Struan’s superb win helps Scotland U20 men to team golds at JHI
Victory moment for Struan Bennet as he wins sprint finish with England’s Finlay Grant at Ambleside (all photos by Neil Renton)
Report by Jane Robertson
Struan Bennet claimed victory in the Junior Home International to become the 2022 U20 British and Irish Junior Hill Running champion.
And the Fife AC athlete’s performance helped guide the Scotland U20 men home to team golds in the Junior Home International competition which is incorporated in to this event.
Struan, who is a strong triathlete, outsprinted the second placed English runner beating him by one second in a thrilling finish at Tod Crag, Ambleside, in the Lake District.
The rest of the team packed well with Fraser Gilmour coming home in third to earn an individual bronze medal with Sam Griffin in eighth, closely followed by Angus Wright in 10th place.
The U20 races were contested over 5.72k with 296m of climb and the U17 races were over 4.8k with 250m.
Scotland U20 men with gold and bronze medallists Struan Bennet (on right) and Fraser Gilmour (on left( joined by Sam Griffin and Angus Wright
Our Scotland athletes at the Junior Home International at Ambleside
In the U17 Boys race, Rowan Taylor had a fantastic run over the challenging course to claim an individual bronze medal less than 30 seconds behind the winner, Alex Poulston of England.
Thomas Hilton followed closely behind in fifth overall. Struan Gatherer and Dylan Daunt brought the team home in in the silver medal position in the Junior Home International competition.
In the girls races, Team England were in a class of their own taking the top three places in both the U20 and U17 individual races.
Scotland U17s were led home by Katie Meek who ran strongly to finish fourth individual and brought Scotland home to silver in the team competition with all of the Scottish team – Esme Dougall, Kirsty Burnett and Isla Patterson finishing within a minute of each other.
In the U20s, Isla Hedley and Pippa Carcas came fourth and fifth with only six seconds separating them. Natasha Phillips and Georgina Ledingham completed the Scottish quartet to give Team Scotland their third set of silvers in the team competitions.
The Edinburgh Cup was won by England who won all team categories bar the Boys U20.
Well done to all the young Scots who competed and to their families, coaches and clubs. Thanks to our volunteer Team Managers for all their hard work.
Photos with thanks to Neil Renton
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Results link within WMRA website report
There were some good results for Scots at the World Masters Mountain Running event in Ireland last weekend.
The long course was 10.5k with 635m ascent and 345m descent. The short course was 8.4k, 509m ascent and 217m descent. M55 and W55 and above raced short course.
Races started in Clonmel Town and climbed into the Comeragh Mountains in adjoining County Waterford, along a mixture of trails, forest paths and open mountain tracks, finishing at the Cross overlooking Clonmel town and the River Suir valley.
Andy Douglas finished second overall with Thomas Roach M40 taking the overall win.
M35: 1 Andy Douglas
M60: 2 Colin Donnelly; 3 Stewart Whitlie
In the team event GB were first M60 with Des Crowe in 5th making up the counting team.
With thanks to Angela Mudge
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Tags: Andy Douglas, hill running, Junior Home International
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