POOLE Athletic Club enjoyed the most successful week in its history as its stars achieved a World Championship vest and two National medals, reports Nigel Harding.

Edward Bird braved 35-degree heat, leading Great Britain’s under-20s to fifth team at the World Cross-Country Championships at Bathurst, New South Wales.

He scored an excellent 18th position, just behind an American and an Australian, as Africans monopolised the top 15 places.

Melissa Courtney-Bryant secured her second UK Athletics Indoor 3,000m title.  Breaking away from a slow pack, the Welsh international clocked 8:50.76, edging out Hannah Nuttall in a nail-biting Birmingham finish.

The pair have been selected for a rematch in Istanbul at the European Indoor Championships.

UK Athletics Indoor Championships – Women’s 3,000m: 1 Melissa Courtney-Bryant (Poole AC) 8:50.76, 2 Hannah Nuttall (Charnwood) 8:50.85, 3 Eloise Walker (Edinburgh) 9:00.53

Other Dorset Results: 60m 5 semi-final 1 Brooke Ironside (BAC) 7.63s (in heat 7.56s) 60m Hurdles 6 heat 2 Kia Slade (BAC) 8.71s Long Jump 6 Ironside 5.96m (indoor pb)

William Rabjohns claimed the under-17 men’s bronze medal in the English National Cross-Country Championships with a 20:56 solo run over 6km of fast Cheshire pastures at Bolesworth Castle.

Rabjohns completed a full set of medals, having secured both gold and silver as an under-13.