New names top Euro selection lists
Adam Osbourne takes the men's race
With the GB uphill only European Mountain Running trials held in relatively warm and fast conditions the races were always going to suit those runners whose qualities are leg speed over fell running prowess.
So the case proved to be as some unfamiliar names in fell running circles triumphed in Snowdonia yesterday. Leeds City’s Adam Osbourne led the men’s field to the summit of Garnedd Ugain to secure his place in the GB team heading out to Austria in a few weeks time. He was chased home by Leeds team-mate James Walsh and Orlando Edwards, Sale Harrier Gareth Raven took the final berth in the four-man European team.
Kate Goodhead wins the women's race
In the women’s race the faces at the front were a little more familiar to those followers of mountain running. Although winner Kate Goodhead is better known for her road and XC exploits, runner up Kate Ingram and Rebecca Robinson have good mountain running pedigree, and Charnwood’s Clare McKittrick made up the team coming in fourth.
In the juniors’ races there was some fascinating competition as the Scottish raiders of Scott McDonald, Alexander Hendry battled it out on the Welsh hills, with McDonald prevailing by a mere 8 seconds. 17 year old Deeside runner Robbie Simpson made up the podium with (relatively) local junior Ricky Challinor securing the final spot on the plane.
Alexander Hendry seems pretty happy...
The final selections were the top three junior women, and again it was a face more familiar in triathlon circles who emerged victorious. York athlete Victoria Graves broke through the mist at the finish to beat Wrexham runner Gina Paletta, with Blue Heywood making the long journey from Lincoln a very worthwhile one as she claimed the last place in the team.
The broad spectrum of athletes on show here was a testimony to the importance GB vest commands in the lives of runners from all disciplines. The Europeanesque mountain running discipline of uphill only racing is also something that seems not to have captured the imagination of some of Britain’s top fell runners (especially in the men’s race). ‘Why’ is a question that perhaps should be debated over the coming months…
