Junior team announced for Mountain Running Home International

England Athletics is pleased to announce that four strong junior mountain running teams will compete against the Home Countries at the British & Irish Junior Mountain Championships. Hosted in turn by each of the participating countries, this year’s event returns to Donard Forest in Northern Ireland on Saturday 12 September.

The Junior Home International (JHI) continues to provide a valuable opportunity for our young mountain runners, to help them develop into the senior ranks, and hopefully gain more international honours.

With a blend of international experience and exciting young talent, the teams head into the Junior Home International full of confidence and determination to challenge for both individual and team honours and we want to wish them the best of luck.

Meet the team

U18 women

• Clara McKee (Calder Valley Fell Runner): earns an England vest for the third time and will arrive as the reigning U18 Mountain Running Cup Champion. Having claimed the JHI title in 2025 with a memorable performance, she returns determined to defend her crown and further cement her place among the brightest young talents in mountain running.
• Isla Jebb (Helm Hill Runners, Rob Jebb): the youngest female athlete selected for the team, proudly makes her England debut. A superb second-place finish at the trial secured her spot on the team, and she arrives in outstanding form having recently won the U16 English Fell Championship title.
• Isla Pastor (Warriors PAC, Sarah & Ronan Kearney): receives a fifth England vest following another impressive year of competition. Most recently, Isla represented Great Britain at the European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships and earlier this month claimed third place in the Inter Girls’ 1500m Steeplechase at the English Schools Track & Field Championships.
• Isla Yorke (Warriors PAC, Sarah & Ronan Kearney): earns a second England vest and returns to the JHI after a superb performance last year to claim the individual silver medal. Isla will be looking to build on that success and challenge once again at the front of the field.
• Millie Jebb (Helm Hill Runners, Rob Jebb) completes the team, earning her third England vest after an excellent season that included winning the U18 English Fell Championship title and she will be keen to carry that momentum to race day.

U18 men

• Oliver Mannion (East Cheshire Harriers, Martin Lewis): earns a well-deserved England debut after winning the trial race as the youngest member of the team. The rising fell-running talent arrives in impressive form, having recently claimed third-place finish in the English Fell Championships.
• Zeke Sumner (Ambleside AC) has secured his third England vest after a superb performance at the trial race where he finished in second place. He is another athlete that has recently claimed victory in the U18 English Fell Championships.
• Charlie Dobson (Rossendale Harriers, Graham Wright & Jo Wells): is another exciting young talent set to pull on the England vest for the first time. He has had an amazing season and recently won the U16 English Fell Championship title.
• George Watkins (Macclesfield AC, Alison Hartopp & Bev Harrington): earns the honour of a second England vest following his debut at the U18 International Mountain Running Cup in Italy just last month. The talented youngster heads into his first JHI competition with growing confidence and valuable international experience already under his belt.
• Jake Ireland (Macclesfield AC, Alison Hartopp & Bev Harrington): returns as the team’s most experienced athlete, proudly earning his fifth England vest. Having recently secured an impressive sixth-place finish at the U18 International Mountain Running Cup in Italy, Jake arrives in outstanding form and with valuable international experience. After claiming second place at last year’s JHI, he will be looking to go one step higher on the podium.

U20 women

• Graihagh Turner (Penistone Footpath Runners, Paddy Wright): is the most experienced athlete in the women’s team and receives an England vest for the sixth time. Fresh from representing Great Britain at the European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships, Graihagh brings a wealth of international experience to the team and will be looking to challenge for the podium.
• Constance Jenneson (Buxton AC, Alison Hartopp & Bev Harrington): earns her second England vest after recently representing Great Britain at the European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships and will be eager to cap off her JHI journey with a standout performance.
• Rose Gilldaley (Eden Runners, Derek Hurton): also earns a sixth England vest, adding further strength and experience to the team. She enters her final year at the JHI determined to finish her championship journey on a high and make this appearance one to remember.
• Emilia Frost (Dark Peak Fell Runners): claims her third England vest after competing at the JHI in both 2023 and 2024. She comes into the race with great form, having recently secured the U20 English Fell Championship title.

U20 men

• Jay Hutchinson (Trafford AC, Mike Hutchinson): delivered a commanding victory in the trial race, securing his fifth England vest and will take both confidence and momentum into the race.  Following his second-place finish at the JHI in 2004, he will be aiming to once again challenge for a podium position.
• Adam Bentham (Mercia Fell Runners, Dan Connolly): secured his place on the team with a second-place finish at the Whinlatter trial. Adam has previously represented England on the mountains and ran a 15:15 PB at Mid Cheshire 5K in May. He will be looking to take his strength and speed to compete against the UK’s top young mountain runners.
• Michael Wood (Macclesfield Harriers, Alison Hartopp & Bev Harrington): was only two seconds back from second place to finish third place at the trial and ran a PB of 4:06 over 1500m in early June. Micheal competed at the Junior Home International last year with an impressive 8th place performance and will be looking to use that experience at this upcoming home counties match.
• Alfie Branch (Buxton AC): completes the team and earns a well-deserved England debut after a season of outstanding consistency and determination. He recently claimed the U20 English Fell Championships title, and his selection is a fitting reward for the performances that have marked his rise throughout the year.