Frank Tickner can't wait to get stuck into the World Cross Country Championships today after a week of being confined to the hotel in Jordan.

Security has been so tight in Amman, the Jordanian capital, that the Wells City Harrier and his British team-mates have not been allowed to go out and run on their own.

"For training we have all been taken by bus to a training venue and then allowed to run there," said Tickner. "Security has been very tight in and around the hotel and we have been rather cooped up here. It is an odd existence really and a bit boring."

The waiting will end today and Tickner, who won the English title and was runner-up in the trials, is hoping for good performance in an event dominated by Africans.

"It is difficult to predict how you are going to do until you see how many Africans are there but if I can finish in the top 40 or 50 that would be decent," added Tickner.

Gloucestershire's Tom Russell, who finished second in the Scottish Championships, runs in Home Countries International Cross Country match in Bangor, north Wales, today.

Russell represents Scotland while his Bristol & West AC team-mate Craig Peters is in the Wales team.

The match runs along the British Schools' Championships in which Stroud's Tom Curr runs the inter boys' race for h is England debut.

Other west youngsters in action are Bristol & West AC's Annabel Gummow (inter girls' race) and Team Bath AC's Loren Bleaken (junior girls').

In-form Tiverton runner Helen Dyke will start favourite to win the Great West Teignbridge 10 miles road race tomorrow (10.30am). Entries are taken on the day and for further information contact John Caunter (tel: 01803 613771).

For multi terrain fans Cheltenham Harriers stage the Cleevewold 14 miles event tomorrow (10.30am). Call Andy Gore (9tel: 01242 820431) for details or see the race website at: www.cheltenhamharriers.co.uk

The second Easy Runner Harptree Havoc 10k multi terrain race from Beaconsfield Farm, West Harptree (BS40 6EH), will have a record entry on Sunday (10.45am).

Bristol & West AC runner Kevin Heywood is hoping to attack his personal best of 30mins 26secs in the Eastleigh 10k road race tomorrow while new clubmate Tom Merson is tackling the Reading half marathon.

A meeting to discuss the re-forming of the South West AA will be held at King's College, in Taunton, on Sunday (11am).