Bill Atkinson has had to wait half a century to become an overnight success, winning a gold medal in his England debut at the age of 70.
Atkinson, from Longridge, was chosen by his country for the Great Britain and Ireland Masters Cross Country International at Falkirk exactly fifty years after appearing for the army in an inter services match in Berlin - his only previous representative honour.
Bill had won the bronze medal in the British Masters' 10 Mile Road Race Championships to win the selectors' nod in the 70-74 age bracket, and they would have been delighted to see him come home seventh and third England counter in Falkirk.
Backing Keith Spacie and Gordon Wiltshire, who were second and third, the England trio romped home with seven points to spare over Scotland with Wales taking the bronze from Northern Ireland and Eire.
Atkinson completed the six kilometres around Callendar Park in 29:03 to finish within two minutes of the race winner.
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