Highgate star selected for national service in Spain

Thursday, January 31, 2013
11:15 AM

Shaun Dixon has been selected to run for England for a second time in an international race in Spain next month.

Having made his debut for the national team last weekend in Cardiff, the 30-year-old will compete for England for the first time abroad over the weekend of February 9 to 10.

However, Dixon’s call-up means the Highgate Harriers star will miss his club’s final Metropolitan League fixture on February 9 – which is a blow for the team given that he tends to be a very high points scorer.

The timing is particularly unfortunate given that Highgate’s men go into the meeting at the top of the league table, and with high hopes of winning the title – but they are still expecting to field a very strong team for the decisive race.

Highgate were due to host the South of England Championships at Parliament Hill at the weekend but the meeting was called off early last week due to the snow.

London Heathside had planned to be at the event, but some of their runners made other plans and Tom Aldred won the Highbury Fields parkrun in a highly impressive time of 15 minutes 41 seconds – and in difficult conditions.

There was little sign of snow in the United Arab Emirates, and Heathside stalwart Ken Heney completed the Dubai Marathon in a time of 2:56.10.

Meanwhile, Robb Watts completed the Marrakech Half Marathon in 2:08.02. And, on the track, Dave Ayre entered the Newham & Essex Indoor Open and came fifth in his 60m heat in 7.66 seconds before coming fifth again in the second round in 7.68.