Sara Bailey from Stevenage and North Herts AC gained some top-level cross-country experience in Belgium. Bailey, currently studying at Loughborough, ran for the South of England in an international cross-country race in Brussels. She was 12th in the senio

Sara Bailey from Stevenage and North Herts AC gained some top-level cross-country experience in Belgium.

Bailey, currently studying at Loughborough, ran for the South of England in an international cross-country race in Brussels.

She was 12th in the senior women's event, clocking 16:51 for the 4k run.

P North Herts Road Runners hosted the third fixture in the Three Counties Cross-Country League on Sunday.

Over five extremely muddy and hilly miles, the Squirrels managed to hold top spot in the league by just one point over the reigning champions Wootton Road Runners.

Neil Miller maintained his 100 per cent record by winning his third consecutive race.

He led the men's team into second place while the women's team won with superb runs from Astrid McKeown (second), Paula Adams (third) and Jane Chappell (seventh).

The battle for the championship has developed into an exciting two-horse race between North Herts and Northampton-based Wootton.

And the destination of the title will be decided over two further races at East Haddon and Dunstable in the New Year.

P Nine Fairlands Valley Spartans took part in the 100 Marathon Club's annual handicap marathon which was in Stevenage this year.

It consisted of 14 3k laps in Fairlands Valley Park on Sunday. The fastest Spartan was Mike Newbitt in 3-49:50.

Times: Mike Newbitt 3-49:50, Roger Biggs 3-51:28, Rob Hardy 4-19:49, Paul Holgate 4-20:03, Carol Paul 4-21:46, Michaela Norton-Lay 5-02:30, Mark Sanders 5-07:50, Dave Carter 5-26:04, Pauline Hardy (24k or 15 miles) 3-15:02.