Lauren holds GB’s fate in Slovenia (From Leigh Journal)

Lauren Howarth holds GB’s fate

5:28pm Friday 9th December 2011 in Sport

LAUREN Howarth will be competing for Great Britain in the European Cross Country Championships in Slovenia on Sunday.

The 21-year-old’s selection was confirmed this week after impressing in the McCain’s UKA Cross Country Challenge under 23s women’s 8.1km race at Sefton Park in Liverpool a fortnight ago.

She represented England in the IAAF cross country event in Spain last month and it will be her third European championships in total, having also contested cross country events in 2008 and 2009.

Howarth will become Leigh Harriers’ fourth GB international this year, along with Shannon Johnson on the track, and Laura Riches and Dionne Allen on the fells.

Meanwhile, the final Red Rose Cross Country League match was hosted by Rossendale Harriers at the weekend.

Mud from start to finish was compounded by heavy downpours all afternoon but Harriers had a good day, winning the senior women and under 17s women individual and team races.

The outstanding female runner in the league this season, Louisa Thompson, led the women’s team to victory on the day and overall.

Thompson was second on the day but with three previous wins in the league she won overall first place.

Abigail Howarth, despite a fall, finished eighth, with Elizabeth Lee closing at the finish in ninth.

Margaret Galvin was fourth in the in the over 60s race, marking the first time that Leigh has won the senior league team title.

In the under 17s event, Shannon Johnson was second, Bethany Jones third and Georgina Leck fourth as Leigh retained their title.

Johnson was first overall in the league, with Jones in third place.

The boys’ under 11s team finished second overall. Joseph Wane was fifth, Ben McLaughlin eighth, Shea Mellor ninth, Mathew Holiday 23rd, Kyle Jones 24th, Billy Blain 26th and Ben Fisher 36th.

Sam Wardle had a storming run in only his fourth race for Harriers.

Competing in the under 13s boys’ race, Wardle was just beaten for first place to finish second overall.

Maria McPolin came second overall in the under 13s girls’ competition after sixth place at Rossendale.

Much improved Olivia Stone was ninth, Eleanor Bond 12th, Katie Hatton 15th and Melissa Evans 28th, placing the team in overall third place.

In the under 11s girls’ event, Keely Hodgkinson was fifth overall after her ninth place at the weekend.

Eve Williamson was 19th.