Significant seven! Hill runners picked for GB and NI for Euro Champs

Tuesday 31st May 2022

Scout Adkin (photo courtesy of WMRA)

Seven Scottish hill runners have been selected for a major event in Spain this summer.

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team will be represented by 29 athletes for the European Off-Road Running Championships in La Palma on July 1-3.

For the first time at the European edition of the event, the mountain running and trail races will take place at the same event across three days of action in the Spanish mountains.

Following the trial events in Scotland recently, the teams for the uphill and up-and-down mountain running races have been assembled.

And Scottish hill running is superbly represented with seven selected as well as two athletes with Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds who have Scottish coaches.

Scout Adkin dominated both trials in the Women’s decision and lands her first Senior GB and NI vest (with a previous selection falling victim to postponements).

Joining Scout at Senior level are first-timer Kirsty Dickson of Carnethy HR in the uphill only team as well as Jacob Adkin (uphill only) and Andy Douglas (up -and-down).

Three U20 athletes step up to GB and NI level, too, with places for Isla Hedley of Fife AC, Louisa Brown of Garscube Harriers and Fraser Gilmour of VP-Glasgow.

We say a huge congratulations to these athletes and their families, coaches and clubs.

From back (clockwise): Dickson, Douglas, Scout Adkin, Brown, Gilmour, Hedley, Jacob Adkin (montage by Sue Gyford)

Edinburgh Uni duo Matt Knowles and Holly Page are both selected after running in Scottish events recently.

Team Leader, Anne Buckley, said: ‘This is a very strong team of mountain and trail runners that we are taking to the first European Off-Road Running Championships, and it is great to see these athletes competing at the same event alongside each other.

‘We’ve seen some very competitive trial races over the last few weeks, with many athletes battling for a place on the team.

‘We have some experienced athletes who have earned another vest, and it is also fantastic to see so many new faces securing their place on the team for these Championships.

‘I wish them all the best of luck in their preparations, and I’m looking forward to seeing the team compete out in La Palma.’

The British team for the European Off-Road Running Championships:

(Scottish athletes and Scottish coaches in bold)

Mountain Running

Senior Men – Uphill Only:

Jacob Adkin (Robbie Simpson, Keswick); Daniel Haworth (Matlock); Chris Richards (Duncan Richards, Helm Hill); Joe Steward (Harry Kelly, Salford)

Senior Women – Uphill Only:

Scout Adkin (Angela Mudge, Ambleside); Kate Avery (Shildon); Kirsty Dickson (Carnethy Hill Racing Club); Holly Page (Lewis Walker, Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds)

U20 Men – Uphill Only:

Charlie Allmond (Sarah McCormack, Ambleside); Edward Corden (Michael Doyle, Stockport); Finlay Grant (Dark Peak); Ben O’Dowd (Eden Runners)

U20 Women – Uphill Only:

Louisa Brown (Alex Chambers, Garscube); Isla Hedley (Innes Ogilvie, Fife); Charlotte Rawstron (Gordon Agar, Skyrac);Eve Whitaker (Harrogate)

Senior Men – Up-and-Down:

Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett, Inverclyde); Matt Knowles (Sophie Dunnett, Lancaster and Morecambe); Max Nicholls (Peter Brenchley, Tonbridge); Chris Richards (Duncan Richards, Helm Hill)

Senior Women – Up-and-Down:

Scout Adkin (Angela Mudge, Ambleside); Kate Avery (Shildon); Holly Page (Lewis Walker, Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds); Hannah Russell (Billy Proctor, Helm Hill)

U20 Men – Up-and-Down:

Edward Corden (Michael Doyle, Stockport); Fraser Gilmour (Robert Hawkins, VP-Glasgow); Finlay Grant (Dark Peak); Ben O’Dowd (Eden Runners)

U20 Women – Up-and-Down:

Georgia Bell (Leven Valley); Isla Hedley (Innes Ogilvie, Fife); Amelie Lane (Wharfedale); Eve Whitaker (Harrogate)

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Tags: Andy Douglas, European Off-Road Running Champs, Fraser Gilmour, hill running, Isla Hedley, Jacob Adkin, Kirsty Dickson, Louisa Brown, Scout Adkin, Spain