International call dream for Pate's pupil Paulson

WILL Paulson admits his season has gone like a dream after being named in the Great Britain squad for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Sunday 24 March.

The 18-year-old member of Stroud & District AC clinched his place in the under 20 men's team after finishing third in the trials race in Birmingham on Saturday.

"I am absolutely delighted, it is great news," said Paulson.

"It will be the biggest event I have done so far and I have to say this season has gone really well for me.

"It has been a big step up and I have to thank my coach Chris Frapwell and all my training partners, it has been a real team effort."

Paulson, who is a student at Pate's Grammar School in Cheltenham, will be making his debut in the event but before Christmas represented Britain at the European Championships in Hungary, finishing 40th.

In addition Paulson won the Midland Counties title and was runner-up in the McCain Cross Challenge race in Antrim as he ran into top form when it mattered most.

"At the start of the season I spoke to Chris about the World Championships and it was always on my mind but there were time when I thought it wouldn't work out.

"But it has gone really well and I couldn't have asked for more."

Coach Frapwell is in no doubt that Paulson deserves his place in the team.

"Will has worked hard and done everything we wanted him to and getting selected for the World Championships is a fantastic achievement," said Frapwell.

Gloucester AC's Alex George would love to follow in Paulson's footsteps and when the World trials are held again in 2015 the 17-year-old should be well placed in the under 20 men's age group.

For now he is doing pretty well and he continued his fine season with eighth place in Birmingham which was good enough to secure him second overall in the McCain Challenge.

"I was really happy with that as I got a voucher for £80 and a trophy," said George.

There were no other top finishers from the county athletes but Grace Kapp came close with a fine 11th in the under 13 girls' race.

In the absence of Emily Pidgeon, who pulled out with flu, Stroud's Rachel Felton was the county's top runner in the senior women's race finishing 18th.

In the men's race county champion Tom Russell just missed the top fifty in 52nd with brother Ander just behind in 68th.

McCain Cross Challenge, Cofton Park, Birmingham – senior men: 1 Frank Tickner (Avon & Somerset) 33:54; 2 Steve Vernon (Gt M/C) 34:05; 3 Andy Vernon (Hants) 34:11.

Teams: 1 North East 108. 19th Glos 820 (52 Tom Russell 36:29; 68 Ander Russell 36:57; 108 David Roper 37:52; 142 Richard De Camps 38:34; 216 Richard Dare 40:13; 234 Marc Fallows 40:54).

Under 20 men: 1 Jonathan Davies (Berks) 24:51; 2 Gordon Benson (Yorks) 24:555; 3 Will Paulson (Glos) 24:58.

Under 17 men: 1 Jac Hopkins (West Wales) 18:15; 2 Matt Shirling (Merseyside) 18:22; 3 Alex Carter (Wilts) 18:31.10th Glos 213 (8 Alex George 18:45; 26 Tom George 19:08; 63 Dmitry Nazarenko 19:41; 116 Harry Bishop 20:10).

Under 15 boys: 1 Dan Evans (Cheshire) 16:02.37th Glos 770 (160 William Staddon 18:06; 163 George Bygrave 18:08; 209 Jacob Pickering 18:40; 238 Jasper Greenleaf 19:04).

Under 13 boys: 1 Thomas Kendrick (Kent) 10:27.30th Glos 546 (60 Ben Roberts 11:14; 68 Harry Mark Davis 11:17; 197 Oliver Powell 12:00; 221 Casey Fallows 12:08).

Senior women: 1 Louise Damen (Hants) 26:58; 2 Elle Baker (Gt M) 27:06; 3 Gemma Steel (Leics) 27:24.

Teams: 1 Hampshire 151. 10th Glos 558 (18 Rachel Felton 28:25; 80 Kate Goodhead 30:24; 97 Vicky Holland 30:44; 103 Rachel Underhill 31:02; 120 Jane Wassell 31:28; 140 Naomi Eaton 31:50).

U20 women: 1 Emelia Gorecka (Surrey) 19:41. Glos: (32 Beth Wyn 22:42; 59 Mia O'Connnell 23:44; 81 Beth Hawling 24:32; 142 Bethany Wells 30:17).

U17 women: 1 Amy Griffiths (Leics) 19:13.Glos: 200 Rachel See 24:30.

U15 girls: 1 Harriet Knowles-Jones (Cheshire) 16:56. 27 Glos 474 (56 Zoe Wassell 18:44; 99 Maia Hawkins 19:09; 127 Bethan Moor 19:25; 192 Elenor Hathaway 20:08).

U13 girls: 1 Katie Anne McDonald (Surrey) 10:58. 34 Glos 642 (11 Grace Knapp 11:45; 150 Niamh Powell 12:52; 236 Bethan Samuel 13:30; 245 Isla Green 13:37).