Holly Rush goes into Sunday's Bath half marathon looking for another big boost to her confidence ahead of the Hamburg marathon next month.

The Team Bath AC runner has opted for the race in Germany on Sunday, April 26 because it offers a more competitive mixed field rather than the women's only elite approach adopted by the London organisers on the same day.

Rush will be hoping to repeat and hopefully better her run in Bath 12 months ago when she clocked her personal best of 74mins 26secs to finish top West woman. Also in the field will be fellow marathon international Amy Chalk, of Chippenham, while Claire Hallissey leads a strong Bristol & West AC squad.

Kenya's former champion Simon Tonui will start favourite for the £1,500 prize in the men's race which is noticeable for a strong West presence this year.

Matt O'Dowd, Ben Tickner, Kairn Stone, Oli Shilston, Nigel Leighton, Tom Merson and Oli Mott constitute a strong domestic entry which should ensure a competitive race though the favourite to finish top Brit is likely to be either Salford's GB international Thomas Abyu or Winchester's Toby Lambert.

The main race starts at 10am from Great Pulteney Street with the first finisher returning just over an hour later.

The other big West half marathon on Sunday is the Forest of Dean trails event from Parkend, near Lydney (10am) and, as with Bath, entries are closed.

The third event in the Somerset Series takes place tomorrow (11.30am) with the Butleigh seven miles multi terrain race. For further details contact Peter Wright (tel: 01458 850565) or see the race website at: www.wellscityharriers.org.uk

Entries are still being take for Sunday's Sherborne Castle 10k multi terrain race (11am) and for further information contact Martin Chaffey (tel: 07929 054576) or see the race website at: www.yeoviltownrrc.com

Bristol stages the south west trials for the Flora London Mini Marathon on Saturday with teams from Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. The races start and finish at Bitton Station (BS30 6HD) and the timetable is as follows: 11.30am: Under-13s 4k; noon: Under-15s 5k; 12.30: Under-18s 5k.

Somerset international duathlete Phil Wylie heads north to tackle the high quality Trafford 10k in Manchester tomorrow hoping to break his personal best of 30mins 09secs.

Bristol & West AC send a strong squad to Gloucester for the Severn AC road relays on Saturday.

Yate hammer thrower Zoe Derham has been selected to represent Great Britain at the European Cup – Winter Throws event in Los Realejos, Tenerife this weekend.