The Lake District and Howgill Fells hosted two fiercely contested UK Athletics trial races over the May Bank Holiday weekend as the second round of trials with the first taking place last month.

Athletes battled for top‑two finishes across uphill-only trials and the up-and-down trials for senior men, senior women, U20 men and U 20 women for the chance to secure selection for the Novuna GB&NI team heading to the European Off‑Road Running Championships in Slovenia on 6–8 June.

From Friday’s uphill‑only races in Keswick, the senior qualifiers were Morven Goodrum (Windsor, Slough & Eton), Scout Adkin (Hoka EU), Matthew Knowles (Carnethy Hill RC) and Finlay Grant (Dark Peak Fell Runners). In the U20s the qualifiers were Rowan Taylor (Lasswade AC), Keiran Hardie, Jessica Taylor (Edinburgh AC) and Nancy Corrie (Harmeny AC).

Sunday’s up‑and‑down races in Sedbergh added Naomi Lang (Carnethy Hill RC), Elle Twentyman (Rugby & Northampton), Matthew Knowles (Carnethy Hill RC) and Thomas Hilton (Edinburgh University Hare & Hounds) to the senior mens and womens list, with the event also incorporating the Senior Inter‑Counties Mountain Race. For the U20s men it was Jake Ireland (Macclesfield Harriers) and Lachlan Thomas (Ross County AC) and in the U20s women; Connie Jenneson and the already qualified Jessica Taylor.

Uphill‑Only Races – Keswick

Morven Goodrum delivered a standout performance in Keswick to win her first British Mountain Running Championships title. She climbed the 945m to the summit of Skiddaw (8.6km) in 47:56, finishing ahead of Scout Adkin, who clocked 48:55. Nancy Scott (Edinburgh AC) completed the podium in 50:20.

The senior men’s race produced a thrilling contest, with just 30 seconds covering the top four. Matthew Knowles claimed the UKA title in 43:21, narrowly ahead of Finlay Grant in 43:31, with Tom Spencer (Dark Peak Fell Runners) taking third in 43:42.

Scottish athletes dominated the U20 categories over the 4.2km course (450m ascent). In the men’s race, Rowan Taylor (Lasswade AC), a member of last year’s GB & NI silver‑medal‑winning team at the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships, took victory ahead of Keiran Hardie (Compressport Trail) and Lachlan Thomas (Ross County). In the women’s race, Jessica Taylor (Edinburgh AC) claimed a decisive win, followed by Nancy Corrie (Harmeny AC) and Isla Pastor (Warriors Pentathlon).

Up‑and‑Down Races – Sedbergh

In Sedbergh, the 14.5km up‑and‑down course (980m ascent/descent) produced a compelling three‑way battle in the senior women’s race between Naomi Lang, Scout Adkin and Elle Twentyman. Lang, the 2025 World Championships Short Trail bronze medallist, used her descending strength to secure the win. Twentyman’s consistency on the downhills earned her second place, with Adkin finishing third after strong work on the climbs.

The senior men’s race saw first‑year senior Sam Bentham (Ilkley Harriers) set an early pace, but Matthew Knowles showed excellent race management to take victory. Thomas Hilton delivered an impressive run to finish second, with Tom Wood (Eryri Harriers) placing third.

The U20 athletes again produced strong performances. In the women’s 5.8km race (390m ascent/descent), uphill trial winner Jessica Taylor completed an excellent weekend with another commanding win, ahead of Connie Jenneson (Buxton AC) and Isla Pastor. The men’s race was tightly contested, with Jake Ireland (Macclesfield Harriers) taking the win ahead of Lachlan Thomas (Ross County AC) and Ben Hodson (Stewarty Athletics).

Uphill Trial Results

Senior Results

U20 Results

Up and Down Trial Results

Up hill and Down hill Results