Young Scots hill runners head to Slovakia; Inter-Counties in England

Thursday 12th June 2025

Young Scots won International Youth Cup bronze medals in Spain last year

Brilliant bronzes! Scotland celebrate podium success

Eight junior hill runners are heading to Slovakia this weekend to race in the U18 International Youth Cup.

This year’s IYC event, on Saturday 14 June follows an uphill only route and is based near Donovaly, a ski resort in eastern Slovakia.

A total of 139 athletes (71 boys and 68 girls) have entered the event from 20 national federations. Each country can field four male and four female athletes and the first three count towards the team prize. Last year the Scottish female trio finished on the podium in third after racing an up and down event.

The course is 5.8km long with a climb of 513m. It runs through forestry lower down and meadows once above the tree-line to the finish at Nova Hola.

Lachlan Thomas competed in this event last year but the remainder of the team are new to international competition.

Scotland Women:

Nancy Corrie (Harmeny AC); Hania Czebreszuk (Aberdeen AAC); Kirsty Rankine (Gala Harriers); Cerys Wright (Lasswade AC)

Scotland Men:

Ben Hodson (Stewartry AC); Joel Gillan (Central AC); Billy Sutherland (Ross County); Lachlan Thomas (Ross County)

Phil Mestecky, the junior hill running co-ordinator, and Jane Robertson will accompany the team.

We wish the athletes every success at the weekend.

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Ready for Inter-Counties hill action . . . (L-R) Jonathon Downey (West) and Angus Wright and Harris Pagett (East)

Senior Inter-Counties

Yorkshire’s classic hill race at Pen Y Ghent in Horton on Ribblesdale plays host to the 2025 Inter-Counties Mountain Race on Saturday.

The race starts in the village and follows trails to the summit of Pen Y Ghent and returns back to the village via a different route. It’s a fast course covering 11km and 485m. The females start 30 minutes before the men at 13:30. A field of over 300 runners have entered the event.

In previous years, the Scottish district teams have performed well in this event, where three athletes are required to count.

The East District men’s team has three U23 athletes, Thomas Hilton (Moorfoot), Harris Pagett (Strathearn) and Angus Wright (EUHH). The North’s Ross Gollan (East Sutherland) and the West’s Andy Douglas (Westerlands) will both be vying for a top spot.

In the women’s event both the East and West district have strong teams with Ellen Downs (Westerlands), and Shettleston’s Gemma Griffiths and Elena Heger competing for the West and for the East, the team comprises Carnethy’s Grace Pow and Polly Edwards plus Georgia Ledingham (Edingurgh Uni Hare and Hounds)

Good luck to all those heading south representing their district.

With thanks to Angela Mudge

Tags: hill running, International Youth Cup, Slovakia