19th June 2017

Smith And Walshaw Take Spoils At The World Mountain Running Championship Trials

19 June 2017 

Sedburgh in Cumbria played host to the British Athletics World Mountain Running Championships trials incorporating the Senior Home International this weekend, with Chris Smith (coach: Philip O’Dell) and Katie Walshaw (Mike Baxter) sealing the senior titles.

Smith, an experienced mountain runner on the international scene, comfortably won the senior men’s race by over a minute on the up and down course. Competing for England, Smith dominated his opponents with Ochil’s Graham Gristwood coming home in second with Joe Steward (Harry Kelly) also securing a place on the podium.

Walshaw was the first female finisher, just over the hour mark, wrapping up another fine performance in a trials event. After recently securing her place on the British team for the European uphill mountain running championships, she showed her versatility over the up and down terrain, blowing away her competitors to take the win.  

Local athlete, Rebecca Robinson, was second in the women’s standings, two minutes behind Holmfirth’s Walshaw. Scotland’s Catriona Buchanan narrowly squeezed into third position ahead of Ruth Jones (Duncan Mason), by just four seconds.

After a fine win at the uphill trials two weeks ago, Chris Richards (Martin Cox) continued his impressive streak of form, taking the British junior title. In the blazing heat, the Helm Hill athlete pipped city of York’s Nathan Smith (Ian Wilcock) to the victory. Elliott Matier was just two seconds behind Smith in a frantic finish to the junior men’s contest.

Scarlet Dale (Colin Gemson) was triumphant in the junior women’s race, finishing ahead of Bella Williams (Rob Lewis) and Anisha Badial (Robert Dickson).