BLACKHEATH and Bromley (B&B) runner Michael Skinner (right) has started the year in fine form with good performances in Britain and on the continent, writes Pat Calnan.

At the Great Edinburgh International meeting at Holyrood Park live on BBC Grandstand he finished second in the men's short course race over 4.3km.

He was the spearhead of a trio of B&B runners with Scott Overall and Andrew Rayner finishing fifth and 12th respectively.

Skinner, Overall and Rayner all had steady starts and kept themselves in the pack while Morpeth's Nick McCormick led from front.

Overall moved into second place and he, Skinner and European Junior Champion Bene of Hungary moved onto McCormick's shoulder.

Coming into the home straight it was anybody's race but McCormick hung on to win in 12mins 16secs with Skinner and the Hungarian just one second behind him.

Overall recorded 12mins 29secs and Rayner, only just back from a chest infection, took 12mins 51secs.

Skinner was happy with his run but reflecting afterwards wondered if he could actually have won it.

The previous weekend he raced in the Amorebieta Cross Country race in Spain where, in a quality field, he finished 11th over 10.7 km.

He now switches his attention to indoor racing while Overall and Skinner fly back to America where they are studying at Butler University.