COACH Marcia Marriott says Tim Stephens’s England call-up is the ultimate reward for all his hard work.

The Oxford City athlete has been selected for the Home Countries International at Bedford on August 20-21.

Stephens, 18, has been training under Marriott at Horspath Sports Ground for more than three years.

And the decathlete is enjoying his most successful season to date, winning last month’s South of England Championships, with a personal best overall score of 6,355 points.

He has also climbed to fifth in the British Under 20 rankings in his final year in the age category.

Marriott described Stephens’s England selection as the “icing on the cake”.

She said: “From the first day I took him for training I said to him if you work hard you will get yourself an England vest.

“I could see the talent in him and he genuinely believes in himself, which is half the battle.

“It is great to finish up a year where he has won his vest, that is all he wanted.

“It is a nice reward for him.”

BICESTER veteran David Kuester marked his return to competitive action with a silver medal in the 70+ age group at the British Masters Weight (Throws) Pentathlon Championships.

Kuester recorded a total of 2,770 points at the Alexander Stadium, in Birmingham, just 12 weeks after shoulder surgery.

He is now planning to return to full training ahead of the World Masters Championships in Perth, Australia, which begin on October 29.

ABINGDON’S Noel Blatchford returned to winning ways with a gold medal in the 10k walk at the British Masters Championships at Birmingham.

There were silvers apiece for Steve McCourt (V45) and Steve Pomeroy (V50) in the weight pentathlon.

Pete Stepney achieved a bronze medal in the V50 decathlon.

THE penultimate round of the Mota-vation Series takes place at Combe tonight.

Oxford City are in pole position to retain their men’s crown.

They have already opened up a formidable 292-point lead over Headington Road Runners.

But defending champions Headington lead the way in the women’s event.

Tonight’s round, raced over 4.37 miles, begins at 7.30pm.

RESULTS

(senior men unless stated)

CHELTENHAM MIDSUMMER OPEN MEETING

Abingdon – 200m Race 2: 2 A Klukowski (U20) 25.38. 200m Race 9: 4 M Bedlington (U15W) 31.13. 600m Race 1: 7 A Klukowski (U20) 1.30.52pb. 600m Race 3: 2 M Bedlington (U15W) 1.48.92pb. 1500m Race 2: 4 S Lackman (SL) 4.59.55. 1500m Race 3: 2 K Harris (U17W) 5.15.51pb, 8 A Bromley (U15W) 5.25.12.

WATFORD OPEN GRADED MEETING

Abingdon – 200m Race 1: 1 R Baust (SL) 28.99. 1500m Race 1: 6 G Halfhead (U13W) 5.26.86. 1500m Race 9: 3 D Bunn (U17) 4.39.71pb, 9 F Bunn (U20W) 4.46.76pb.

LAKELAND 50

Abingdon: 88 J Moore (V50) 10.42.19pb, 118 N Hamilton (V50) 11.13.54pb.

BMAF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Abingdon – 10k Walk: 1 N Blatchford (LV65) 69.03. Decathlon: 3 P Stepney (V50). Weight/Throws Pentathlon – V50: 2 S Pomeroy 2891pb. V45: 2 S McCourt 2552pb.

Bicester – Hammer: 3 D Kuester 28.59m. Shot: 4 D Kuester 8.97. Discus: 4 D Kuester 25.53. Javelin: 2 D Kuester 23.45. Heavy hammer: 2 D Kuester 11.58. Overall: 2 D Kuester 2770pts.

NORTH WALES HALF-MARATHON

Abingdon: 30 B Watson (V40) 1.42.45.

ABINGDON PARKRUN

Abingdon: 9 M Lewy (V50) 19.17, 10 G Wallace (V50) 19.24, 12 K Dixon (V45) 19.36pb, 15 C Lewis (V50) 19.53, 18 R Kembleton 20.03, 19 D Burn 20.08pb, 21 D Richards (V55) 20.20, 26 L Coulson (LV40) 21.01, 29 K Harris (JW15-17) 21.16pb, 35 C Pierre 21.40, 39 S Smith (V55) 21.59, 52 J Oliver (V60) 23.01, 53 T Scott-Langley 23.06, 62 N-J Steinke (LV35) 23.43, 65 D Morgan (V40) 23.45pb, 66 C Morgan (JM10) 23.47pb, 71 M Wilson (V55) 23.59, 81 B Compton (LV40) 24.36, 83 S Tumelaire (LV45) 24.49, 85 G Lean 24.51, 93 A Dickinson (V45) 25.16, 98 S Douglas (LV55) 25.27, 108 P Terry (LV50) 26.08, 112 C Scott-Langley (LV35) 6.15, 127 E Woosey-Griffin (LV40) 26.44, 141 A Dawkins (V60) 27.35, 155 K Pulford (LV60) 28.36, 162 J Styles (V50) 29.20, 165 H Nash (LV50) 29.32, 170 G Sinclair (LV40) 30.00, 181 J Worth (LV40) 30.24, 201 F Topp (LV45) 31.55, 203 M Hamilton (LV50) 31.56, 204 S Wade (LV45) 31.58, 211 I Meliconi (LV40) 32.17, 218 M Shepley (LV45) 33.04, 254 C Kembleton (LV35) 40.43, 257 D Heller (LV75) 43.05, 258 E Heller (V80) 43.06.

DIDCOT PARKRUN

Abingdon: 8 K Francis (JM11-14) 19.54, 14 A Francis (V45) 21.15.

HARCOURT HILL PARKRUN

Abingdon: 7 S Lackman (SL) 19.40, 8 J Bones (V45) 20.12pb, 16 M Shepley (V50) 21.50, 22 C Fegan (JM11-14) 22.38, 23 D Fegan (JM11-14) 22.41, 39 J Fernandez (JM11-14) 25.49, 41 G Fernandez (JM11-14) 26.02pb, 54 H Burton (LV35) 27.47.

KESWICK PARKRUN

Abingdon: 113 J Moore (JM15-17) 29.14pb, 127 L Hamilton (LV55) 31.42, 175 E Moore (LV50) 40.14.

KILLERTON PARKRUN

Abingdon: 120 F Cobb (SL) 26.39.

NEWBURY PARKRUN

Abingdon: 3 M Deering 18.29.

OXFORD PARKRUN

Abingdon: 29 M Bedlington (JW11-14) 21.06.

Witney: 12 F Howard (V40) 19.16, 14 J Field (V45) 19.16pb, 20 T Clarke (V45) 20.03, 55 L Garrod (LV45) 22.47pb, 94 S Rhodes (V45) 24.47.

BICESTER PARKRUN

Witney: 9 D Wymer 21.00pb.

SWINDON PARKRUN

Witney: 166 B Mould (SL) 26.10.

READING PARKRUN

Abingdon: 53 B Darwent (JW11-14) 21.14, 79 P Darwent (LV45) 23.00, 102 M Darwent (JW15-17) 24.05.

VICTORIA PARKRUN, GLASGOW

Abingdon: 159 L Blackmore (LV35) 27.17.

WOODLEY PARKRUN

Abingdon: 5 P Keating 17.37.