Samuel and Clayton lead the way in Whinlatter
Emma Clayton
At today’s GB Trials for the forthcoming World Mountain Running Champs, the UK’s top mountain running exponents lined up in Whinlatter’s forest trails to chance their arms for a GB vest and, a trip to Poland!
It was certainly quality over quantity when it came to the shear numbers, however looking down the results of the four races (SMen, SWomen, JMen and JWomen) the sheets were riddled with some seasoned campaigners and athletes who have consistently performed in the past on the World and European stage.
In the senior men’s race Welshman Rob Samuel triumphed in 59:11, beating GB mountain running regular, and recent winner of the Snowdon International, Andi Jones (59:38). These two were well clear of the rest, as James McMullan came through to take third in 60:44.
Rob Samuel storming in at Whinlatter
With Ilkley’s Tom Adams running a storming race for 4th, Nick Swinburn in 5th and Chris Smith in 6th, the selectors will be sure to have a super-strong men’s team.
In the women’s race there was a similar story, as Sarah Tunstall and Emma Clayton duelled it out, with Mary Wilkinson close behind. These three pulled well away from fourth place Katie Walshaw as the race went on, and it was Clayton who in-turn pulled away for a classy win.
Her time of 44:25 was over 27 seconds up on Tunstall in the end, as the Kendal runner also booked her place on the plane to Poland. Wilkinson (45:07) looked good in third, regaining her fitness after injury, and with Walshaw coming 4th the GB women should travel to those World Champs in confident mood of more medal success.
The junior races saw a clear win for Brad Traviss (Calder Valley) in 40:51 and Georgia Malir (Ilkley), with the latter narrowly winning a battle with 2012 Euro junior champion Annabel Mason. The junior men’s top 4 was made up of Traviss, Max Wharton, Wale’s Nathan Jones and Tonbridge runner Max Nicholls. Malir will probably be joined by Mason, Catriona Graves and Lydia Sharpe.
Brad Traviss
The official results are still be seen, however some great images from Paul Dobson can be found at www.fellrunner.net.
Senior men
Women's top 10
Junior men
Junior Women results
