England athletes to travel to Slovenia for World Cup Mountain Running event

Two U23 English athletes are travelling out to Ljubljana, Slovenia to compete in the final round of the Mountain Running World Cup series this coming weekend. Callum Davidson (Ribble Valley Harriers, self-coached) and Rory Domville (Reading AC / Bath Uni, coach: Derek Hawkins) have earned this opportunity to race in the Smarna Gora Mountain Race.

Team Manager Neil Wilkinson thinks both athletes will compete strongly at the event; which again is the final round of the Mountain Running World Cup - ensuring high quality international opposition. The race is 10km ‘up, down, up’ race with 650m of climbing on the outskirts of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The terrain and ascending/ descending involved requires a blend of speed strength and skill.

Callum has had an injury hit year, but is coming back into form, and is trying to beat the timen/ position he finished in last year's Smarna Gora, where he represented England U23, finishing 22nd in a high class international field. He has been focussing more on road running recently, due to ankle injuries; reducing his 5k time and winning the Anglesey Half Marathon.

Rory is gaining his first England U23 vest, having moved up from the U20 age group this year. He ran strongly last year to make the podium in the GB and Ireland Mountain Running Championship Race. Rory has also been working on his speed on the track, and focussing on reducing his 10k; whilst maintaining strength for Mountain Running. He finished 3rd U23 in the GB World Mountain Running Trial Race.

Neil commented, “Callum and Rory have been targeting this race, and preparations have gone well. The U23 age group is a welcome addition for athletes transitioning to Senior Mountain Running Teams from the Junior age groups. This opportunity will give them invaluable experience in International Competition, and help as motivation for the forthcoming winter training."