Michael Skinner has been picked to represent Great Britain at the World Cross Championships in Amman, Jordan on the 28th of March. The Blackheath & Bromley athlete gained his selection despite missing the Trials race which was incorporated in the Inter Counties Championships at Nottingham. Skinner had been away training and racing in Australia at the time but his consistent level of performance for Great Britain in recent years got him the nod from the selectors.

The 29 year old former Langley Park schoolboy was the second Briton to finish at the Worlds both in 2008 when he came 66th in Edinburgh and in 2007 when he was 62nd in the heat of Mombassa, Kenya. He has also performed well in the European Cross Country Championships.

A number of athletes from the Club were in action at the Inter Counties but with Skinner and Scott Overall both out the country there was nobody from the Club up the front in the Senior races. In fact Mike did race last week out in Australia where he finished 17th in the 5000 metres at the Melbourne Track Classic Meeting in 14.17.87.

Jennie Butler was first home for the Club in the Senior Womens race in 89th position. In the Mens’ race Alex Gibbins finished 104th with Peter Tucker 121st and Jeremy Bradley, who has registered to compete for the Club as a Higher Competition Athlete this Summer, 142nd.

In the Under 20s age group Alex Bruce Littlewood was 41st in the mens’ race with Frank Kilama 73rd and Hannah Garcia was 153rd in the womens’ event. Jen Hamer was 52nd in the Under 17s age group.

Highest placed athlete from the Club on the day was Amber Reed who was an excellent 19th in the under 15 girls race following on from her 27th place in the National cross country last month. New member Emily Nolan finished in a very good 60th place. Oliver Taylor was 113th in the boys event with Will Mercer 174th