SOLDIER Nikki Dean has been enjoying Christmas leave in Blackburn. The former Blackburn Harrier who many local runners will know under her maiden name Wilkinson, left the club when she joined the army four years ago.

Originally a physical training instructor with the 251 Signals Squadron based in Aldershot, Nikki - pictured above - has just been promoted to the Training Regiment at Arborfield, near Reading, where she is responsible for training new recruits.

In February she became the Army's National Cross Country champion, winning the title at the base at Longmoor in Hampshire, and she is presently plotting her defence. A good performance could earn her the chance of warm weather training in Portugal in March.

Since giving up triathlon 18 months ago she has concentrated on road racing, and this year the 28-year-old has set PB's at three distances, recording 36.16 for 10K at Epsom, 59.40 for 10M at Woking, and 1.18 in the Fleet half marathon.

She was also ninth lady in the Great South Run recording 60 minutes for the 10 miles.

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