Mountain Running – Youth International preview; Andy Douglas ultra

Thursday 22nd July 2021

On Saturday eight junior hill runners will be competing at the Home Countries Youth International in Ambleside, Cumbria. This event was due to be the International U18 Mountain Running Cup, which sees junior athletes from across the globe compete in mountain running. Unfortunately, the event was cancelled (due to COVID) and revamped as a Home Countries event. It’s a much smaller scale event but gives juniors an invaluable opportunity to compete for Scotland on the hills.

The race starts at 10:30am in Rothay Park, Ambleside and follows good trails over Todd Crag and the lower slopes of Loughrigg covering 5km with 240m climb/descent. There is both an individual and team competition.

The teams are –

U18 females: Anna Hedley (Fife AC), Isla Hedley (Fife AC), Katie Slimon (Highland Hill Runners) and Valencia Wright (Giffnock North AC),

U18 males: Struan Bennet (Fife AC), Fraser Gilmour (Victoria Park), Reuben MacDonald (Giffnock North) and Angus Wright (Team East Lothian)

All at scottishathletics wishes the team every success in the Lake District.

By Angela Mudge

+++

Congratulations to Andy Douglas, who has made a successful first venture into the world of ultra running. The 2019 WMRA World Cup winner took on the Laugavegur Ultra Marathon in Iceland on 17 July – and won.

Inverclyde AC athlete Andy completed the 55K mountain course in 4:10:38 – that’s 22 minutes ahead of the second-place runner.

Report on the event website