More than 200 runners are expected at the Wiltshire Cross Country Championships on Sunday.

The event will take place on Sunday at Hudsons field in Salisbury with the first race starting at 11.45am.

Adrian Clover, a coach at Bath University’s athletics programme, said spectators will be able to see some promising competitors in all age ranges and believes some will be good enough to go on to greater things in the future.

“The event isn’t as big as it perhaps used to be but historically it has always been a stepping stone for athletes,” he said.

“Loren Bleaken, of Marshfield and Alex Carter of Winsley are two good prospects in the U13 although unfortunately Alex is away and won’t be running this year.

“Loren, who goes to Hardenhuish School in Chippenham, was one of the youngest in her category last year but did well and since then she has won the Wiltshire schools event and finished second in a national event so she’s definitely one to keep an eye on.”

The day begins with a fun run which all children are free to take part in without the pressure of competition.

Then follows six serious races with male and female events in the U13, U15 and U17 age brackets.

The first ten in each field will be eligible for the South West Inter Cross Country Championships which will take place in March next year, where Wiltshire athletes will compete against those from neighbouring regions including Somerset and Bristol.

If successful at those, there are opportunities to compete in the National Inter Counties event, which Clover says has a far higher profile.

“You get well over 400 runners at that and last year it was aired on Sky Sports television,” he said.

The day will end with separate male and female races that are open to anyone including juniors, seniors and veterans.