Joe Nourse was delighted to claim a new personal best as he made his senior debut for Essex at the Southern Counties Inter-Counties match at Crawley.

The 18-year-old, from Halstead, had previously been recognised at junior level, but this was his first senior call-up in the 3,000 metre steeplechase.

Despite being much younger than many of the other runners, he rose to the challenge, taking third in the B string in a new personal best time of ten minutes 30.88 seconds and helping Essex to overall victory.

Nourse, who has just completed his A-levels at Hedingham School and was Head Boy there, said: “I was overwhelmed to get my call up because I haven’t had a great season with all the revision and exams I have had to do.

“The race was of a very high standard and I am pleased to have got my first Essex Senior cap when I am still five years younger than most other competitors.”

He was joined in Crawley by Braintree and District Athletic Club team-mates Charlie and Richard Shingleton.