BINGLEY Harrier Matthew Merrick, from Oxenhope, is among five local athletes to be selected for the International Youth Cup for mountain running this weekend.

The teenager will compete for England under-18s in Smolyan, Bulgaria on Saturday, with four Ilkley Harriers having also been picked.

The junior men's A invitation is Matthew's second international call-up as he also wore an England vest last summer at the Junior Home Internationals in Ireland.

His father and coach John Merrick said: “The call-up came about through the England & Great Britain trial race which took place at Mallam on May 30.

“The top two on the day automatically qualify but Matthew came third, which impressed the selectors Anne Buckley and Duncan Richards.

“Earlier this year, he won the under-15 London Mini Marathon, which is contested over the last three miles of the marathon course, in just 15 minutes, which further impressed the selectors.

“He’s one of six under-18s making the trip but only one of four who will actually compete. The coaches are impressed by his improvement as he’s only 15 and doesn’t turn 16 until October.

“It’s his second vest this year. He represented England in the Home Internationals last year and he automatically qualified on that occasion, beating two members of the eventual ‘A’ team in the process.”

Matthew also currently sits sixth in the English Fell Championships with just one race remaining this season.

Joining him in Eastern Europe are the Ilkley quartet of Ruaridh Mon-Williams (junior men B), Jemima Elgood and Lucy Haines (junior women A), and Sarah Pickering (junior women B).

Ruaridh and Lucy were team-mates of Matthew's in Ireland last year, while Bulgaria represents an international debut for both Jemima and Sarah.