OUR leading cross-country runners are fine-tuning their preparations ahead of the first big race of the winter - the trials for the European Cross-Country Championships in two weeks’ time.

Jessica Judd, Gemma Kersey and Adam Hickey are all gunning for places in the Great Britain squad for the European Cross in Bulgaria in December.

And all three donned their cross-country spikes last weekend to test out their form.

Canvey’s Judd was representing Loughborough University for the first time at the Midland Women’s League in Leamington Spa and looked in terrific form.

She won the senior women’s race, finishing 13 seconds clear of one of her rivals for a spot in the GB under-20 team for the European Championships, Georgina Outten.

Hickey and Kersey both made the trip to Stevenage to compete in the Met League as guest athletes.

Kersey ran well to finish second with her and eventual winner, Rachel Felton, finishing well clear of the rest of the field.

The Basildon AC athlete, who is in good form this winter, is going for a place in GB’s under-23 team for the Euro Cross.

Chelmsford AC’s Georgia Tuckfield was sixth under-20 and 20th overall in the same race.

Hickey finished fifth in a strong field at Stevenage and will continue his build up to the trial race in Liverpool by representing England at an international meet in Burgos, Spain on Sunday.

Former Southend High School for Boys pupil Alex Short, who represented GB at last year’s European Cross-Country Championships in the under-20 age group, finished 10th in the race.

Short will be racing for a place in the under-23 team this time around.