Vernon leads England to team success
Steve Vernon
This weekend’s Great Trail Challenge saw success across the board for England as they took team wins in the men’s, women’s and junior women’s races. Their winning streak was only upset by a rampant Welsh junior’s men’s team who scored 3 in 5…
The 10k Home Nations Trail Challenge was part of a festival of trail running in Keswick, which also included a half and full trail marathon. This excellent video by Bethanie Murray from athleticos tells the story.
After being displaced as king of mountains at the recent European trials by young Robbie Simpson, Steve Vernon was out to put things right as the race quickly developed into a battle between the Stockport man and Salford’s Andi Jones.
The men's podium
Vernon proved too strong for the 5-time Snowdon race winner winning in 31.57. Jones was second (32.24) ahead of Ireland’s Brian MacMahon, who in turn was just up on Scotland’s Simpson in 4th.
In the women’s race Kendal’s Rebecca Robinson showed the internationals the was as she was a strong winner in 36.47 ahead of Ireland’s Sarah McCormack. The next three places were all filled by English women, as Emma Clayton (37.01) continued her 2012 battles with Mary Wilkinson (37.03), reversing the Euro trials result by a slender 2 seconds.
Rebecca Robinson
The junior races saw convincing wins for England’s Mel Hyder (women) and Ireland’s Jake O’Regan.
Full results are now online here with images by Clic Clic here.
