Under-20 women lead the charge for Bristol & West

History suggests that the Under-20 women will carry Bristol & West AC's best hopes of winning a medal at the English Cross Country Relays at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield, tomorrow.

Two of the squad that finished third 12 months ago, Katie Knowles and Emily Merrick, are available again and the team is arguably strengthened by the addition of Eleanore Wimshurst, as Kokob Mehere makes way.

"We were third last year and I would say the Under-20 women are bolt-on medallists again, but which colour we won't know until the day," said team manager Mike Down.

Results this decade back up Down's confidence. Since 2000 the Under-20 women have never finished outside the top six and have finished amongst the medals four times, with a bronze, two silvers and a gold in 2003, when Suzanne Richards, Abi Wiltshire and Emma Whittaker romped to victory.

"We have a good record in this event and, hopefully, we can continue that this weekend," added Down.

The Under-20 men have also enjoyed their time in the limelight. The trio of Dave Bishop, Tom Marley and Craig Peters lifted the trophy in 2006, adding to the silver medals won two years before that.

This year's trio of Harry Webb, Richard Peters – both survivors from the squad that came sixth last year – and Nathan Young has a solid look about it but such is the intensity of competition that another top-six finish has to be the aim.

"You can never tell about how strong the Under-20 men age-group will be, but I think we have a reasonable chance of doing well and maybe challenging for a medal," said Down.

Unlike in the national road relays, medals in the senior age-groups have been rare over the past decade, with the fact that the senior women need just three scorers and the distance is only 3k counting against the club's strength in depth.

British international Claire Hallissey is back in action again and will be backed up by Rebekkah Randell and Kate Goodhead, a strong squad but possibly not fast enough over the short circuit to mount a serious bid for a top-three spot.

Double the distance and it might be a different story, but the squad will do well to better the sixth place achieved in 2001 and last year's seventh spot by Goodhead, Imogen Ainsworth and Steph Barnes.

The senior men's squad comprises Phil Wylie, Robbie Bugden, Tom Merson, Tom Russell, Steve Gallienne, Dan Woolford, Tom Kingsnorth and Steve Mitchell, with Down deciding the A and B teams on the day.

"The senior men's race is usually very strong and I remember two years ago when we had a very strong squad – Bugden, Wylie, Rob Whalley and Tim Wallis – we only finished seventh, so a top-10 spot has to be a realistic target," added Down.

Local runners will be heading to Bradford-on-Avon on Sunday (10am) for the Over The Hills 12k multi-terrain race, organised by Avon Valley Runners. The race HQ is at the Pound Lane Pavilion and no entries will be taken on the day.

The Ilminster Lions 10k road race takes place on Sunday (10.30am) from the Market Square, Ilminster.