3 July 2016

Emily Collinge and Heidi Davies both earned individual medal success in the mountains of Arco at the European Mountain Running Championships on Saturday.

For Collinge, she won the gold medal in the senior women’s race, going one better than the silver she won at the World (up and down) Championships in 2015. It was a fine performance from the Italy-based athlete who soaked up the pressure and finished 27 seconds ahead of the Italian duo Alice Gaggi and Sara Bottarelli. With a time of 43.41 over the 8.5km course, the British team had added another title to its collection.

Due to the Italian duo earning spots on the podium, this meant the British team won silver, with some excellent performances from the senior women. Heidi Dent (coach: Derek Hurton) ran a solid race for seventh, whilst trials winner Rebecca Hilland finished narrowly ahead of Sarah Tunstall, in 13th and 14th respectively.

In the junior women’s race, Welsh athlete Heidi Davies captured the bronze medal after a strong run on the undulating 4km course. Davies and the rest of the field were over a minute behind the winner from the Czech Republic, Michaela Stranska but the next three athletes were a lot closer. One second separated second and third with the Briton taking bronze two seconds ahead of Poland’s Lucja Wiktorowicz in a frantic finish.

Davies also led the junior women to the team gold medal. 16 year old Scarlet Dale (Colin Gemson) was fifth after a strong run with Scotland’s Laura Stark (Arthur Smith) consolidating 10th and with it, a place on top of the podium. Bella Williams (Rob Lewis) unfortunately did not finish.

The senior men claimed team bronze with Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett) narrowly missing out on a podium place in fourth. Sixth at the world up and down championships in 2015, Douglas clearly feels comfortable in the discipline and achieved another standout result in a GB vest. Chris Smith (Philip O’Dell) was the next Brit home in 12th with Tom Adams 17th and Ben Mounsey 26th to add another team medal to the tally in Italy. There was joy for the home crowd as brothers Martin and Bernard Dematteis took the gold and silver medal.

The junior men’s team ended the 5km test in fourth place overall with some encouraging displays by the young team of debutants. Ciaran Lewis led the team home in 13th, with trials winner Gavin Bryson 17th, Jake Smith in 21st and Josh Boyle placing 26th.

Full results can be found here: http://www.fidal.it/risultati/2016/COD5616/RESULTSBYEVENT1.htm

Medal table for the British Athletics team:

Emily Collinge – senior women – GOLD

Junior Women’s team – GOLD

Senior Women’s team – SILVER

Heidi Davies – junior women – BRONZE

Senior Men’s team – BRONZE