Donington Park in Leicestershire hosted the eighty-fourth Senior Women's Cross-Country Championships. Once again Saucony sponsored the race. Over 1240 entries were received for the ladies' race. Local farmers made their land available for the race and one of radish fields had a section turned over to allow the runners to pass through. The course was longer than the advertised distance.
Defending champion Lily Partridge (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC) was favourite for the individual title, the three area champions were Jane Potter (Charnwood AC) - Midlands, Naomi Taschimowitz - Southern and Claire Duck (Leeds City AC) - Northern. The previous year's junior champion Rebecca Murray (Bedford & County AC) was expected to be a contender.
Victoria Knight (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) took an early lead ahead of the pack but was reeled in after a mile by Rebecca Murray, Partridge, Claire Duck and 2009 winner Hatti Archer (Hallamshire Harriers). Just behind were Knight, Amelia Petitt (Vale Royal AC), the previous year's runner-up Louise Small (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC), Jane Potter (Charnwood AC), who later dropped out, and Jessica Judd (Chelmsford AC). Duck and Partridge made a break to draw away from the pack with Partridge subsequently edging ahead on the second lap.
With a mile left of the race to go Partridge had a 40-metre lead on Duck with Small in third place. Partridge's margin of victory was 10 seconds completing the course in 30:35, Duck was second with Katie Holt (Stoke-on-Trent AC) coming through for third.
24-year-old Lily Partridge spoke to Athletics Weekly about her successful title defence: "It was really tough. There was no flat - there were constant ups and downs and turns and you couldn't relax and I was worried about the ankle. I didn't run for months and only started training consistently through mid-October and November. It's been really frustrating so it's positive to come out and win."
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