LANCASHIRE'S senior women won the silver medal at the Reebok Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Wollaton Park, Nottingham on Saturday.

The result was the best by the county's women in the history of the Inter-Counties according to Blackburn Harrier Sarah Willimott, who was the second Lancastrian home in 16th place.

"Pretty impressive, I thought" she said, adding that she was pleased with her own race too.

Rachel Jones of Salford and Katie Ingram of Horwich were third and fourth counters for the team in 44th and 45th while late replacement Candice Leah from Clayton-le-Moors Harriers took 87th.

The women's success was all the more creditable in the absence of Northern Champion Pauline Powell from Blackburn Harriers and Helen Clitheroe of Preston, who was competing in the European Indoor Championships.

Nottingham was also the World Championship Trial and Clitheroe has been selected for the Short Course race despite her absence.

However, there was no joy for Vicky Gill who flew in especially from America. Although she was Lancashire's first counter in seventh, it just failed to win the Chorley Harrier a World Championship place.

The team will also be without Paula Radcliffe who has decided to concentrate on her preparations for the London Marathon instead, so the Long Course squad will be headed by European Champion Hayley Yelling.

Lancashire's only individual medal was the silver won by Keith Gerrard of Manx Harriers which has earned him a place in the Junior Men's Team at the World Championships in St Galmier, France on March 19/20.

Results:

Women: Under 13: 106 (5th Lancashire) Emma Flanagan (Rossendale) Under 15: 85 (2) Rachel Searson (Blackburn Harriers) 93 (3) Alison Leonard (Chorley Harriers) 137 (5) Katie Ireland (Rossendale) Under 17: 56 (1) Anna Anderson (Pendle) Under 20: 10 (1) Laura Finucane (Pendle) 61(2) Laura Livesey (Chorley AC) 62(3) Vicky Snape (Horwich) 79 (4) Emma Perrin (Chorley AC)

Men: Under 13: 118 (3rd Lancashire) Billy Warren (Park High School AC) Under 15: 86(3) Duncan Burns (Burnley) 114(4) Peter Matthews (Blackburn Harriers) Under 17: 45(1) Richard Stones (Blackburn Harriers) 75(2) Ben Rusius (Blackburn Harriers) 85(3) Ben Lindsay (Pendle) Under 20: 107(2) James Kevan (Horwich) 132(3) Marc Hartley (Pendle) Senior: 46(3) Neil Tattersall (Pendle) 101(5) Tom Cornthwaite (Blackburn Harriers)