SERGIO Martinez-Gonzalez will head to the Tri-Counties Cross County Championships on Sunday determined to show he is getting to grips with the English cross country scene.

Martinez-Gonzalez’s confidence is high after his third place in the latest fixture of the Oxfordshire Cross Country League held at Kilkenny Lane Country Park, Carterton, last weekend.

Coming on top of his sixth place in the opening match last month, that represents a solid start to the winter season for the 31-year-old, who is clearly benefitting from his new training regime with Swindon Harriers coach Neil England.

“Training has been going really well but those first two results still came as a surprise,” said Martinez-Gonzalez.

“I had a hamstring injury in the spring and probably came back too early but now I have linked up with Neil and he has really helped me with a more structured approach to my training.

“I have worked hard at improving my strength through weights and circuits and I really enjoy the track sessions. We have a good group and it is an excellent club.”

Born and bred near Bilbao, Martinez-Gonzalez first came to the UK five years ago and initially worked in London. He moved to Swindon in 2013 and then had a year working in Aberdeen before returning to work for CH2M in Burderop Park.

In both the league races he has finished as the top Harrier and will be heading the club’s senior men’s challenge on Sunday at Bath University, where the top Wiltshire runners will join those from Avon and Somerset in the combined event.

“I like cross country but those first two league events were held on flat, dry grassland courses, so probably weren’t proper cross country,” added Martinez-Gonzalez.

“I have not raced at Bath University but I have heard the course there is very different, so we will see what happens.”

Martinez-Gonzalez wasn’t the only top-three finisher for the Harriers at Kilkenny Lane.

In the combined under 17/15 boys’ age group, Max Sockett was runner-up in the U17s race, while Patrick Mochan finished fifth overall and was amongst the U15s.

With Daniel Patel in 11th, the Harriers trio finished second in the team contest behind Banbury.

In the girls’ U17/15, race Rachel Oram finished sixth overall and third in the younger age group, with Lavinia Rai and Sophie Capel also making the top 20 to help the Harriers place fourth in the team competition.

Other top-10 finishers included Fletcher Hart, Alex Leak and Ella Spencer.