Telford AC's Claire Martin wore her England vest with pride as she strode through the ankle deep mud to finish 20th in the Euro Cross International Race in Brussells last week end. The international call up, for Claire, coached by Terry Davies, came after a string of high quality performances on the road and country this season and she did not disappoint as she was the 3rd member of the 4 strong England team to finish.

On a 4 lap 6 kilometre course, that had earlier in the day seen lots of races for younger age groups making a very sticky surface that everyone found very difficult. The sunny but cold weather saw a field of over a 100 International quality athletes set off in the elite womens race. Pre race favourite Teyiba Erkesso, Ethiopia's bronze medallist from the 2003 World Cross Country Championships came home as the winner in 21.27. GB International Hayley Yelling, who had finished 6th in last weeks European Championships in Italy, slipped from 3rd to 7th in the last 20m due to the muddy conditions in 21.41. The top 20 were littered with international athletes from Hungary, Portugal, Ethiopia, Begium and Ireland.

Gemma Phillips, from Kendall was the first of the quartet of English runners in 14th 22.26, Eleanor Baker from South London Harriers was 15th 22.46 whilst Claire was 20th in 23.17 and Jenny Blizard from Rotherham completed the Enmgland squad in 28th in 24.03.

Claire, a postie from Aqueduct plans a couple of low key weeks after a hectic racing schedule before she tackles the Shropshire Cross Country Championships at Lilleshall on January 6th, where hopefully Shropshire athletics fans may get a glimpse of that smart new England tracksuit.She will then turn her attention to the World Cross Country Trial to be held at Bath in conjunction with the British University Championships on Saturday February 3rd.

Paul Sanderson