A 17-strong team will represent the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team at next month’s World Mountain Running Championships in Campodolocino, Italy.

The senior women’s team will be spearheaded by Sarah Tunstall (Kendal AC), who won bronze at the 2008 European Mountain Running Championships and silver in the under 23 race at the 2008 European Cross Country Championships.

This will be the first time a team has competed under the GB & NI banner at the championships, after home nations sent separate teams to the event in previous years.

This brings the World Mountain Running Championships – which takes place on 6 September – into line with IAAF championships.

AVIVA GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM

SENIOR MEN
Simon Bailey (Mercia Fell Runners); Billy Burns (Salford Harriers); Adam Grice (Leeds City); Adam Osborne (Leeds City); Joe Symonds (Kendal AC); Nick Swinburn (Northumberland)

SENIOR WOMEN
Kate Goodhead (Stroud AC); Katie Ingram (Horwich RMI Harriers); Sarah Tunstall (Kendal AC); Mary Wilkinson (Bingley Harriers & AC)

JUNIOR MEN
Ricky Challinor (Liverpool Harriers); Alexander Hendry (Central AC); Scott McDonald (Central AC); Robbie Simpson (Deeside Runners)

JUNIOR WOMEN
Blue Hayward (Lincoln Wellington); Melanie Hyder (Helm Hill Runners); Heather Timmins (Warrington AC)