TOM Gale’s hectic start to 2017 is set to continue as he has been selected for the England team travelling to the Czech Republic next month, writes Kevin Fahey.

The Trowbridge international high jumper returns to the country for a specialist competition in Hustopec, in which he finished 14th in the B event last winter, clearing two metres.

Gale will be expecting a lot more for this year’s event from February 3-5, having opened his season with an indoors personal best of 2.15m in Cardiff – he was then in action in Cologne on Wednesday.

Against a top-class field in Germany, the John of Gaunt School student cleared 2.12m to finish around halfway in the 15-strong field.

“It was an incredible experience jumping with all the older guys,” said Gale.

“While I was slightly disappointed with my performance, I’ve got a long time to fix a few technical issues, which will hopefully be the key to getting me over 2.20m.”

Gale had three close attempts at a personal best indoors of 2.16m before bowing out of the competition.

“It has been busy start to the year and I'm having a lot of fun,” he added.

“At the moment, I am not sure which event I will be in (in Hustopec) but I will be hoping for a PB having got so close to 2.20m in Cardiff. It should be certainly better than last year.

"If I only cleared 2m again, I would be disappointed but if it happens, so be it. It's just going to be another great experience.”

Gale opened 2017 by retaining his South West Indoor title in Cardiff and matching the winning height of Rio 2016 Olympian and UK number one Chris Baker.