Oxford City’s Hannah England finished sixth in the under 23 women’s category at the McCain Liverpool Cross Challenge, which doubled up as the European Cross Country Championship trials.

But despite her performance, England, who is running as an under 23 for the last time, missed out on a qualifying place for the European team for the championships, which take place in Dublin on December 13.

England finished 24th overall, clocking 28mins 9secs over the 8.1km course.

England said: “I didn’t quite make the cut with the team.

“I am first reserve though and am keeping my head down and training hard in case I am needed.

“It would have been nice to have made the team, but I’ve had a relatively short preparation due to he long track season and a few illnesses in the last month so I am not too disheartend.”

Elsewhere, former Witney Roadrunner Mathew Ashton, running for Aldershot, Farnham & District, finished in 52nd place in a field of more than 450.

He completed the 9.8km course in 30.40.

In the junior age groups, City’s Beth Hawtin led the way in the under 13 girls’ race, finishing an impressive seventh over the three kilometre course in 11.37.

Her sister, Lauren Hawtin, clocked 11.12 in the under 15 girls’ race to finish eighth, while the oldest of the Hawtins, Melissa, was 25th in the combined under 17/20 women’s race over 4.4km, crossing the line in 16.13.