22nd September 2022

GB & NI TEAM CONFIRMED FOR THE WORLD MOUNTAIN AND TRAIL RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The final selections for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland squad for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, due to take place in Chiang Mai, Thailand between 3-6 November, have been confirmed today.

Following the competitive mountain running trials in the Lake District and Scotland last week, full mountain running teams for the senior uphill only and up-and-down, and the junior up-and-down races have been announced, while further athletes have been selected for the 40km and 80km trail races.

Scout Adkin (coach: Angela Mudge, club: Ambleside), individual bronze medallist at the 2022 European Off-Road Running Championships, leads the way in a strong women’s up-and-down team. She will be joined by Kate Avery (Shildon) and Holly Page (Lewis Walker, Dartford) who were also part of the bronze medal winning team at the Europeans in June, as well as Phillipa Williams (Bristol & West), the 2019 world bronze medallist, who was victorious at the trial event earlier this month.

Adkin, Page and Williams will also face the uphill only race at the World Championships where they will be joined by Ruth Jones (Duncan Mason, Salford) who earns her maiden call-up to the GB & NI team.

Jacob Adkin (Robbie Simpson, Keswick), the 2019 European uphill only champion, is once again part of the senior men’s quartet. He will be joined by Dan Haworth (Matlock), Chris Richards (Duncan Richards, Helm Hill) and Joe Steward (Salford) in the uphill only race.

Meanwhile, Richards will also contest the up-and-down race where he will be joined by the experienced Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett, Inverclyde), and two athletes who will make their GB & NI debuts: Alexander Chepelin (Carnethy), a regular in the GB orienteering team, and Ross Gollan (Dunnett, Shettleston).

The GB & NI junior men’s up-and-down quartet will see three members of the gold-medal winning team from the Europeans involved. Individual bronze medallist Finlay Grant (Dark Peak Fell Runners), Fraser Gilmour (Robert Hawkins, Kilbarchan) and Edward Corden (Michael Doyle, Stockport) will all line up alongside debutant, William Longden (Terry Fowler, Buxton).

After a competitive trial race, Ellen Weir (Anne Hegvold, Hercules Wimbledon) and Jess Bailey (Matthew Long, Leven Valley), who have earned GB & NI vests over cross country and the track respectively over the last 12 months, are selected for the junior women. Emily Gibbins (Sally Malir, Ilkley) and Rebecca Flaherty (Karen Glerum, Bingley) are called-up for the first time.

Meanwhile, joining the three athletes who had previously been selected for the men’s 80km trail race, is Ryan Smith (Rocky Mountain Runners). He was part of the bronze medal winning team in 2018 IAU World Trail Running Championships. Additionally, Meryl Cooper (David Roche, Deeside Runners) and Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn (self-coached, Keswick) have been selected for the women’s race.

There are also two additions to the 40km trail race squad. Brennan Townsend (Keswick AC), the first British finisher in the trail race at the Europeans, joins the men’s team, while Sharon Taylor (Helm Hill) is selected for the women’s race.

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships:

Trail Running

Senior women – 40km Trail race:

Elsey Davis (self-coached, Preston)

Catriona Graves (Tracey Brindley, Carnethy)

Nichola Jackson (Billy Cartwright, Keswick)

Sharon Taylor (Helm Hill)

 

Senior men – 40km Trail race:

Tom Adams (self-coached, Ilkley)

Jon Albon (Isfjorden IL)

Billy Cartwright (Matlock)

Kristian Jones (Swansea)

Brennan Townshend (Keswick)

 

Senior women – 80km Trail race:

Meryl Cooper (David Roche, Deeside Runners)

Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn (self-coached, Keswick)

 

Senior men – 80km Trail race:

Tom Evans (Scott Johnston, Lewes AC)

George Foster (Martin Cox, Matlock AC)

Harry Jones (Martin Cox, Mynyddwyr De Cymru)

Ryan Smith (self-coached, Rocky Mountain Runners)

 

Mountain Running

Senior women – uphill only:

Scout Adkin (Angela Mudge, Ambleside)

Ruth Jones (Duncan Mason, Salford)

Holly Page (Lewis Walker, Dartford)

Phillipa Williams (Bristol & West)

 

Senior men – uphill only:

Jacob Adkin (Robbie Simpson, Keswick)

Dan Haworth (Matlock)

Chris Richards (Duncan Richards, Helm Hill)

Joe Steward (Salford)

 

Senior women – up-and-down:

Scout Adkin (Angela Mudge, Ambleside)

Kate Avery (Shildon)

Holly Page (Lewis Walker, Dartford)

Phillipa Williams (Bristol & West)

 

Senior men – up-and-down:

Alexander Chepelin (Carnethy)

Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett, Inverclyde)

Ross Gollan (Sophie Dunnett, Shettleston)

Chris Richards (Duncan Richards, Helm Hill)

 

U20 women – up and down:

Jess Bailey (Matthew Long, Leven Valley)

Emily Gibbins (Sally Malir, Ilkley)

Rebecca Flaherty (Karen Glerum, Bingley)

Ellen Weir (Anne Hegvold, Hercules Wimbledon)

 

U20 men – up-and-down:

Edward Corden (Michael Doyle, Stockport)

Fraser Gilmour (Robert Hawkins, Kilbarchan)

Finlay Grant (Dark Peak Fell Runners)

William Longden (Terry Fowler, Buxton)

 

Team staff:

Team Lead: Mark Croasdale

Team coaches: Kim Collison, Angela Mudge, Jackie Newton and Adrian Stott

Physios: Lachlan Bromley and Graeme Everard

Doctor: Meinir Jones

 

*Photo credit: Jacob Adkin