BATTLING health problems is nothing new for Grappenhall runner Nick Jones, neither is running for England and Great Britain in his impressive career.

However, not even being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease could stop the Warrington Athletics Club veteran representing his country on Sunday.

Jones, who was already fighting against ulcerative colitis and an auto immune liver disease, was part of the England team that won a silver medal at the British and Irish Masters Cross Country event.

He completed the course in 29mins 1sec, but having received his latest diagnosis only in October, Jones says was happy just to make the start line in Londonderry.

“I was really proud to be asked to represent my country again,” he said.

“I’m not totally fit at the moment, but when I got on the start line I forgot about my health issues and I gave it everything I had in the race.”

Elsewhere, Warrington clubmate Jack Green took a massive 26 seconds off his personal best 5km time on Saturday.

He travelled to Barrowford to compete in the Podium 5km evening race and, in the company of some of the country’s top 5-kilometre road specialists, finished the course in 15mins 33secs.

On the same day, Cameron Duff was Warrington Athletics Club’s only representative at the Northern Athletics Open Indoor Meeting in Sheffield, but he enjoyed a successful day.

Duff stormed to victory in the under 17s 60m race in 7.54secs, while his time of 17.33secs in the 150m was enough for him to finish second. Both of his times were new personal bests.