Clayton looks for strong GP finish at Smarna Gora...
Emma Clayton
The final curtain drops on the WMRA GP season this weekend as athletes from all over the world travel to the classic Smarna Gora. As ever this tough race attracts plenty of top Brits and Emma Clayton looks to cap off what has been a great season for the Bingley Harrier…
Writing for the WMRA Tomo Sarf states:
In the autumn and fall season of 1979 running enthusiasts from Ljubljana decided to organize a race to the one of the most popular mountains in Slovenia at Smarna Gora.
Nobody envisaged that it would become such a massive event with worldwide popularity that is again the final leg of the WMRA Grand Prix for 2011.
The WMRA Grand Prix Champions of the world will again be crowned on Saturday 1. October at this magnificent mountain peak.
The current men’s standings in the Grand Prix series show Turkey’s Ahmet Arslan on top, and the 2010 Smarna Gora winner will just need to figure strongly in the first few places to ensure he picks up the GP crown for 2011, repeating his feat of 2010.
Others to look out for are former race winner Robert Krupicka (CZE), David Schneider (SUI) and top Brits Orlando Edwards and Adam Osborne.
Ahmet Arslan takes Smarna Gora 2010
Having missed the Commonwealth mountain race last weekend the GP series has obviously been a big target for Emma, and she will look to figure prominently in what looks like a strong women’s field. Currently sitting in second place overall in the Series, Clayton should be ready for the tough and technical 10km route which will suit her skills honed on the fells of the UK.
Other leading contenders will be 4th and 6th place finishers at the recent world champs Pavla Schorna (CZE) and Mateja Kosovelj (SLO). After a win at the Mayrhofen race, 2011 Euro silver medalist Antonela Confortola-Wyatt (ITA) will look to improve her third place overall in the series standings too.
Another win for Antonella...
Current GP standings are here
