Michael Skinner helped the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team to victory in the Aviva International at Glasgow's Kelvin Hall. The Blackheath & Bromley athlete finished second in the 3000 metres in 8.07.85 just one second behind Kenya's Sammy Mutahi, who was competing for the Commonwealth Select. In fact he was closing down the leader quickly on the last lap but the finish came too soon. Skinner's time was just one second off his best, however, he is not the fastest in the Club at the moment. That honour is held by Scott Overall. His 7.51.36 is not only the quickest by a Briton, it is actually the fastest in the World this year.

Currently training and racing in the States, he continued his rich vein of form by running under 4 minutes for the mile for the first time at the Indiana Relays meeting at Bloomington. Here he finished in third place in a time of 3.58.61 which should strengthen his claim for a place in the Great Britain team for the World Indoor Championships. He has one more race in Boston over 5000 metres next week before returning to England.

With their International commitments Skinner and Overall would not have been available to compete in the South Of England Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill fields. This was just as well as the entry was sent in late and rejected by the Association. Alex Bruce Littlewood ran in the Under 20 mens race without a number and would have placed 5th if he were included in the results. This was a good effort in his last year in the under 20 age group. In fact he has been selected to represent the Kent Senior team at the Inter County Cross Country Championships. With no official competition at Parliament Hill some athletes were in action elsewhere. New member Ben Harding was first in the Last Friday of the Month 5km at Hyde Park. The former Portsmouth athlete who has an 800 metre best of 1.51 ran 16.04 to win by 40 seconds with Chris Pike 85th.

Andy Rayner finished in third in the Canterbury 10 mIle Road Race in a time of 54.21. Barry Wetherilt was 182nd and Ramon Saiz 669th. In the latest 5km Park Run at Norman Park Steve Pairman was first to finish in 5th place with Rob Brown 7th, Iain Swatton 18th and Niamh Bridson Hubbard 24th.

The Club is always looking for new members of all ages, abilities and disciplines. E-mail enquiries@bandbhac.org.uk and you will be put in contact with the appropriate Club Officer.

For information on the Club can be found at www.bandbhac.org.uk