Warwick on Saturday 04/03/1933 (Senior Ladies)

The seventh running of the Women's English National Cross-Country Championships took place on Warwick Racecourse. The "human starting gate," devised by Mr W. H. Wallsgrove, of Leamington (president of the Midland Cross-Country Association, and the local organiser of the event), was used for the first time in a women's national. The gate was made up of officials joined together by hand or handkerchief which were let go on the start signal to allow the runners in the 17 pens to start off evenly. The three-mile course commenced just beyond the paddock and followed the flat racecourse up to Hill House. From this point the track branched to the right across land which re-joined the racecourse again some 600 yards further ahead. Following the racecourse, the competitors turned right-handed over a small bridge, crossing over two fields, into a lane, and thence down to the start of the five and half furlongs' straight on the racecourse. Here the course lay straight ahead, the finishing point being immediately in front the stands.

Miss Gladys Lunn (Birchfield Harriers) who won the event for the second time in succession the previous year, was not competing as she had retired from athletics. Three time champion Lillian Styles (Haywards Heath AC) was strongly fancied to take the individual title.

Favourites for the team race were London Olympiades AC with Airedale Harriers, the Northern champions, also expected to feature.

Weather conditions were reasonably good, and there was an attendance of about 2,000. The course was water-logged and exceptionally heavy, and this put a great strain on the physique of many competitors. The Mayor of Warwick (Alderman H. Forbes) started the girls on their journey with a successful release of the "human starting gate" and Miss Styles soon assumed the lead. Her closest rivals were Miss Ruth Christmas, Mrs. Raven, Miss Rossi, and Miss French. The last-mentioned, who was the Midland champion, was going strongly until the runners left the racecourse for the country. Here, as was the case with many of the girls, she found the heavy going too much for her and dropped back. Miss Styles went on in great form, and when the runners came back on to the racecourse, with 5½ furlongs to go, it was apparent that the race would rest between the ex-champion and last year's runner-up, Miss Christmas. Styles found a bit extra for the finish and came home in 21:32, and Christmas was a good second six second further back and finished the fresher. The latter's sister, Mrs. Raven, was her consistent self in finishing third, and there was no evidence of exhaustion about K. Cowgill (Airedale Harriers) who finished a good fourth.

Miss Styles said after the race "I think all those who finished to-day's race are perfect bricks. The conditions were not at all favourable." 107 runners completed the race.

The girls from Airedale Harriers won the team race at their first attempt, and made no secret of their belief in their own powers. They were very early at the starting post, brimming over with enthusiasm and eager to get on with the business of the day. They totalled 45 points, seven ahead of London Olympiades AC with the Civil Service Women's AC third.

Arrangements were made for over 150 competitors and officials (including a Warwick League fixture) to have tea at the Court House after the event had been run, when the Mayoress presented the prizes to the lady competitors.