Richard Goodman scored an emphatic victory in the Middlesex Under 17 Cross Country Championships at Trent Park, North West London. Making light work of difficult conditions underfoot and sub-zero temperatures, Goodman finished the six-kilometre course more than a minute ahead of his closest rival.

JFS pupil Goodman, 15, said: “The ground was completely frozen over, and my spikes couldn’t penetrate it. The course took in two fields, and the first of these had been badly ploughed up by horses. In the frozen conditions, runners were falling over or twisting their ankles, but luckily I was ok.”

A typical week’s training for Goodman will include two tough interval sessions under the guidance of Shaftesbury Barnet coach Geoff Williams, as well as solo runs and possibly some gym work. But athlete and coach are both aware of the dangers of over-training at a young age. He said: “My week includes a rest day and I am building up progressively.

“My main targets for the cross country season are the Southern Championships later this month, the Nationals in February and the English Schools in March.” Goodman’s victory at Trent Park has earned him a place at the front of the field at each of these races.