The nineteenth Women's National Cross-Country Championship took place at Tadcaster in Yorkshire. The course was three miles in length and was considered heavy.
Favourites for the women's individual race were Avery Gibson (North Shields Polytechnic A.C.) of North Shields, the holder, she won the junior, northern and national titles the previous year. From the south came 16-year-old Phyllis Green (Ilford AC) who put herself in the limelight by winning the English women's junior and southern championships. Also fancied was Zoe White, of Birchfield Harriers, the Midland champion and Audrey Price of Harborne Harriers the winner of the junior midland race.
In the team race a strong Ilford AC team were expected to win the title.
At the end of the first lap the lead was held by Ruby Smith nee Wright of Cheltenham St Gregory's AC, who won at Cowley Marsh, Oxford in 1947. Ten yards further back was Phyllis Green, with Avery Gibson close up. On the last lap Miss Green gradually caught up with Mrs Smith and went 40 yards clear. Avery Gibson then put in a storming run but failed to catch Green, who crossed the line a few yards ahead of Gibson, the timekeepers separating them by one second. Ruby Smith of picked up the bronze medal.
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