Scotland played host to the mountain running trial races for the European Off-Road Championships this weekend, as athletes fought for places in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team that will be heading to Spain at the start of July.

The uphill races took place at Ben Lomond, Rowardennan, Scotland on Friday 20 May 2022, while the up and down races were the order of the day on Sunday 22 May, taking place in Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland.

During Friday’s action, Jacob Adkin (Keswick) and Scout Adkin (Moorfoot) were the winners of the senior races.

In the men’s race, Jacob Adkin got the better of Joe Steward (Harry Kelly, Salford) on the challenging course as he won by 12 seconds. The 2019 European mountain running champion topped the podium, with Chris Richards (Duncan Richards, Helm Hill) completing the leading trio ahead of Daniel Haworth (Matlock) in fourth.

As for Scout Adkin, the Ambleside athlete was a clear winner as she was over two minutes ahead of her nearest competitor. She finished in a time of 42:06, with Kate Avery (Shildon), running her first mountain running races, second, two minutes further back. Kirsty Dickson (Carnethy Hill Racing Club) was close behind in third place in the women’s race.

In the junior uphill races, Finlay Grant (Dark Peak) and Eve Whitaker (Harrogate) came away as the men’s and women’s champions.

Grant dominated the U20 race as he reached the finish line in 23:45 compared to Charlie Allmond’s (Ambleside) 24:15. Edward Corden (Michael Doyle, Stockport) rounded out the top three, some 15 seconds behind Allmond.

Whitaker won the battle over Charlotte Rawstron (Gordon Agar, Skyrac) as she won the trial race; Isla Hedley (Fife) was next to follow in the women’s U20 race.

Moving onto the up and down trial on Sunday, Chris Richards improved on his third place in the uphill to win the senior men’s race. After a duel with experienced GB & NI international Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett, Inverclyde), he came out on top, winning by eight seconds to capture the title. The duo were a long way ahead of the rest of the field, with Max Nicholls (Peter Brenchley, Tonbridge) next over the line in third ahead of Matt Knowles (Sophie Dunnett, Lancaster and Morecambe).

Scout Adkin made it a double win as she wrapped up the senior women’s up and down trial victory. Similarly to the uphill race, she was a distant winner in the race, while Kate Avery performed admirably once more as she captured second overall. Holly Page (Jason Marchant, Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds) was third almost two minutes further back from Avery, while Hannah Russell (Helm Hill) took fourth position.

Another to make it two wins from two in Scotland was Finlay Grant in the junior men’s U20 up and down contest. He secured a narrow win ahead of Edward Corden and Ben O’Dowd (Eden Runners).

Likewise, Eve Whitaker also won the junior women’s race to add to her uphill triumph. On this occasion Isla Hedley was second while Georgia Bell (Leven Valley) fought well to finish ahead of Amelie Lane (Wharfedale) for third place.

Results

European Trial – uphill results senior and junior

European Trial – up and down results senior and junior