Tom Cornthwaite was Great Britain’s first counter in the senior men’s race at the World Mountain Running Championships.

The 26-year old Blackburn Harrier had only finished fifth in the trial at Witton Park in Blackburn, but on Sunday at Tirana in Albania he was 21st in a field of more than 100, narrowly ahead of team mates James McMullan and Orlando Edwards.

In sweltering weather conditions the team was seventh with Rob Samuels the final counter in 60th.

Joe Johnston of Rossendale is still eligible for the U18s, but was promoted to the Junior Men’s (U20s) Team after his third spot in Blackburn.

He went one better being second of the Brits in 30th outright, finishing clear of Karl Billington who was running in his first international fell race.

The Blackburn Harrier was the third counter in 41st as the British squad took ninth.

The British took one medal, a bronze for the senior women’s team as trial winner Lizzie Adams from Hallamshire Harriers placed fifth. Cornthwaite has been selected for the England Senior Team to contest the Commonwealth Championships at Llanberis in Snowdonia on September 24.

Gary Priestley, the Horwich RMI Harrier from Chorley, has also been chosen alongside Billy Burns from Lostock.

Two women with strong local connections – Victoria Wilkinson and Sarah Tunstall – will be there too.

The British and Irish Junior Home International for U16s and U18s will provide part of the support programme in Wales and three more locals have been picked for England U18s with Dale’s Joe Johnston being joined by two Blackburn Harriers.

Dominic Mahoney was unlucky not to go to Albania after finishing fourth in the official trial at Blackburn, while Beckie Taylor was forced to retire on her home patch at Witton Park but gets the call after consistently good performances over the last two seasons.