The Three Mile Championship which was 12 laps of a 440 yards track became a 12.5 laps 5000 metres in 1970. The event was dominated in the 60's by 9th Old Boys Derek Graham who won seven titles during that period including the last 3 miles and the first 5000 metres. Graham not only finished runner up in the International Cross Country, he forerunner to the World Cross, but also represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Olympics.
Steve McCooke, a four time succesive winner in the 1940's was also a British Olympian, competing in London in 1948.