HAVERING MAYESBROOK athlete Laura Deadman produced the greatest performance of her career when she finished fifth in the National Cross Country Championships at a very muddy Parliament Hill on Saturday. Her fantastic run in the senior women s race compare

HAVERING MAYESBROOK athlete Laura Deadman produced the greatest performance of her career when she finished fifth in the National Cross Country Championships at a very muddy Parliament Hill on Saturday.

Her fantastic run in the senior women's race compared to her 43rd place in last year's race and she was the only one of the bronze-medal winning team to compete this time.

Her performance was backed up by great runs by Harriet Scott, returning to her best in 25th, Robyn Matson 58th and Vicky Smith 132nd, as the team finished in an excellent fourth position. Jane Hallam did well to place 344th in her first national.

The under-15 girls also did well, as Ellie Bounds came home in a fine 15th place and Becky Stanley 54th, Rachel Sadler (103rd) and Amanda Blaxland (145th) completed the scorers and Shannon Sullivan (240th) also competed.

Daniel Shanney was the first of the under-17 men home in 87th, and Jamie Buckley-Stanton (166th), Joseph Waked (211th) and Thomas Shanney (218th) contributed to the team's 27th position.

Freddy Keefe in 68th led the way for the depleted under-13 boys who placed 34th thanks to the efforts of Mitch Chesterton (253rd), Finbar Smythe (301st) and Charles Hammond (307th).

Amber Turner was 96th for the short-handed under-17 women and an improved run from Gemma Phillips placed her 117th ahead of Zoey Littlechild's 135th, but there was no fourth scorer.

Lindsay McLachlan (134th) led the under-13 girls home, wiith Lydia Hallam five places back and Avril Loynes (201st) and Rosie Brett (295th) making a scoring quartet who placed 30th.

Hosea Gikungu was first club athlete to finish for the under-15 boys in 137th. The team were 31st due to the efforts of Thomas Davis (171st), Josh Connors (224th) and Massi Dendami (244th).

Just two senior men tackled the daunting course. Rob Warner achieved his highest placing of 176th, while Mat Bland ran his first national for a while in 441st out of 1,500 starters.