TROWBRIDGE international high jumper Tom Gale flies out to Tenerife a week tomorrow (FRIDAY) for a pre-Christmas training camp in the sun, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The eight-day trip with coach Denis Doyle is the first of two training camps in Gale’s schedule to the Canary Islands before he tackles the indoor season and then makes his senior international debut for England at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane in early April.

“I am going out to Tenerife next week with Denis and Joel Khan (his junior rival and GB team-mate) and also for a week in January as well,” said Gale.

“This first camp will focus on sharpening and strengthening work while the January one will be working on technical aspects and getting into shape for the indoor season on my return when initially I will be staying in Europe to compete in Cologne and the Czech Republic.

“It is a great opportunity for me to spend some time with Denis (who is based in Cardiff) and have some really good training sessions with him on hand.

“It should be a good couple of weeks.”

Funding for the training camps has been provided by Gale’s elevation into the Olympic Podium Potential squad as part of British Athletics’ World Class Programme funding programme.

The 19-year-old had previously been on the Futures Programme for promising young athletes but after a season in which he won bronze at the European Junior Championships and improved his personal best to 2.30m to help earn selection for the 2018 Commonwealth Games he was promoted to the next level.

“We have been told that we can spend the money how we best see it but that it is not intended for a new lap-top or mobile phone for example,” explained Gale.

“It is there to pay for training camps or expenses to get to training and or competitions so that is what I am using it for and I think it is going to be a great trip.”

Competing in the U20 women’s race at the British Athletics Cross Challenge in Liverpool Corsham runner Jade Littlechild finished 81st with her Team Bath AC clubmate Caroline Brenchley, who lives in Compton Bassett, 126th.