MATT SHIRLING produced a stunning run to take silver in the English Schools Cross Country Championships in Nottingham’s Wollaton Park.

The St Helens Sutton runner clocked 17:42 as he led home Merseyside’s intermediate boys contingent who took an impressive bronze in the team event.

Talented Shirling has been rewarded with a call-up to represent England at the International Schools Cross Country Championships in Antrim this Saturday.

Merseyside’s John Ashcroft was ninth in the senior boys race in 21:28 with Toby Loveridge of Liverpool Pembroke Sefton close behind in 12th in 21:40.

The county’s top performer at junior boys level was Liverpool Harriers’ Paul Tyson who was 10th in 14:15.

Wirral AC’s Tarver sisters also impressed in Merseyside vests.

Hanna Tarver was ninth in the senior girls in 15:16, while Sophie Tarver was 39th in the junior girls in 13:25. They were both Merseyside’s top performers in their age group.

The team’s highest placed runner in the intermediate girls was Chelsea Jarvis who finished 28th in 13:43.

ST HELENS SUTTON runners dominated the St Helens 10k. John Ashcroft was first home in 33:13 followed by Matt Shirling in 33:24. Gemma Connelly took the honours in the women's race in 36.26.

SOUTHPORT Waterloo's Ben Johnson won the first South Yorkshire Half Marathon.

Johnson, who ran the race as part of his training for next month's London Marathon, knocked over six minutes off his PB as he raced home in 1:13:09.

SUE COOPER of Southport Waterloo returned from the European Masters Championships in Belgium with a hat-trick of medals.

Cooper landed silver in the W55 indoor 3000 in 11:54.46 as well as individual bronze and team gold in the cross country event.

Clubmate Steve James claimed a bronze as part of the British cross country team.