YOUNG athletes from the Forest of Dean have had their first taste of national competition after being selected to represent Gloucestershire in the UK Inter Counties Championship.

Among them were young runners Gemma Green, Emily Dowle, Tara Sladen and Lauren Wallis, all Forest of Dean Athletic Club members who ran in the under 13 cross country event.

The competition featured some of the best young runners in the country and was held over the sweeping Cofton Park course at Birmingham. The event was televised.

Other Forest competitors were Josh Dowle and James Piercy (under 13 boys); Sadie Meluish and Fennella Madley (under 15 girls); Emmett Thompson (under 15 boys); Freek Van Arkle (under 17 boys); Sasha Herman (senior men).