PAULINE Powell was called up by the England team to compete in last weekend's Belgian Cross Cup at Rosealae.

The Nelson-based Blackburn Harrier had good run to place 14th in a competitive race which also incorporated the Belgian Championship. She was third English counter as the team took fourth place.

Pauline earned her place in the team after a splendid 17th in the second Reebok Cross Challenge meeting at Margate the previous week. Her plan for this winter is to concentrate on cross country and to compete in the trial race for short course World Championships. Her next race over the country will be the Reebok Challenge meeting at Cumbernauld, but this month she is also racing on the road, at the Leeds Abbey Dash this Sunday and in her club's own race, the Ribble Valley 10k at Clitheroe on December 30.

Pendle's Lee McCash was another local athlete competing at Margate. The 18-year-old finished ninth behind race winner Andy Thompson of Hampshire who is two years older. Lee had expected to finish higher, but was suffering from the after-effects of a meningitis jab administered two days before.

By Wednesday, he had recovered sufficiently to win the North West College of FE Cross Country Championship at Witton Park, Blackburn.

St Mary's College, Blackburn were among the favourites to win the team prize at Witton after winning the National Catholic College title, but missed the race due to a mix-up over the start time.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.