FOR mother and daughter Jane and Zoe Wassell, it was a little piece of history in the making as they were both crowned Gloucestershire cross country champions at the weekend, writes Kevin Fahey.

The county statisticians were hunting through their record books to see if the feat had ever been achieved before but, to date, no other rivals have been found.

So Zoe, who is a student at Malmesbury School and mum Jane may well be taking their place in the record books after they won the U17s and senior titles on the same day at Coleford.

“It was really nice to have that double win and I am not sure if that has ever happened before in the county championships,” said Jane, of the double for the pair, who lives in Tetbury.

“Zoe won the U17 women’s race quite comfortably and I never expected to follow that.

“I last won it four or five years ago and when I was second last year, when Zoe also won, I thought that was my chance gone.

“I am slowing up now and I thought it would now probably never happen.”

Perhaps that lack of expectancy removed the tension and pressure from Jane’s shoulders as she turned the clock back to her heyday.

“Zoe came up to me before my race and told me that a top three should be my aim and that was what I was thinking,” added Jane.

“I didn’t start off too well, but by halfway around the first lap I was in the lead and then just gradually pulled away.

“I had Zoe and Mike (her husband) cheering me on and also had lots of other support on the course which was nice.

“In the end it felt pretty comfortable.

“It was so nice for both of us to win and I know Zoe was really happy and she said ‘well done, mum!'"