Mark Aspinall has had to wait until the age of 45 to win his first England vest, but on Saturday he made up for lost time with a winning debut for the England Masters Team.

Competing in the 45-49 age group at the British and Irish International Cross-Country at Santry Desmesne in Dublin, the 45 year old Clayton-le-Moors Harrier ran the perfect race.

"Everything clicked into place," said Aspinall. "Tactically I got it just right, which doesn't happen very often."

The course was flat and fast and the athletes had to negotiate five two kilometre laps.

His age group ran with the 40-44 and 50-54 athletes and in the early stages he tagged on to the back of the M40 leaders.

He backed off a little in the middle part of the race, but came back strongly over the last two laps as the course began to cut up picking up a couple of places.

He clocked 31:14 over roughly ten kilometres for sixth overall but with all those ahead in the younger age category he won the gold medal. England's over 45s also earned team silver behind hosts Ireland.

Mark has been running since childhood apart from a short spell between the ages of 15 and 20 and has enjoyed spells with Rossendale Harriers as well as current club Clayton.

He has tasted success on all surfaces and has even won the 17-mile long Tour of Pendle, but cross-country is a clear favourite.

Of the fells, he said: "I have speed but no technique and I can't descend."

He finds cross-country more of a tactical challenge than road racing where, he says, you have to run flat out all the way.

He is the current holder of the veteran titles in both the Red Rose and Mid Lancs Leagues and two years ago was the England reserve in this same home international fixture in the 40-44 age group.

l Clayton's over 40 veteran Anna Kelly won the open race at Dublin for individual entrants not chosen for their countries.

The women ran three laps of the same course, and her success will boost her case for inclusion in future England squads.