RICHARD KILTY helped Great Britain’s 4x100m relay team lay down a marker ahead of the Commonwealth Games as they claimed victory in the European Team Championships in Germany last weekend.

Stockton-born Kilty, who was crowned World Indoor champion earlier this year, teamed up with Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, James Ellington and Adam Gemili to secure a rare British success in an event that has produced its fair share of disappointments in recent years.

Despite keeping their handovers as safe as possible to avoid any mishaps with the baton, the British team finished 0.37secs clear of Germany as they narrowly missed out on an event record in a time of 38.39sec.

The quartet is likely to remain together throughout the summer, and will hope to compete for a medal in Glasgow despite the presence of the all-conquering Jamaicans on the Commonwealth start list.

“This is a solid team and this is hopefully a team that will push for the British record,” said Kilty, who will line up in the British Championships, which double as the trials for this summer’s European Championships, this weekend.

Thornaby’s Rabah Yousif missed out on a place on the Commonwealth Games team, but helped Britain’s 4x400m squad finish fourth in Braunschweig.

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HAVING claimed two Commonwealth Games silver medals in 2006 and 2010, Harrogate squash star James Willstrop will be desperate to go one better in Glasgow this summer.

The 30-year-old, who is currently ranked number six in the world, will head to Scotland in fine form next month after helping his club side, Mulhouse, secure a French league double at the weekend.

Willstrop teamed up with fellow England internationals Laura Massaro and Sarah-Jane Perry to help guide Mulhouse to victory in a French league that is widely regarded as the strongest domestic squash tournament in Europe.

Willstrop, who will play in both the singles and doubles tournaments in Glasgow, is one of two Harrogate-based players named in the England squad, as Jenny Duncalf has also been selected in the women’s competition.