Ben Lindsay has earned automatic selection for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Cross Country Team after finishing third in the under 20s trial race.

The 19-year old from Brierfield was appearing at Sefton Park, Liverpool in the biggest meeting of the domestic season so far with the European Trials being run in parallel with rounds of the UK Challenge League, the local Liverpool League, and our own Mid Lancs League in which hundreds of athletes from our area took part.

Ben's first international recognition was in fell running, so he was quite at home in the wet conditions at Liverpool which made the going heavy after the early races had churned up the ground.

The under 20 race was run over 6.7 kilometres and he noticed on the second lap that there was standing water in places.

David Forrester from St Helens was first home in 20:55, followed by Nuneaton's Lee Carey 21:04 with Lindsay just a second behind in 21:05. While there are six places in the team to be won, only the first three qualified automatically, and Ben made it easily as fourth placer Mitch Goose was 15 seconds back.

Lindsay is in the second year of a course in Sports Science and Nutrition course at St Mary's College in Twickenham, and has joined the Aldershot, Farnham and District Club now, although he retains his link with Pendle Athletic Club.

After his latest success he paid tribute to Pendle coach Noel Finucane, who is also the father of middle distance star Laura, and to physiotherapist Denise Park who helped him overcome injury.

Last season Ben was a surprise qualifier for the World Cross Country Championships in Kenya, but now in his final year in the age group he went to Liverpool more in expectation than hope on the back of a fine performance at the National Cross Country Relays.

While the heat of Mombassa or the sticky ground of Sefton Park will not be repeated at Toro in Spain next month, the expected flat and fast conditions do not concern this genuine all rounder either.

In fact he is bullish about his prospects after a strong summer on the track. He will also have company on the trip as his girlfriend Charlotte Purdue won the junior women's trial despite losing a shoe.

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