BIRCHWOOD’S Louise Blizzard helped her team to gold at the British Masters National Road Relay Championships in Birmingham on Saturday.

Running for Belgrave Harriers, Blizzard joined Sophie Carter, Kate Rennie and Zoe Doyle in leading the London-based club to their first women's over 35s success at Sutton Park.

The mum-of-one, fresh from a 3hrs 27secs performance in the London Marathon, ran the second leg of the hilly 3.1-mile route in 18 mins 50 secs to increase Belgrave’s lead to 31 seconds.

Blizzard’s teammates continued to lead from the front as Belgrave steered through the tape with nearly 400 metres to spare.

“Startled to be in the lead, Lou ran in mild panic for most of the way, imagining the awful moment when the entire field slips by,” said team manager Will Cockerell.

“But paranoia is no match for fitness and remarkably Lou proceeded to stretch Sophie’s 10-second gift to a fine yet fragile 31.”

Blizzard added: “It was a real honour being in the lead and having everyone cheering – I am not used to that!”