As her stellar 2015 draws to a close, Bobby Clay has more European glory in her sights after entering an exciting new chapter in her career.

The 18-year-old Invicta East Kent AC runner’s star has grown this year after claiming the English and European Junior 1,500m titles and smashing her personal best at Manchester’s Sportcity.

Clay relocated to Loughborough University this term which coincided with her switch from IEK coach Peter Mullervy to acclaimed UK Athletics coach and former GB Olympic distance runner Rob Denmark.

The Wingham wonder said: “Rob sees me every day up here and it’s easier for him to manage me than it would be for Peter from down there.

“Peter is still involved in more of a mentor role but Rob is high-up in UKA and the contacts he’s got will be beneficial to me. It’s working well at the moment.”

Clay said she was now in a ‘more professional’ environment, adding: “Down there everyone is at school or college or work during the day and then trains at 6.30pm. Here I have sessions in the morning, studies during the day and then strength and conditioning or drills in the evening.”

She added: “It’s exciting. The other day I was running on the track and I came round the bend and in the next lane was Martyn Rooney (European 400m champion). That’s the sort of environment I am in. I was a bit star struck at first but now I’m playing it cool.”

Clay started the cross-country season earlier this month with victory in the first leg of the British Athletics Cross Challenge, which moves to Liverpool next weekend for the GB trials ahead of next month’s European Cross-Country Championships.

Clay said: “I am pleased with my start. A lot of other girls had run previously so I didn’t know where I was sitting. It was a bit of a tester run – I am aware of areas I need to polish before Liverpool.”

The carrot for Clay is a trip to Toulon in the south of France on December 13 but she said: “At the moment I have tunnel vision on Liverpool, after that, we’ll see. If it all goes to plan, then I would like to be in good shape for France.

“I’m not going to put any limits on anything. I have made my mark on the European scene this year, which comes with a bit more pressure but that only spurs me on.”

This week Clay was chosen for funding as part of British Athletics’ Futures Programme as well as being named British Milers Club Junior Athlete of the Year, claiming: “It’s nice to have recognition for doing something that I love.”