Oxhey Playing Fields, Watford on Saturday 12/03/1966 (Senior Ladies)
The thirty-fourth Women's Senior National Cross-Country Championships took place at Oxhey Playing Fields, Watford, Hertfordshire. The course was 3½ miles with several hills and sections of long grass.
Pam Davies (Selsonia Ladies AC) was attempting to defend her title against a record field of 470 entrants. Her most dangerous rivals were likely to be three past winners: Joyce Smith (Hampstead Harriers), Phyllis Perkins nee Green (Ilford), and Madeleine Ibbotson (Longwood), the Northern Cross-Country champion.
Pam Davies (Selsonia Ladies AC) winning the Senior Women's title for the second year
Jane Perry (Sheffield United Harriers) went to the front in the first half mile but faded to finish 21st. The tough course took its toll on the runners and in their pursuit of Pam Davies, Joyce Smith developed a stitch and had to drop back and Rita Lincoln (Essex Ladies AC) got into trouble and faded to finish eighth. Davies left them in her wake as she went on to win in 19:38, 250 yards clear of Smith.
Bronze medalist Madeline Ibbotson (Longwood Harriers)
Madeline Ibbotson was third with Peggy Hogan (Hampstead Harriers) fourth.
Maryhill Harriers' last counter finished in 46th place but this was still enough to give Maryhill the win in the team race by 44 points over Ilford AC, thereby retaining the title they won the previous year at Quinton. Hampstead Harriers finished in third place.