THE Merseyside Schools' Girls' Cross Country League season began with the first race at Calderstones Park, Liverpool, an event which attracted a promising turn-out of girls from Wirral schools, with St Mary's, Wallasey, fielding two teams.

In the Year 7 race, Gemma Evans (Plessington) finished 2nd, Louise Bates (Wallasey) 4th, Debbie Old (Weatherhead) 7th, Rebecca Davis (Upton) 8th, Catherine Rimmer (Plessington) 15th, Siobhan Houston (Woodchurch) 18th, St Mary's, Wallasey, team members Danielle Beatty 21st, Lindsay Quirk 33rd, Michelle Beattie 61st, Katie McCarthy 146th and S. Walker 168th.

Upton were one short of a complete team, but supporting Rebecca Davis were Katie Roberts (20th), Kerry Lawler (93rd) and Rosie Murphy (125th).

In the Year 8/9 (Under-14s) race, Lindesay Doyle (West Kirby) came out on top with Nicki Smith (Plessington) fourth. Other individual placings from Wirral: Annemika Van der Pauw (West Kirby) 13th, Rachel Broadhurst (Ridgeway) 16th, Ella Bowen (Weatherhead) 50th, Lisa Taylor (Hilbre) 51st, Carole Williams (Rock Ferry) 87th.

St Mary's, Wallasey, fielded two complete teams in this age group - a great achievement in itself. 'A' team: Melanie Stevenson (77th), Louise Black (86th), Katie Jones (96th), Nicola Beatty (144th), Sinead Gormley (146th). 'B' team: Emma Bowden (154th), Clare Painter (159th), Sarah Evans (163rd), Amy Plant (164th), Angharael Bond (169th). 'C' team: Sarah Jones (171st), Joanna King (172nd), Elizabeth Bishop (173rd).

Wirral representation was less strong in the older age group, but in the Under-16 race Bebington High School runner Ellie Yavari finished fifth, with Vicki Rooney (Weatherhead) 14th, Sarah McDonnell (Bebington) 15th, Jennie Allison (Plessington) 19th and Laura Williams (Bebington) 30th.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.