ALEX FELCE finished his English Schools' career in the same way that he started it with a thrilling win in the senior boys' 1500m in Birmingham.

Felce won the Under- 15's event back in 2001 and he was equally dominant this year in the final. Alex took control from the gun to ensure that the race was run at a pace that was to his liking.

He then sat back for the middle laps before unleashing a devastating sprint finish to out-kick his rivals just before the line.. Alex finished in three minutes, 56.7 seconds.

It was Alex's fifth English Schools' medal and he now looks set to move onto an equally successful career at the senior level.

Training partner Iain Whitfield from Stroud AC, who has another year in this age group, came through for sixth place in a time of 3 mins 58. Another evergreen athlete from the Stroud District is Louise Durman from Downfield and with her best ever English Schools' performance she finished fourth in the senior girls' 1500m.

Her Dursley AC team-mate Ashley Rymer from Marling made the Under-17's 1500m final with a new personal best of 4 mins 1 secs where he finished a creditable seventh.

Stroud AC's two medallists from the English Schools' cross country, Matt Withey and Tom Russell both finished fourth in their events.

Tom, running in the senior boys 3000m, managed to get himself boxed in and was not quite able to cover the break made by the eventual medallists.

Meanwhile, in the Under-15's age group there is no 3000m and Matt had to make do with the 1500m, an event that is probably too short for him. Unable to rely on his legendary strength and endurance he was out-sprinted by quicker boys on the last lap.

The revelation of the team was Stroud AC's Ed Womersley who finished a totally unexpected fourth in the Under-17's 1500m steeplechase.