GB & NI TEAM FINALISED FOR THE 2023 WORLD MOUNTAIN AND TRAIL RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland squad for the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships has been confirmed by UK Athletics, with a team of 33 heading to Innsbruck-Stubai in Austria between 7-10 June.

Several world and European medallists are among the strong British team selected for the Championships.

Rebecca Flaherty (coach: Karen Glerum, club: Bingley) – world silver medallist in the U20 up-and-down race last year – joins the junior women’s team in Austria, while Jon Albon (Isfjorden IL), who was announced last month, will compete in the men’s Short Trail race.

Individual 2023 European Off-Road Running Championships medallists Scout Adkin (Angela Mudge, Ambleside) and Eve Whitaker (Joanne Day & Jack Maitland, Harrogate) are also in the team, racing in the senior women’s and U20 women’s events respectively.

Adkin will go in the uphill only and up-and-down races at the Championships. She will be joined by Phillipa Williams (Dark Peak) in both races; the latter won bronze at the 2019 edition of the World Mountain Running Championships in the up-and-down race.

Whitaker won U20 silver at the Europeans last year and goes in the junior women’s up-and-down contest.

2019 European champion Jacob Adkin (Robbie Simpson, Keswick) will join Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett, Inverclyde), Chris Richards (Duncan Richards, Helm Hill) and Joe Steward (Salford) in both the uphill only and up-and-down races; the same quartet selected after strong performances at the trials last weekend.

After victories at the recent Three Peaks race, Thomas Roach (self-coached, Lewes AC) and Cat Taylor (Black Coombe) have earned their maiden call-ups to the GB & NI team in the Short Trail race.

Team Leader, Anne Buckley, said, “After the successes on the world and European stage in 2022, we are delighted to be taking a strong team to Innsbruck-Stubai. After the competitive trial events recently, several major championship medallists are selected for the squad, and it is fantastic to also select some athletes to a GB & NI team for the very first time. They have all earned their spot and we look forward to seeing how they perform in Austria next month.”

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships:

Men’s Uphill Only race

Jacob Adkin (Robbie Simpson, Keswick)

Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett, Inverclyde)

Chris Richards (Duncan Richards, Helm Hill)

Joe Steward (Salford)

Women’s Uphill Only race

Scout Adkin (Angela Mudge, Ambleside)

Kate Avery (Shildon)

Phillipa Williams (Dark Peak)

Sara Willhoit (Colin Livingstone, Shrewsbury)

Men’s Up-and-Down race

Jacob Adkin (Robbie Simpson, Keswick)

Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett, Inverclyde)

Chris Richards (Duncan Richards, Helm Hill)

Joe Steward (Harry Kelly, Salford)

Women’s Up-and-Down race

Scout Adkin (Angela Mudge, Ambleside)

Alice Goodall (Mark Pollard, Edinburgh UHH)

Holly Page (Lewis Walker, Carnethy)

Phillipa Williams (Dark Peak)

U20 Men’s Up-and-Down race

Ewan Busfield (Jerry Hall, Derby)

Tom Perry (Dark Peak)

Alex Poulston (Katie Hewison, Wirral)

Will Longden (Terry Fowler, Buxton)

U20 Women’s Up-and-Down race

Rebecca Flaherty (Karen Glerum, Bingley)

Amelie Lane (Sally Malir, Wharfedale)

Lauren Russell (Hannah Viner, Highgate)

Eve Whitaker (Joanne Day & Jack Maitland, Harrogate)

Long Trail Race

Men:

Owen Davies (self-coached)

George Foster (Martin Cox, Matlock)

Thomas Joly De Lotbiniere (self-coached)

Harry Jones (Martin Cox, Mynydd Du)

Women:

Meryl Cooper (David Roche, Deeside Runners)

Julia Davis (Robbie Britton, Newquay RR)

Jasmin Paris (Damien Hall, Carnethy HRC)

Fiona Pascall (Martin Cox)

Short Trail Race

Senior women

Elsey Davis (self-coached, Preston)

Catherine Taylor (Black Coombe)

Sharon Taylor (Helm Hill)

Senior men

Jon Albon (Isfjorden IL)

Alexander Chepelin (Carnethy)

Kristian Jones (Swansea)

Thomas Roach (self-coached, Lewes AC)