East District Hill Champs; Busy weekend ahead as runners seek GB vests

Monday 1st May 2023

East District champions Felix Wilson and Sarah Hodgson (picture by Angela Mudge)

The East District Hill Running Champs Championships took place at Stuc a‘ Chroin on Saturday 29 April.

Conditions were cold and the cloud was down obscuring the hill for the duration of the race.

The three lead runners reached the summit together before Felix Wilson broke away to take the individual win and the East District title in 2.13.00.

In the women’s event the first three finishers were 1,2,3 in the championship event. Sarah Hodgson (Carnethy)2.43.57 took the honours after leading for most of the event.

Carnethy won with the men and women team races over the 22km and 1500m course.

Thanks to the Stuc race team for organising another great race and hosting the East District Championships

Women Open

1 Sarah Hodgson (Carnethy); 2 Angela Mudge (Ochil); 3 Beth Hanson (Moorfoot)

W40: 1 Eleanor Smith (Fife AC); 2 Merce Torres (Fife AC); 3 Sarah Clark (Forfar AC)

W50: Angela Mudge (OHR)

W60: Hazel Dean (OHR)

Team: 1 Carnethy HRC; 2 Fife AC

Men Open

1 Felix Wilson (Carnethy); 2 Alistair Thornton (Ochil); 3 Aidan Smith (Carnethy)

M40: 1 Andrew Fallas (Carnethy); 2 Eliot Sedman (Carnethy); 3 Iain Stewart (Gala)

M50: Neil McLure M60: John Tullie (Teviotdale)

Team: 1 Carnethy HRC

First @scotathletics East Hill Running Over 60s Champions – Hazel Dean (Ochils), John Tullie (Teviotdale) @OchilHR pic.twitter.com/6RO2VSnqEp

— Mark Johnston (@runnermdj) April 29, 2023

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The 3 Peaks Race in Yorkshire was also held on Saturday which acted as the trial for the Short Trail Race at the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships.

Sasha Chepelin (Carnethy) had a strong run to finish in second place and Finlay Wild (Lochaber) came home in fourth place.

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Scout Adkin and Alice Goodall went 1-2 at the Lindsays National XCV and race on the hills this weekend seeking GB and NI vests (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Inter-Counties

Over the Coronation weekend, there will plenty of action south of the border, with the Inter-Counties Mountain Running Race on Sunday 7 May in the Howgills.

The North, East and West of Scotland are sending strong teams to compete south of the border over a two lapped course covering 14km and 760m of ascent/descent.

It promises to be an exciting competition between the Scottish districts. The event also incorporates the classic up and down trial for this year’s World Mountain & Trail Running Championships in Austria.

Andy Douglas, Ross Gollan, Jacob Adkin, Jamie Crowe, Scout Adkin, Holly Page and Naomi Lang are all competing and hoping to gain GB selection on the mountains.

Other hopefuls include Edinburgh Uni duo Alice Goodall and Matt Knowles (Matt is English).

The uphill only trial is on Friday 5 May, racing up Skiddaw from the west steeper side.

Again, there is a strong contingent of Scottish athletes entered, hoping to gain a top two finish and gain automatic selection. Seb Batchelor and Kirsty Dickson (Carnethy) are concentrating on the uphill event whilst other athletes are doubling up.

The Junior Trial is on Saturday 6 May, over Todd Craig, Ambleside.

There are 200 juniors entering across the various age groups. It is also an English Junior championship race. Scottish Athletics has a minibus of juniors travelling down to experience racing in England and competing in a trial.

Good luck to all competing this weekend.

With thanks to Angela Mudge

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Tags: Carnethy HRC, East District Hill Champs, hill running