CHESHIRE Dragons again pressed their claims as the top women’s masters' team in the UK by picking up gold and silver medals at the British Masters Cross Country Relays.

Having won the W35 title last year, the women were unfortunate to come across a very strong Charnwood team but still picked up silver medals with brilliant runs from Louise Thompson on the opening leg with 11.41; Helen Harrington on leg two running 12.31 and Jo Marsden running 11.21 on the final leg.

Jo’s run was the second fastest leg of the day in the W35 category.

Dragons' B team consisting of Lisa Meadows, Jo Edwards and Mel Johnson finished 17th.

In the W45-54 age group, in which Dragons finished fourth last year but secured gold this time, 57-year-old Sara Avery led the team off with a solid 12.20 and brought the team home in the lead. Emma Crowe went round the second leg just 14 seconds slower before Carol Parsons finished it off with a superb final leg of 11.19, which was only beaten by GB international Gemma Steel in the W35 age group.

On the same weekend, the women also set about defending their North West Sunday Cross Country League title.

With Hannah Cowley dominating the women’s section of the race, which was held at Clarke Gardens, Liverpool, and a returning-from-injury Amie Smith finishing in second place, the team were always going to make a good start.

Then Katie Dickinson, making her debut in the league, had a storming run to finish sixth and despite racing the day before, Helen Harrington wasn’t far behind in eighth.

Anna Parsons, 44th, and Rachael Lea, 70th, complete the women runners.

Lee Riley, 80th, and Glyn Evans, 96th, were the only men to run but equally made a good start to their season.

Cheshire Dragons train in a variety of locations across Cheshire but predominately in and around Northwich. For further details contact chairman Bernie Jones on 07919 043117.