With a target of 53 mins for the girls racing over 10km it was always going to be a difficult challenge but when the unseasonable temperatures rose to 23°C they knew the conditions where going to be very tough.

Rebecca Mersh with a qualifying time under her belt and full of cold decided to pace Kathryn Granger round. Under instructions not to start off too fast they passed 1km just 10 seconds off the pace, unable to increase speed significantly by halfway they were 45 seconds behind time and beginning to slow, but they remained unchallenged as Rebecca took the U20 title and Kathryn the U17 title. Kathryn's courage at even attempting to chase the time in such conditions was noted and commented on by the national coach.

Natalie Myers was struggling in the heat long before half way, indicating that she wanted to drop out but seeing the reigning U17 10km champion sitting on the side of the road was just one factor that helped her to keep on the road. She showed great strength of character to battle through the heat for a further 40 mins to complete a one, two, three for the Sheffield club with times of: 1st Rebecca Mersh 55.32, 2nd Kathryn Granger 57.52 and 3rd Natalie Myers 63.23. Not surprisingly they also lifted the U20 team trophy.

Coping with the conditions better than any of the girls was club mate Mark Pratt who spent most of the race on schedule for sub 56 mins and his best ever time before slowing in the last 2km to record 56.29 and take 3rd place in the U17 champs.