BRADFORD on Avon-based Holly Rush has been named in the Great Britain squad for the IAU World Trail Championships in France, writes Kevin Fahey.

The former marathon international has been selected in 12-strong Great Britain and Northern Ireland team that will be hoping to continue the recent success of British Ultra-running teams on the international stage at Annecy on Saturday May 30.

Rush’s selection reflects her successful switch to ultra running and she admitted it was a big thrill to receive the call from the selectors.

“This will be the fourth time I have had the honour of wearing the GB vest, and one I hadn’t expected to wear again,” said Rush.

“Representing your country at any event is always a great honour and something I never dreamt I would be doing when I started this running lark in my 20s.

“Competing in my first major championships in Barcelona (the marathon at the European Championships, 2010) and winning a team bronze made me believe that perhaps anything is possible with really hard work “That performance was good enough to see me selected to run the marathon at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, another dream come true.

“So to be asked to wear the Union Jack again in what is a whole new running chapter for me really is the icing on the cake – after all I’m not getting any younger and who knows how much longer my body will let me continue abusing it.”

  • JOHN of Gaunt School student Hayden Bailey led Team Bath U15 boys’ squad to the silver team medals at the Midland Counties Cross Country Championships in Nottingham.

The 14-year-old reigning champion from Westbury had to settle for a strong eighth place this year and, with solid support from Marshfield’s Themis Bower (12th) and the Howorth brothers from Hilperton, John (13th) and Robert (17th), it was enough to secure second behind a powerful Charnwood squad.

“A lot of the boys have been struggling with illness recently so they did well to finish second,” said team manager Caroline Howorth.

Charnwood scored just 22 points – placing all four runners in the top 10 – while Rugby were just eight points behind Team Bath in third.

Corsham School’s Jade Littlechild was the sole Team Bath runner in the under 15 girls race and performed well to finish 19th.

  •  AMELIA Hempleman-Adams, who lives in Box, won the senior women’s high jump title at the Wales Indoor Championships. The 19-year-old cleared a season’s best of 1.65m for victory.

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