A LUDLOW College student has helped the West Midlands team to finish in third place in the British Colleges Sports National Championships at the University of Bath.

Heulwen Gilbert earned her place at the final after finishing fifth in the British Colleges Sports West Midlands Trials in the 4.5km Cross Country.

The 17-year-old, from Bitterley, who is studying A levels in Geography, PE and Biology, raced against approximately 80 other students from 11 other regions across the country.

She was placed a respectable 27th in the final and the points she gained helped the West Midlands Team to secure a third place overall in the championships. Her position also helped the West Midlands female cross-country team to be placed second overall.

More than 2,000 students from a variety of disciplines take part in the National Championship, making the competition one of the largest of its type in the UK. This is another event Heulwen can add to her growing experience of races as she is also a member of the Ludlow Runners and competes for them in the Herefordshire cross country league.

She also represented Shropshire in the Inter-counties and English schools cross country championships last year.

“It was a fast course and we had good weather to run in," she said.

"I have done quite a few other big races so that helped with not feeling too nervous at the championships and I could feel a bit more relaxed at the start line.”

This is the first time that Ludlow College were able to enter the tournament as they are now a member of the British Colleges Sport as a result of their recent merger with Herefordshire & Ludlow College.

“The support and enthusiasm for this competition has been very strong and Heulwen has performed fantastically, said Huw Pritchard, the sports officer for Ludlow College.

"To achieve third place overall for the region is a big achievement, the team should all be very proud.”