Richard Goodman, 16, faced the cream of the UK Under-20 cross country runners in the McCain UK Challenge in the grounds of Cardiff Castle, and again emerged triumphant.

Using the race as a sharpener for an international meeting in Spain this weekend, Goodman finished the 6.5km course in 18:55, 11 seconds clear of junior international Dewi Griffiths, with youth international Jonathan Hay a further 13 seconds behind.

Goodman said: “The course was superb — fast and flat, like running on a cricket pitch, and with some wooded parts as well.

“There were two short laps and a longer lap, and after the second shorter lap I pushed on and no-one could respond.”

Goodman faces a top quality field in the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza meeting in Elgoibar, Spain on Sunday.