Three Scots prepare for World Hill events in Patagonia

Tuesday 12th November 2019

Jacob Adkin took a superb sixth place in the World Mountain Champs last year in Andorra

The World Mountain Running Championships and World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships are being held together for the first time in Villa La Angostura, Argentina, this weekend.

Three Scots in total are representing GB and NI over the two events with vests for Jacob Adkin, Andy Douglas and Charlotte Morgan.

European Champion Jacob (Keswick AC) and 2019 World Cup winner Andy (Inverclyde AC) head the Senior men’s team, racing on Friday morning on an up and down course over 14km with 754m of ascent. Joe Steward (East Cheshire) makes up the men’s team.

The British team face tough competition from America’s Joe Gray and very strong Italian and Kenyan teams.

Both Douglas and Adkin have had a brilliant year on the mountains and Jacob will be hoping to improve on his sixth place last year, while Andy will want to make up for last year’s performance where he suffered heat exhaustion. Andy will be one to watch on the long descent.

Our 2018 World Long Distance Mountain Running Champion Charlotte Morgan (Carnethy HRC) is racing on Saturday over 41.5km with 2184m of climb.

Morgan has been in Patagonia for the two weeks prior to the event with her team mates, this has enabled them to recce the course.

The Scot faces tough competition from this year’s World Ultra Trail Running Champion France’s Blandin L’hirondal and Germany’s Laura Dahlemier, a World Class biathlete who has turned to mountain running.

Unfortunately Lauren Dickson (Lasswade AC) had to pull out of the championships after recently sustaining injuries in a road bike incident.

Everyone at scottishathletics sends best wishes to Lauren a speedy recovery.

Good luck to all competing in Patagonia this weekend.

With thanks to Angela Mudge