RUNNER Heulwen Gilbert wants to make her tutors proud at next month’s British Colleges Sports National Championships at the University of Bath.

The Ludlow College student booked her place at the prestigious event after finishing fifth at the West Midlands trials in the women’s 4.5km cross-country event.

“I am really enjoyed the trials - and it was a course I'd raced on several times, so I knew how to pace it and where my strengths and weaknesses were,” said Heulwen, from Bitterley.

“I'm really looking forward to Bath because it will be a great experience and, hopefully, a chance for me to see the university. It is one of my choices to study a degree in sports science. Representing my college at a national level should be exiting and, hopefully, I will perform my best to make them proud.”

Heulwen is studying A-levels in geography, PE and biology raced against 21 students from nine colleges in tough weather conditions to secure her place at Bath.

More than 2,500 students and staff are involved in the National Championships and 87 runners will compete with Heulwen in the women's cross-country.

It is another event which Heulwen can add to her growing experience of races - she is also a member of the Ludlow Runners and competes for them in the Herefordshire cross country league.

She has represented Shropshire in the Inter-counties and English schools cross country championships.

This is the first time that Ludlow College could enter the tournament - they are now a member of the British Colleges Sport following their merger with Herefordshire and Ludlow College.

Ludlow College sports officer Huw Pritchard said: “The support and enthusiasm for the competition has been very strong and all of the students performed well, being placed successfully in a range of disciplines. Everyone involved should be very proud of their achievements.”