Winton, Lancs on Saturday 01/03/1958 (Senior Ladies)

Cleavley Playing Fields, Winton near Eccles in Lancashire hosted the twenty-sixth Women's National Cross-Country Championships. The three-mile course consisted of three laps.

Both Miss R. Ashby (Coventry Godiva Harriers) and Miss Diane Leather (Birchfield Harriers), first and second respectively in the Midland championship, were included in a strong entry. In the Midland championship, Miss Leather started off well enough but tired rapidly and was well beaten by Miss Ashby. Last year's winner, Miss June Bridgland (Southampton AAC), was defending her title, in the Southern championship at Salisbury, Miss Bridgland was beaten into second place by Miss Maureen Smith (Highgate Harriers). The main challenge to the Midland runners from the North was likely to come from Miss Ann Oliver (Gosforth Harriers), the Northern championship title holder.

June Bridgland led a group consisting of Maureen Smith, Roma Ashby and Diane Leather. With about ¼ of a mile to go, Roma Ashby, a medical student at London University, took the lead and running an exceedingly relaxed and well-judged race, she came home a comfortable winner in 19:10, with Maureen Smith (19:22) showing improved form this year finishing second. Third place went to Diane Leather who clocked 19:31.

A new name went on the team trophy with Highgate Harriers ending the monopoly that Ilford AC and Birchfield Harriers had held since Small Heath Harriers won the title in 1936. Highgate Harriers had four in the first twenty-two to beat Birchfield by 21 points. London Olympiades were four points further back in third.