A YOUNG runner from Woodford Green with Essex Ladies is to take on the best in Europe for Great Britain.

Twenty-one-year-old Tara Bird has been drafted into the 4x400m team which will compete at the European Athletics Indoor Champion-ships in Turin this month.

While running for the local club, she also gets extra coaching from double Olympic gold medalist Dame Kelly Holmes at a training camp for promising athletes.

Tara’s call-up to the Italian tournament comes hot on the heels of her bronze medal last month in the 800m at the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships in Sheffield.

Mentor Holmes praised her young student after making huge strides in the world of athletics over the last few years.

“It is great to see Tara moving through from the junior ranks,” she said. “Being part of the team at the European Indoors will be a great experience for her, and I am sure that she will learn a lot.”

For Woodford resident Tara, the chance to wear the British kit in international competition is the reward of months of hard work.

She has improved her performances and set new personal best times in the indoor 400m and 800m events.

Tara trains under the watchful eye of Holmes as a member of a development programme called ‘On Camp With Kelly’ – an initiative designed to make good athletes out of talented youngsters.

Meanwhile, Woodford Green athlete Bertie Powell retained his Essex 20 title at Great Bromley.

Powell staved off the challenge from Springfield Striders’ runner Paul Molyneux, who had won the Bury 20 run the previous week.

The local athlete began to streak clear of his close rival at the seven and a half mile point of the 20 mile race after the pair set off at a fast pace.

He clocked 54mins at the halfway stage and eventually came home 37 seconds clear of Molyneux, acting as the perfect preparation for his London Marathon quest next month.

Meanwhile, Woodford Green with Essex Ladies held its annual Roding Valley Half-Marathon on Sunday, with M45 runner Iain Cumming passing Simon Seigar (28th) and John Wallis (24th) to come home as the leading club member, finishing in 20th position.

Paul Clarke (30th), Keith McShea (31st), Steve Dawkins (56th), Julian Thorpe (109th), Adam Thorpe (134th) and Steve Lambert (233rd) were also in action.