7th June 2017

UPHILL GLORY FOR MOUNTAIN RUNNERS

The British Athletics Mountain Running Team Trials took place on Sunday 4 June on Skiddaw above Keswick in Cumbria. The uphill-only event was held in conjunction with the England Athletics Mountain Running Championships with the British team for the European Championships to be held in Kamnik, Slovenia on 8 July, to be announced later this week.

In the senior women’s event, local athlete, Sarah Tunstall led from the start and had a big lead by the time the athletes reached the main climb. Victoria Wilkinson from Bingley was clear in second place throughout but there was a close battle behind with Norway based Rebecca Hilland gradually pulling away to secure third place.

Andy Douglas (coach: Sophie Dunnett), who was fourth in last year’s European Mountain Running Championships, took first place in the men’s race with Chris Smith (Philip O’Dell) from Thames Valley, who led after the first short loop, finishing second. Bowland athlete, Chris Arthur came third. Both Arthur and Wilkinson are both preparing for the World Long Distance Championships which take place on 6 August in Italy.

It was a Cumbrian 1-2-3 in the Junior Men’s race with Chris Richards (Duncan Richards) of Helm Hill in first place from Joseph Dugdale of Cumberland Fell Runners and Border’s Elliott Matier coming in third.

The junior women’s race was won by inter-counties cross country champion Anna MacFadyen from Forres in Scotland with Scarlet Dale(Colin Gemson) of Lancaster & Morecambe in second and Lincoln’s Bella Williams (Rob Lewis) third.

The British Athletics team for the European Mountain running Championships will be announced on Thursday (8 June).