LOUGHTON AC ladies have been crowned Chingford League women's champions for the first time in their history.

The women's team was level on points at the top of the table with local rivals Orion Harriers going into the final event of their cross country season, the Chingford League Relays at Trent Park.

On the day, the Loughton ladies team of Caroline and Helen Real, Gabrielle Brooks and Mary Knapman won the title, after finishing second in the four-stage 3km relay behind a strong Barnet outfit, and crucially in front of the Orion team.

Honourable mention should be made of the back-up teams from Loughton, in the form of Michelle Hurley, Chloe Moon, Amanda Gibbins and Lorna Gaffney and Anne Heeks, Gay Shillaker, Irene Petersen and Gwen Harwood.

Other athletes who contributed to the team success for the season were Jean Hobbs, Lara Regan, Paulette Regan and Anna Finn.