The second Women's English National Cross-Country Championships took place at Grange Park, Chigwell Row, Hainault Forest, Essex. The course was a single circuit across country, over steep hills and through water splash and was the 2¾ miles long.
Last year's winner Miss Anne Williams was not competing, Miss L. D. Styles (Littlehampton AC), who was runner-up to Williams last year, was competing and her club colleagues hoped that she would do even better than she did last year. Middlesex Ladies AC were hoping to defend their crown in the team race.
As the runners came under starters orders six girls from Humber Harriers breathlessly pleaded for time to allow them to change for the race as they had been stuck in traffic on their journey down from Coventry. This was agreed and the race was delayed for five minutes. The weather was fine and the turf was described as 'sticky', the 95 competitors were sent on their way by the starter and male runners from the Ilford A.C. led them over the course.
Styles, a young shop assistant at Littlehampton, was in the leading three with half a mile to go, she then asked how much further there was to go and when told half a mile promptly took the lead and gradually increased the gap going on to win in 20:50, 55 seconds ahead of runner-up V Hinton (Middlesex Ladies AC). Miss D L Lancaster (Brighton Ladies AC) was third.
Mr. T. A. Hill the chairman of Littlehampton AC said: "The club should be proud of Miss Styles, but it was also a matter of pride to the whole town."
Home | 1876-1914 | 1920-1939 | 1946-1999 | 2000-present