High Wycombe on Saturday 26/02/1972 (Senior Ladies)

The fortieth Senior Women's National Cross-Country took place at Keep Hill Wood, High Wycombe. The course was described as tough with a gradual upward slope of plough at the end.

Prior to the race Rita Ridley (Essex Ladies AC) had held the individual title since 1969, but had only finished fourth in the Southern Cross-Country championships after suffering with a bad cough. Others leading contenders for the Wilton Bartleet Cup given to the indivdual title winner were expected to be Coventry Godiva Harriers' Sheila Carey and Thelwyn Bateman and Joyce Smith (Barnet & District AC).

Half a mile into the race Liz Connors (Preston Harriers) was ahead of a group including Ridley, Margaret Coomber (Cambridge Harriers), Joyce Smith, Margaret Beacham (Barnet & District AC) and Christine Haskett (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers), over the next quarter of a mile Ridley and Smith reeled in Connors and this trio were at the front.

The competitors were out of sight in the woods and when they re-appeared Ridley led from Smith. After the second passing through the woods Ridley still led and started the final climb up the steep stretch of plough to the finish. Ridley won in 19:15, her fourth consecutive national individual title.

Coomber and Haskett battled for the silver and bronze medals with the former just getting the edge.

In the team event Cambridge Harriers easily regained the title they won in 1970 with a 59-point victory over Birchfield Harriers. Barnet & District AC finished in third position. Counters for Cambridge were Margaret Coomber (2nd), Joan Allison (8th), L Taylor (25th) and G Goodburn (34th).