DOUGLAS AND WILKINSON VICTORIOUS AT SECOND MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHALLENGE

Andy Douglas (coach: Sophie Dunnett) and Victoria Wilkinson were the winners at the second British Athletics Mountain Running Challenge in Sedbergh over the weekend, at an event which also acted as the trials for the European up and down championships later this month.

In an event also hosting the Senior Home International, Douglas, a regular British team member in recent years, showed his class to win in the Scottish vest.

It wasn’t all plane sailing for the Inverclyde athlete, as Nick Swinburn – winner at the first Mountain Running Challenge event – led after the first lap on the challenging course. But as conditions worsened, becoming wet and misty, Douglas moved passed his opponent to seal another Challenge victory. After winning the series three times in recent years, he will have eyes on adding another after this encouraging display.

Chris Arthur, representing England, went one better than last year, placing second in the race overall, ahead of Swinburn in third. U23 athlete Max Nicholls (Peter Brenchley) continued his solid form in fourth.

In the senior men’s overall Home International, England won by one point ahead of the Scotland team.

In the senior women’s race, Victoria Wilkinson – who’s focus in on competing for the British team at the World Long Distance Mountain Running championships later this month – was a clear winner in the senior women’s race.

After a third place at the Inter-Counties last month, Emma Gould (William Laye) once again showed her rapid improvement over the terrain in recent months. The English athlete was second overall, over a minute ahead of the third female finisher, Ireland’s Sarah McCormack.

Heidi Davies finished fourth overall and is enjoying the start of her mountain running career in the senior ranks after her successes as a junior.

England were clear winners in the Home International ahead of Wales and Scotland.

In the junior races – acting primarily as the trial races for the Europeans – Rossendale’s Matthew Mackay (Graham Wright) earned a standout win overall ahead of Ilkley’s Euan Brennan (Andrew Henderson). Lasswade’s Lauren Dickson (Linda Smith) was the first female finisher, clear ahead of Forres’ Anna MacFadyen in second.

2018 British Athletics European Mountain Running Trials & SHI results