CIARAN Cooper can feel pretty satisfied with his start to the new season after adding a swift 800m on Monday night to his recent personal best in the 1500m.

The 18-year-old Swindon Harrier from Lower Stratton initially looked disgruntled at not just being beaten to victory in the elite A race in the British Milers’ Club PB Classic meeting at Millfield School but also at failing to get under 1mins 54secs.

But on a cool and very wet night – though mercifully the wind wasn’t blowing as well – Cooper later reflected that it was been a decent performance in what has been a solid start to the new campaign.

“I was hoping it was going to be quicker this evening but in the conditions and no real pacemaker it wasn’t too bad,” said Cooper, who is coached by Bryan Clinton.

“It is my fastest 800m this year and comes on top of a recent PB in the 1500m (4:10.7) for the Harriers in a league match.

“It is still early days and I am expecting to go a lot quicker.”

Cooper actually looked strong and kept his form well in the closing stages all of which suggests his lifetime best of 1:52.88, which he set last summer, will be under serious threat once he sharpens up – and the weather improves.

In the B race fellow Harrier Dominic Hodge celebrated his first 800m of the season with a PB of 1:59.63 to shave 0.22secs off his 2014 best. That gave the 23-year-old fifth place in the race.

There was also a PB for 13-year-old Elliot Doughty in the 1500m C race as he finished eighth in 4:34.64 – which slashed an incredible 22 seconds off his personal best!

Another Harrier to take advantage of the windless conditions and excellent competition was Ethan Pierce. The 14-year-old, who is also coached by Clinton, finished a fine third in the 1500m E race in 4:45.13 to carve over seven seconds off his lifetime best.

In the 3000m 15-year-old Malmesbury School student Zoe Wassell, who had such an excellent cross country season, finished eighth in 10:15.50.