WILTSHIRE’S new British indoor 3000m champion David Bishop is on course for a meeting with double Olympic champion Mo Farah this weekend, writes Kevin Fahey.

Bishop has received an invite for the prestigious British Grand Prix in Birmingham on Saturday, with London 2012 hero Farah also expected to contest the 15-lap indoor race.

Chippenham runner Bishop put himself in pole position to be added to a star-studded, world class line-up for the event with a consummate victory at the British Indoor Championships and European trials in Sheffield over the weekend.

“I have not heard personally yet but my coach (James Thie) reckons I’ll get an invite for Birmingham which would be great,” said Bishop, who lives at Willowbank and was previously at college in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“Mo is apparently running there so it will be a great chance to get a little taste of the big time.

The 25-year-old former Hardenhuish School student ran a perfect tactical race in Sheffield, following the early pacemakers and staying clear of trouble until the final lap when he made his decisive strike.

“I cannot complain at all with the way it went,” he said. “I felt comfortable the whole way and was never stressed out by the pace.

“I just had to be patient and make sure I was in the right place to strike on that last lap. Once we reached the bell I felt supremely confident that I would win it.”

A blistering last 50 metres saw Bishop take his first senior title in 8mins 6.98secs, well outside his personal best of 7:56.37, though winning was the over-riding priority.

“That is my fifth national title and all have been over 3000m,” added Bishop.

“I have an U17 title, two as an U20, one British Universities title and now my first British senior title.

“I think Mo and some of the other guys might be looking at running 7:30secs which is outside my range at the moment but I feel I am I shape to run around 7:50 or just under so a 7:40.45 pace would be okay and would just have to hang in there.

“We’ll see what happens.”