Graves Park, Sheffield on Saturday 04/03/1961 (Senior Ladies)

The twenty-ninth Women's National Cross-Country took place at Graves Park, Sheffield. The tough parkland course was 3½ miles and consisted of two laps.

Joyce Smith nee Byatt (Hampstead Harriers) was looking for a hat-trick of victories and would have been expecting a challenge from the Southern champion Joan Briggs (Selsonia Ladies AC) and 1958 winner and Midland title holder Roma Ashby (Coventry Godiva Harriers).

Ann Oliver (Gosforth Harriers), the Northern champion, was the first to show and after half a mile led a pack including Ashby, Madeleine Ibbotson (Longwood Harriers), Joy Jordan (Spartan Ladies AC), Smith and E Joyce (Gosport AC).

At the end of the first lap Ashby made her break and continued to extend her lead with every stride of the second lap going on to win by over a minute in 22:51. Second was Oliver and Jordan was able to hold off Ibbotson for third.

London Olympiades AC triumphed in the team race their counters being Maureen Rees (8th), Esme Butcher (15th), Susan Jarville (17th) and Shirley Dayer (26th). This gave Olympiades a 40-point victory over Highgate Harriers with Coventry Godiva Harriers third.