fitzsimons and Chris Dempsey travelled to Llandudno, where they finished third 12 months ago and came away with five prizes, including first team. Louise was 8th, finishing second in the open race. Cecilia was 10th   (second in the over 50 category) while Christine in 15th place was the first over 40 lady to finish, having run seven minutes faster than 2002. Julia Eccleston made her debut in the event, running faster than Chris did last year. Richie Bradshaw kept the men's flag flying by finishing tenth in the over 50 category. St Helens- Sutton is back in winning mode and there's much more to come. Results

Northern Veterans Cross Country.

A late flash that Tony O'Connor, the reigning Northern 1500 metres champion, won a bronze medal in the Northern crosscountry championships in which he was the first over 40 to finish. Full details as soon as possible.

Sports Hall Meeting, Crewe 9 February

The under 11 girls were fourth in this final fixture, defeating SouthportWaterloo by a single point. The under 13 and under 15 girls took fifth place. Plans are already in place to strengthen this re-organised area of the club's activities for the 2003/4 season. Results