The Lancashire Cross Country Team won three team medals at the Inter Counties Championships at Nottingham a week ago, then the road runners matched their efforts on Sunday with the men and women both striking team bronze at the ten kilometre Championships at Eastleigh near Southampton.

Northern 10,000m champion Ben Fish of Blackburn Harriers was the second Lancashire counter on the road clocking 31:06 for 12th outright and seventh of the athletes in the Inter Counties competition.

Leeds City club runner Simon Deakin was the first Lancashire counter with third in 30:15 as the county finished a single point off second place.

There were no East Lancastrians in the women's team but Darwen Dasher Linda Clarkson and Darwen resident Carmen Anthony have been called into Lancashire's squad for the Half Marathon Inter Counties competition at Ackworth on April 2.

Fish will be joined in the six man team for the event by fellow Blackburn Harrier Tom Cornthwaite while up to three more locals are expected to be confirmed in the squads shortly.

The senior cross country men packed all six counters into the top 70 at Wollaton Park in Nottingham, as they won the silver medal. Adam Sutton of Preston Harriers, Simon Deakin from Leeds, and Keith Gerrard from the Isle of Man all finished in the top 20 as Rob Hope from Wheelton village rounded out the team in 70th.

The under 15 girls earned the bronze medal with three of their four counters in the first 30 including Blackburn's Rachel Searson who was the second Lancastrian home.

Lucy Patry helped the under 13 girls to a second bronze medal, the Blackburn Harrier being that crucial final counter in 73rd after Sarah Astin from the Isle of Man had set up the medal chance with eighth place.

Leading Locals: Men and Boys: Seniors: 70th (6th Lancs) Rob Hope (Pudsey and Bramley), 77(7) Ben Fish (BH) Under 20: 51(1) Ben Lindsay (P), 61(2) Richard Stones (BH), 98(4) Paul Wadsworth (Ross) Under 17: 106(4) Tom Melody (BH) Under 15: 57(2) Robbie Schofield (H) Under 13: 37(1) Daniel Westgate (B) Women and Girls: Senior: 22(1) Sarah Willimott (BH) Under 20: 49(1) Clare Kane (Preston) 75(2) Emma Graham (BH), 95(3) Katie Morris (BH) Under 17: 63(3) Alison Leonard (CH), 102(4) Rebecca Robinson (PHS) Under 15: 24(2) Rachel Searson (BH), 78(6) Emma Flanagan (Ross), 87(7) Leigh Lennon (H) Under 13: 73(4) Lucy Patry (BH), 89(6) Melissa Berry (PHS)