ONCE again Nick Jones proved at the weekend he has quite a kick in a sprint finish.

The veteran athlete used his end-of-race speed to clinch a bronze medal in winning England performance in Swansea on Saturday.

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Jones kept up a steady pace on the first three laps of the eight-kilometre Singleton Park course in the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International.

But then he stepped on the gas, moving through the field from 26th edging out a teammate in the sprint finish to place 11th overall.

 

Nick Jones, on his way to a bronze medal in the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International staged in Swansea

His 26mins 33secs secured him a bronze medal in the men's over 40s category and placed him as third of four counters in the gold-medal winning England team on a day when his country proved too strong overall for the competition from Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Jones was not the only Warrington Athletics Club representative to feature.

David Gill, who was a travelling reserve, ran well to finish 16th overall in the men's open race in 33mins 29secs to clinch a bronze medal in the over 60s bracket.

 

Dave Gill, on his way to a gold medal in the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International staged in Swansea

Steve Watmough was 42nd overall in the men's 50 to 64-year-olds race and 11th in the over 55s age group with his time of 30mins 33secs.

The team race was won by England on nine points. Watmough was fourth for England and collected a team gold.

 

Steve Watmough representing England in the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International staged in Swansea

Meanwhile, Warrington Athletics Club’s Mervyn Ward crossed the line 107th in the Preston 10-mile road race on Sunday but he won the over 60s age group thanks to his 67mins 29secs performance.