Career
Ruth began competing in Cambridge in the 1920s, then moved to London and joined the London Olympiades women"s athletics club She took second place in the half-mile at the British Championships in 1929, and began competing internationally, recording impressive results. In the mile, she recorded a possible world record time of 5:27.5 in 1932.
In her favoured distance of 880-yards or 800-metres, Christmas had a longstanding rivalry with Gladys Lunn, and finally beat her in the 1933 British Championships.
She gained French nationality through marriage, becoming Ruth Christmas-Paysant, and began competing for her adopted homeland, winning the 1935 French Championships 800-metre title, and the cross-country equivalent in 1936.