ROOKIE Fletcher Hart will make his debut in the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships in Leeds this weekend (SAT MAR 16th).

The Swindon Harrier, who lives in Lechlade, will line up in the junior boys’ race and coach John Dill says he heads to Yorkshire in good form.

“Fletcher finished 52nd in the Inter-Counties Championships last weekend and that is a measure of the progress he has made this season,” said Dill.

“It was a great experience for him and should stand him in good stead for his first English Schools’ Championships.”

Hart is racing for Gloucestershire but the majority of Swindon Harriers runners are in the Wiltshire team, including his training partner Kelly-Marie Marsh (junior girls).

Patrick Mochan’s preparations have been hampered by illness but the Lydiard Park Academy student, who recently celebrated winning the Oxfordshire League title, could still show up well.

Clubmate Jack Gunning joins him in the team after being called up from the reserves. Other Harriers runners making the trip include Lavinia Rai, Ethan Pierce and Sophie Capel.

Malmesbury School’s Ollie Campbell should also do well in the inter boys’ age group while Marlborough School’s Archie Loweth heads the junior boys’ squad.