DAI Greene feels he is getting back to his best after running his fastest time of the year to win the 400m hurdles title at the Sainsbury’s British Championships at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium last weekend.

The Welshman, who lives in Melksham, had suffered his first defeat by a fellow Briton for five years in losing to Rhys Williams two weeks earlier, but gained revenge on his compatriot, finishing in 48.66 seconds.

It was a timely return to winning ways a month out from the defence of his World Championship crown in Moscow.

“I felt a lot more together, a lot more structured. I felt like my old self again,” he said.

For Greene, it was a relief after a torrid season so far.

He was hampered by illness in finishing fifth at the Birmingham Diamond League meeting last time out and that performance followed defeat by unknown German Silvio Schirrmeister at the European Team Championships in Gateshead the weekend before.

Greene, coached by Broughton Gifford’s Malcolm Arnold at the University of Bath, said: “It’s been a tough few weeks.

“It’s not nice having a season where you know you’re in shape and you’re not running well and it’s nice to turn it around.

“I don’t usually have bad races and to have two in the space of two weeks is tough to take.

“I knew I was putting myself up to be beaten here and I’m proud of myself the way I came through it.

“I feel there’s only one way to go with my form and that’s to get better.”

BRATTON’S Ellie-J Webb (Matravers School) and Bradford on Avon’s Grace Davies-Redmond (St Lawrence School) will represent England at the British & Irish Schools’ Championships in Dublin tomorrow.

Davies-Redmond goes in the 300m hurdles and Webb the hammer, with Wiltshire teammate Nikko Hunt (Dauntsey’s School) in action in the pole vault.

“When I put on my England kit it felt amazing because I thought ‘I’ve earned this’. I’m really looking forward to the international,” said Webb.