ALTHOUGH Paula Ratcliffe's record time on this course of 13min 55sec remained unchallenged, Kendal AC women rubbed shoulders with some of the UK's finest athletes in this the National AAA of England 4 Stage Road Relay at Sutton Park in Birmingham.

With 82 athletes on the start line the race began with a fairly physical battle as the leaders jostled for position, among them Kendal's Gemma Phillips.

Gemma had not tapered down her training but was eager to race in this her first event of the season, which will be followed by The Reebok Cross Country meeting next week at Birmingham.

This event was unlike like the Six-Stage stage, where tactics play a major role, but the field went fast from the gun and it stayed that way.

Gemma clocked her fastest time yet on this course in 15min 17.1sec in 10th postion behind P.

Thackray of Wakefield.

Under-20 entry Rebecca Robinson set a personal best, too, with a remarkable run by on the second leg in 15.45 which left the team lying ninth.

Third-leg runner Christine Handforth always knew that this would be a battle for her, starting in such a high position, but the now experienced relay racer did not let this deter her and finished 14th in 16.40.

Though this was an unknown event on an unknown course, it did not stop newcomer to the club Wendy McMillan as she brought the team home in 22nd, the highest position yet recorded by the Kendal club.