20th September 2021

MOUNTAIN RUNNING TRIALS TAKE PLACE IN THE LAKE DISTRICT

The Lake District hosted the 2021 British Championships (World Champs Trials) Classic up and down races (senior and junior) and the 2021 World Championships Trials uphill only races this weekend.

The uphill race took place in Keswick, running up Skiddaw on Friday afternoon, with Joe Dugdale (Copeland) and Hannah Horsburgh (Keswick) coming out as the men’s and women’s winners.

Dugdale, who won the junior races at both the European and World Mountain Running Championships in 2019, was victorious on the senior stage on this occasion.

Finishing 14 seconds ahead of Chris Richards (Duncan Richards, Salford), Dugdale booked his spot at the World Championships which are due to take place in February 2022 in Thailand.

Richards pipped Jacob Adkin (Keswick) to second place by two seconds on the challenging Skiddaw course.

Horsburgh claimed the women’s title ahead of Scout Adkin (Moorfoot), both athletes crossing the line in 42:29 and 43:39 respectively over the uphill 6.4km race. Katherine Maltby was the third female athlete across the line in 45:19.

As for the up and down races, these were staged in Sedbergh on Sunday 19 September, with Max Nicholls (Peter Brenchley, Tonbridge) and Scout Adkin triumphing in the senior races, while Ben O’Dowd (Eden Runners) and Isla Hedley (Fife) won the junior events.

Nicholls was narrowly ahead of uphill winner Joe Dugdale after a strong display over the 10.4km course. Dugdale held off Andy Douglas (Sophie Dunnett, Inverclyde) in third as they completed the top three in the senior men’s event.

Scout Adkin improved upon her second-place finish in the uphill race by winning the women’s race in comfortable fashion. The Moorfoot athlete was over a minute ahead of Katherine Maltby who claimed second place. She held a significant margin ahead Naomi Leng in third position.

Ben O’Dowd dominated the junior men’s race as he crossed the line over 30 seconds ahead of Edward Corden (Michael Doyle, Stockport) in second place, while Isla Hedley fought to win the junior women’s race ahead of Derby’s Alice Crane.

2021 BA World Mountain Running Champs Trials SHI results