WILL BATTERSHILL picked up valuable points for Great Britain on his full senior track debut at the European Team Championships in Madrid.

The former Ivybridge Community College pupil and Erme Valley Harriers athlete finished sixth in a strong 3,000m steeplechase race which was run in incredibly hot conditions.

Battershill stuck with the leading pack the whole race and produced a strong finish to overtake two athletes on the line to take sixth in a 16-strong field, where times were affected by the conditions.

Germany’s Karl Bebendorf won in 8:20.43, with Spain’s Daniel Arce, an 8:08 runner, second in 8:22.04.

UK’s number one Battershill, who has run 8:21.91 this season, finished in 8:28.19.

Meanwhile, Tavistock Run Project’s Oliver Smart is set to earn Great Britain honours next month.

Smart has been selected to represent his country in the 5,000m at the World Student Games in Germany.

He is one of five University of Birmingham distance runners who are set to compete in Düsseldorf between July 16-27.

Last month, Smart ran a new 5,000m PB of 13:45.18 and also won a bronze medal at the BUCS Cross Country Championships in February.

However, costs of competing for Great Britain at the World Student Games are not covered by UK Athletics or British Universities and Colleges Sport and so Smart and his University of Birmingham team-mates have launched a Gofundme page to try and raise money to pay for their flights, accommodation, kit, food and medical support.

Anyone wanting to support Smart can do so HERE.