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Jess 6th in Belgium Lotto Cross Cup

Jess Coulson

Stockport Harriers' Jess Coulson ended the first half of a great season with an England junior debut in the IAAF Lotto Cross Country Cup in Brussels.

Jess was rewarded with an England team place after her magnificent run in the UK cross challenge where she finished ninth.

At 15-years-old she was the youngest girl in the England junior under-20 team, but finished in a remarkable sixth place for the four-girl team that easily won the team competition from the Belgian team.

The race, at the Kings Park in the centre of Brussels, near the Heysel stadium, was the last of the IAAF races on the continent before the New Year break.

Jess, who won the Greater Manchester Cross Country Championships title a fortnight ago, was not fazed by the big occasion and ran with the leaders for most of the race around the muddy four-lap course.

Going into the last lap, Jess made a big effort to push herself into sixth for the team. The race was won by Belgium’s top ranked cross runner Selien De Schyrder.

Jess said after the race: "It makes all the hard work worthwhile when you pull on the England vest.

"I want to run for England again."

Boxing Day Race and Marathon Entry Draw

This year's Boxing Day race organised by Jim Herron raised over £230 for the Beechwood Cancer Centre.

First home was Andy Nixon just ahead of Mike Shaw and Andy Oldham in 3rd. Junior Leah Kay was first lady and Julie Aikin first Vet lady. Phil Nixon and Charly Davies won the junior prizes. Hussein Yousefian and Helen Todd were winners in the over-50s and Barry Swindels first over-60.

The allocation of club places for next year's Flora London Marathon was decided by means of a simple draw after the Boxing Day run.

With as many as 16 rejection slips being returned this year it was decided by a special committee of club chairman Mike Durcan, coaches Ron Newton and Pete Torrence to put all the names into the hat.

Juniors Aimee Aikin and Emma O'Connell drew the following lucky names:

1. Pete Powell
2. Lee "gingerbreadman" Barrett
3. Dave Smith
4. Vicky Buckley
Reserve: Andy Smith

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