GEMMA Phillips from Coniston ran a storming race at the weekend to bag her fourth Northern Cross Country silver medal in eight years.

Her record in the event also includes a gold medal performance in the Junior Championships back in 2001.

From the start the Kendal AC athlete, now 24, showed her intent to medal and she pulled away from the field along with Anaya Hoban of Wakefield and eventual winner Pauline Powell of Blackburn.

The three of them jockeyed for position during the 8k race, but on the second steep hill Gemma was dropped and looked to be heading for the bronze position.

However, drawing on all her resources of grit and determination, Gemma fought back and overhauled the Wakefield athlete with 400 metres to go.

At the end of the race Gemma said: "I'm a little disappointed because I beat all of the girls, who were tipped to beat me.

"But Pauline was brilliant today and all credit to her. I was pleased that I was able to rally after that nightmare of a hill. I'll be there at the National Championships - a medal there would be fantastic."

In reality Gemma, who was educated at John Ruskin School, Coniston and Barrow Sixth Form College, ran well and did herself proud on a demanding fast course.

Despite now working as a physiotherapist at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham, Gemma still loves to come home and train on the fells and fields which served her well as a little girl.

But there is no time to let up as Gemma heads to Birmingham on February 19 for the National Championships, and onwards to Nottingham on March 5 for the Inter Counties and World Trial.

n Chris Doyle from Ulverston won a gold medal as part of the winning Trafford AC team in the U20 men's race. Chris was 17th overall and Trafford's third counter.

Kendal AC's Daniel Edmondson suffered with sore ribs but finished 45th out of 160 finishers. Club-mate Alasdair Russell - bottom of his U20 age group - was in the top half to be 42nd of 85.

Kendal's senior men were represented by two atheletes, Pete Acland, 373rd and Pete Ion, 463rd out of the 556 finishers.