NEWTON’S middle distance runner Matthew Shirling produced an impressive performance in his first outing in a Great Britain vest for the Junior men.

The member of Liverpool Harriers, who is coached by Rainhill’s Adrian Webb, was running in the European Cross Country Championships in Belgrade Serbia on Sunday, 8 December.

And he came in 15th - an excellent finish as a first year.

He has now been invited to represent GB again on 11 January at the Edinburgh International, where he will compete against a strong American Team and the rest of Europe.

Shirling, who studies at Hope Academy, is hoping to go to the Europeans with his coach Adrian Webb next year in Bulgaria as a top end U20 and hopefully achieve a medal.

The inaugural winner of the Pride of St Helens young sportsperson of the year award hopes to secure his place on a regular basis within the GB Team over the next few years and would love to take his form on to a senior level.