LUDLOW'S promising young athlete Marcus Sharrad represented Shropshire in the English Schools Athletic Championships at the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield when he competed in the junior 80-metres hurdles.

He has made steady progress through this season and qualified for the national finals with a personal best time of 11.9 seconds in winning the Shropshire Schools title at Okengates.

Although he did not better this time at the Championships he competed well and just failed to make the final when he finished 11th fastest in the heats.

However he doubled up as a member of the Shropshire junior 4 by 100 metres relay team which did well to reach the final.

Again they performed gallantly against some of the best prospects in the country and eventually finished in seventh place.

Sharrad who is coached by Ludlow C of E School's Head of Physical Education Phil Poolton, is a talented all-rounder who excels at most sports.

Last season he was a member of the Herefordshire School of Football excellence, based at Leominster.