FRANCES Briscoe finished a creditable 26th in the European Cross Country Championships trials at Sefton Park, Liverpool.

The 29-year-old, from Wantage, completed the boggy 8.1km course in 29mins 42secs.

Running for her first-claim club, Coventry Godiva Harriers, Briscoe was just one minute off a top-ten place in the event, which is part of the McCain UK Cross Challenge Series.

The Oxfordshire cross country champion underlined the good form that saw her win a round of the Midland Women’s League at Leamington Spa earlier this month.

Steve Naylor, from Woodstock, was 37th in the men’s race – 12 places higher than last year.

Competing for his first-claim club Bedford & County, Naylor clocked 31.27secs for the 9.8km course.

He was around 50th after lap one before moving through to finish seven seconds behind 30th place.

“That was one of the most heavily stacked races I’ve been in – certainly the best coming together of cross country runners I have probably ever seen,” said Naylor.

“I would say it was a much harder fought race than last year, so all in all a very good day at the office.”

Oxford University student Jake Shelley was 41st in 31.33.

Meanwhile, Oxford City’s Melissa Hawtin and Gemma Bridge secured top-25 finishes in the under 20 ladies’ race.

Hawtin completed the 4.4km course in 16.24 for 18th, while Bridge was 22nd in 16.31.