ADAM Hickey goes into this weekend’s European Cross-Country Championships hoping to repeat his heroics from last year.

The Southend AC athlete will be racing in his third straight Euro Cross in Hyeres, France, on Sunday, and has tasted plenty of success.

In 2013, he won a team bronze medal as part of a strong Great Britain squad in Belgrade, Serbia.

And last year he shone individually as he finished ninth overall in the freezing conditions of Samokov in Bulgaria.

Despite nursing a groin niggle throughout much of the winter season, the 27-year-old is determined for that run of success to continue in the south of France this weekend.

“Last year’s race gave me a real confidence boost,” said Hickey, who finished fifth Brit in the trial race two weeks ago.

“I started sixth in the pen and worked my way through the field.

“That run has obviously put a bit more pressure on me this year but it would be nice to the same again or even go a bit better.”

Hickey’s established himself as one of Great Britain’s premier cross-country runners over the past three seasons.

And he is part of a very strong team this year that could well feature in the medals shake-up in France.

“Everyone apart from Mo Farah and Andy Vernon was at the trials, so this is a very strong team,” said Hickey who says his self-belief has steadily been building over the past three years.

“I still get the usual nerves at these big events but I am definitely a bit more relaxed than I once was,” he added.

“I think racing more regularly in Europe, competing against the best, gives you that belief going into these championships.”

The Southend dad-of-one may have been a regular on the European cross-country circuit but he probably hasn’t come across too many courses like the one he will come across in Hyeres, on the south coast of France, on Sunday.

It is set on a pan-flat horse racing course that has had slight moderations made to it to make it more of a test.

“They held a trial race there a few weeks back and there were logs and other obstables set up throughout so it will be an interesting one,” said Hickey.

“I’ve had a good couple of weeks since the trial race, keeping things fairly steady and had lots of treatment on my groin, so I should be good for the weekend. I’m looking forward to another tough race.”

WATCH IT The European Cross-Country Championships will be shown live on the BBC red button from 9.25am. Hickey’s senior men’s race starts at 1.12pm. Highlights will be shown on BBC2 at 4.15pm.