Alton Towers on Saturday 23/02/2008 5 Km (Junior Ladies)

A new venue was used for the Junior Women's National Cross-Country Championships, Alton Towers in Staffordshire. The more central location attracted 3,000 more entries for the event than 2007. Alton Towers Theme Park is set in scenic countryside and chairman of host club Staffs Moorlands AC, Glenn Marriott told Athletics Weekly: "But competitors need to take note: some of the rolling hills have more ups and downs than the theme park's rides!" The runners faced an undulating course with one remarkably short and sharp incline.

Steph Twell (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC) won the individual title by 26 seconds from Jo Harvey (Exeter Harriers) with Charlotte Roach (Vale Royal AC) third and Emma Pallant (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC) fourth.

Steph Twell told Athletics Weekly: "I loved this course, it was so undulating, you had to concentrate for every step all the way round." And when asked how the biggest climb on the course compared with Leeds' famous Hill 60? "Oh, I think this one's Hill 75 - but it wasn't as tough as I thought it would be."

Twell completed a double as her team, Aldershot, Farnham & District AC also won the team title. Aldershot's 55-point total bettered Royal Sutton Coldfield AC by 29 points. Bronze medals went to Rotherham Harriers. AFD's other counters were Rose Anne Gallighan (13th) and Natasha Doel (37th).