Parliament Hill Fields, London on Saturday 08/03/1969 (14:00) 3 Miles (Youths)

The twenty-fourth Youth's English Cross-Country Championships took place at Parliament Hill Fields, London. The muddy course consisted of one short lap and one large lap and covered four miles.

Three-quarters of a mile into the race Tom Litherland (North Staffordshire & Stone Harriers) held the lead. At the end of the first lap, Chris Garforth (Hull Harriers) passed Litherland and continued to increase his lead winning in 24:25, 27 seconds ahead of runner-up John Fox (East Cheshire Harriers), third place went to Martin Hore (Blackheath Harriers).

Garforth told John Lusardi at Athletics Weekly: "I just haven't had the experience of big races and I just didn't dare think about it when I hit the front." When asked if he had any rough patches, the 18-year- old replied: "Yes, right round. It was murder . . . pulling your shoes off all the way."

In the team event Airedale & Spen Valley AC beat Cambridge & Coleridge AC by 25 points with Hornsey AC third.