Claire Martin, Telford Athletic Club's in form cross country runner has been rewarded for a series of high quality performances this Autumn with an England International call up. She travels with a strong England womens team to Brussells to represent her country in the Euro Cross Series Race held in the Belgium capital. Outside the European Championships held last week end in Italy this Euro Cross Series is the top European Series of the Winter. National teams from most European countries will be there as well as several strong African squads.

Claire meets her England team mates in London on Saturday and the team then travel to Brussells aboard Eurostar for the race on Sunday returning home on Monday. The 4 strong team also includes Gemma Phillips, Kendall who ran for Great Britain in last years World Cross Country Champs in Japan, Ellie Baker from South London Harriers, who was 6th in the European Championships trials held at Liverpool last month, just missing out on a Place in the GB team for the European Champs and Jenny Blizard from Rotherham, who had the second fastest time at the National Road Relays in October and is just back from the World Eikeden Marathon Relay Championships in Japan. Claire is delighted to be in the team which is full of high quality international athletes.

The Aqueduct based athlete has been selected following her excellent eye catching performances in the National road relays, National Cross Country Relays and the first two Uk Cross Country Challenge races in Birmingham and Liverpool. Claire previously ran for England at cross Country two years ago in the Five Mills International Cross Country in Italy.

Midland Womens Cross Country League.

Telford AC the reigning Midland Womens Cross Country League champions are half way there to retaining their trophy. After winning the opening team race at Sennelly's Park in October, Telford were equal first with the mighty Loughborough University in the second fixture held at Droitwich. However Loughborough were 3rd behind Telford and Birmingham University in the first race which gives Telford a healthy overall lead over two of the strongest University teams in the country. League positions after the first two races are 1st Telford AC 29 points, 2nd= Birmingham University 43 pts, 2nd= Loughborough Univ 43, 4th Birchfield 103 pts, 5th Tipton H 151 pts and 6th Solihull and Small Heath 156 pts out of over 20 teams. Telford AC's veterans were second in the Droitwich race behind leaders Wolverhampton and Bilston.

Claire Martin, won the race at Droitwich in 22.41 with Vicki Wilkinson, from Bingley Harriers, in Yorkshire, an international fell runner running as a guest in second,22.58. Birmingham University's Louise Durman was third in 23.04. Telford's second scorer was Kim Green, who recently ran a personal best 10k of 35.23 finishing 4th in the Abbey Dash Race in Leeds,was 6th in 23.45, surrounded by a trio of Loughborough University students. Louise Taylor was 9th, repeating her Sennellys Park position in 24.22. The other Telford AC runners were Julie Kirby 23rd and 4th veteran in 26.22. Cheralyn Evans was next home, 35th in 27.47. Sarah Mackness 52nd in 28.39 and Lisa Blagden 76th in 30.40 completed the line up.

In the same Abbey Dash 10k in Leeds a race that attracts 5000 runners was Hayley Jennings making her Telford AC debut after moving from Tipton Harriers. She is ineligible to run in team competition until February but can represent the club as an individual and ran 39.24 to finish 23rd.

Telford Christmas 10k Road Race.

This Sunday sees the Annual Telford 10k Road Race take place in the Telford Town Park. The popular pre Christmas race organised by Telford Ac, under the direction of race organiser Dave Mansbridge, is now full and no entries will be accepted on the day. The race has reached its limit of 600 runners.

The race starts at 11 am from the road next to Wonderland by the Town Park Arena, race headquarters are at the Ice Rink. Anyone who is coming to the race is urged to use the Randlay car park to avoid the Town Centre Christmas shoppers.

A top quality field is assured although Telford's leading runner and course record holder Chris Davies, is returning from serious leg injuries and will not be taking part. Telford's most recent international Claire Martin will also be absent representing her country in Belgium.

The two lap course follows the Silkin Way from Arena to Aqueduct and back offering spectators excellent opportunities to see the action.
Paul Sanderson