HAMPSHIRE finished second in the Under-20 women's category at the UK Cross Country Championships and World Cross Country Trials held at Wollaton Park in Nottingham.

Stephanie Twell finished runner-up in the individual race in that age group and qualified for the Great Britain team at the World Cross Country Championships to be held in Saint-Galmier, France, on March 19/20.

Twell, who is still in the under-17 girls age group, ran in the under-20 women to see if she could gain selection for the World Championship - only to be beaten by another under-17 girl, winner S Edwards of Northamptonshire.

Another Hampshire under-17 athlete, Emma Pallant, finished 11th in the same race.

Laura Brenton (18th) was the next Hampshire girl to finish.

Jenny Brierley (55th) completed the quartet to score places with 88 points. Jade Davies finished 104th.

Essex won the 14-county event ahead of Hampshire.

In the Senior Women's Championship 800m, Bryony Frost finished well to take 21st position.

Rachel Townend was 38th and Joanne McGarry 57th - the latter had travelled from Jersey to compete in the East Midlands.

Louise Perrio travelled from Guernsey to run for Hampshire and was 81st. Debbie Coslett was 93rd.

Veteran Cath Wheeler was 95th to complete the six to score places with 385 points.

Natalie Coveney (118th), Kaye Harwood (149th) and Heather Buckingham (158th) rounded off the team of nine Hampshire ladies.

More than 270 runners finished, with Hampshire fifth out of 30 counties.

Hampshire had two ladies competing in the 4000m senior women's short course race.

Lucy Vaughan (Windsor S&E) was 12th and Helena Tobin (Basingstoke & Mid Hants) was 27th.

Five youngsters from New Forest Juniors were selected to represent Hampshire at one of the biggest cross country events of the year at a cold and snowy Wollaton Park.

This was by far the club's best representation since its formation in 1999.

In the under-13s race, Alice Cole was the second Hampshire finisher in 108th.

Hayley Pointer came home 39th in the under-17 women's race and was second Hampshire finisher. Charlotte Bates was 84th and Laura Pankhurst 106th.

In the under-20 women's event, Jade Davies was 104th.

With the exception of Hayley Painter, this was the first time the others had represented Hampshire in a national competition.

Hampshire Sportshall under-15 champion Tiffany Markham won the south region Sportshall title at Portsmouth.

Hayley Pointer, Charlotte Bates and Laura Pankhurst represent Hampshire Schools in the English Schools Cross Country Championships at Norwich this Saturday.