BROMSGROVE and Redditch AC star Sharon Tonks crowned a successful racewalking season by leading the British team home at the IAAF World Cup in Turin.

In her first World Class event the Redditch walker took on an international field of 106 competitors over a 20km course 200m of which was tarmac with the rest cobbles, polished marble and tramlines.

The British team was down to the minimum three scorers after the withdrawal of second ranked Niobe Menendes from the four strong team with a foot injury.

Caution seemed to rule for the first couple of laps but then the pace increased.

Lead walker Lisa Kehler moved up with a faster group while Sharon was in a group with Olesz of Poland, Cobb of USA, Useche (Venezuela) and Lyes (Hungary).

Towards half distance, fatigue started to set in and athletes were dropping by the roadside. Tonks held on but Sarah-Jane Cattermole lost ground quickly.

Britain was hit by disaster when Kehler suffered cramp, got her third red card and was disqualified 200m from the finish.

Tonks was first British athlete to finish in 71st in a meaningless 148m 33s.

Cattermole finished 75th in 152m 44s.

The race was a home win for Italy with Erica Alfridi first. Russians Olimpiada Ivanova and Natalya Fedoskina were second and third respectively.