9th August 2018

GLOBAL MEDALLISTS AMONG THOSE SELECTED TO BRITISH TEAM FOR WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPS

A British team of 16 will head to the World Mountain Running Championships (Uphill) next month in Andorra.

Taking place on September 16th, the world’s best over the discipline will take to the course, leaving the parish of Canillo at the foot of the Andorran mountains in their quest for medals on the international stage.

Trials winners, Jacob Adkin (club: Moorfoot, coach: Robbie Simpson) and Emma Gould (Birchfield, William Laye) headline the senior teams after their fine displays racing up Skiddaw in the Lake District last weekend.

For Adkin, this marks a return to this level of competition after a couple of years out of action with injuries, while Gould has been the revelation of the 2018 mountain running season, winning her first international medal at the European (up and down) Championships – the bronze – last month.

Gould will be joined in a very strong senior women’s quartet by the decorated Sarah Tunstall (Kendal) – she won European (uphill) silver last summer, as well as World (up and down) bronze – who has already enjoyed impressive results so far this season, including a second-place finish at the gruelling Zermatt Marathon in July.

2015 world (up and down) silver medallist Emmie Collinge (Alta Valtellina) and debutant, Bethany Hanson (Ambleside), will join the duo in the women’s team seeking to break into the world’s top three next month. The quartet take on the course which is close to 12km with an elevation gain of 1028 metres.

Adkin is joined by the highly experienced Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett, Inverclyde), who has a string of top ten placing’s at World and European level to his name, as well as many individual and team honours. Chris Arthur (Mark Croasdale, Keswick) and Max Nicholls (Peter Brenchley, Tonbridge) complete the senior men’s line-up.

Anna MacFadyen (Forres) overcame her compatriot Lauren Dickson (Linda Smith, Lasswade) to win the trial event last weekend, but both will be looking for similar strong performances in the junior women’s race at the Worlds. Helen Thornhill (Buxton) and Rosie Woodhams (Kendal), third and fourth in the trial, will also contest the race over 7.5km with an elevation gain of 576m.

Gold medallists from the recent European Championships – Joe Dugdale (Copeland), Euan Brennan (Andrew Henderson, Ilkley) and Matthew MacKay (Graham Wright, Rossendale) – are all involved again on British team duty in the junior men’s contest. However, they will be joined by newcomer Jack White (Peter Gore), the City of Norwich athlete placing second in the trial event to confirm his slot at his maiden international championships.

Team Leader Anne Buckley said: “Once again, we have picked a very strong team after an excellent trial event. Several athletes really stepped up at the crucial time and will be raring to go in Andorra next month.

“Not only do we have many experienced world and European medallists within the team, but we have a few making their debuts, and they will learn a lot from those who have been part of numerous teams.

“They are taking on the best in the world and they are ready for the challenge so I’m excited to see what the whole team can produce on that stage.”

 

The British team for the World Mountain Running Championships (Uphill) on Sunday 16th September 2018:

Senior Women:

Emmie Collinge (Alta Valtellina)

Emma Gould (Birchfield, William Laye)

Bethany Hanson (Ambleside)

Sarah Tunstall (Kendal)

 

Senior Men

Jacob Adkin (Moorfoot, Robbie Simpson)

Chris Arthur (Keswick, Mark Croasdale)

Andrew Douglas (Inverclyde, Sophie Dunnett)

Max Nicholls (Tonbridge, Peter Brenchley)

 

Junior Women

Lauren Dickson (Lasswade, Linda Smith)

Anna MacFadyen (Forres)

Helen Thornhill (Buxton)

Rosie Woodhams (Kendal)

 

Junior Men

Euan Brennan (Ilkley, Andrew Henderson)

Joseph Dugdale (Copeland)

Matthew MacKay (Rossendale, Graham Wright)

Jack White (City of Norwich, Peter Gore)