CORSHAM’S Mike Dooley is hoping that he has done enough to earn a second England vest this year, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

Dooley will make his international Masters debut for England over 10k in Birmingham next month and is set to follow up that with a vest for the MBNA Chester marathon after an impressive performance in the Brighton event last weekend.

“The Brighton marathon was a qualifying event for the Masters international in October and my time has made me eligible for the England team,” said Dooley.

“I’m not sure when it is announced but I would like to do the event.”

Despite a troubled build-up, Dooley recorded the second fastest time of his career on the south coast with 2hrs 42mins26secs and now believes his lifetime best of 2:40.46 is within reach.

“Brighton is a tough course,” added Dooley.

“The first half is basically all uphill and I climbed just over 1,000 feet. The second half is flatter but by then I was really tired and was hanging on.”

Dooley’s PB was set ten years ago on the super fast London course and while his age of 52 dictates that there will be limits to how much faster he can go his improved training and form suggests that there is still more to come.

“I reckon that Brighton course is worth at least two minutes so with a bit of fine-tuning I reckon it could be possible to run under 2hrs 40mins,” added Dooley.

“Hopefully I will be able to do that in Chester.”

Until then Dooley can take considerable encouragement that his time is the fastest by a veteran over 50 this year though the London race on Sunday could change that.