Mountain Running Home International team announced
England Athletics are pleased to announce the team selected for the Mountain Running Home International incorporated into the British Athletics World Mountain Running Championships Trial taking place at Sedbergh on 18 June.
This is the 7th Mountain Running Home International and England have been very successful with the men and women winning the team title 5 times each and athletes in England vests have had 7 Individual winners.
Team
- Chris Holdsworth (Club: Clayton Le Moors)
- Joe Steward (U23) (Club: East Cheshire Harriers, Coach: Harry Kelly)
- Jack Wood (Club: Ilkley Harriers)
- Chris Smith (Club: Thames Valley Harriers Coach: Phil O’Dell/Mark Lloyd)
- Max Nicholls (Club: Tonbridge AC, Coach: Pete Brenchley)
- Tom McGuiness (Club: East Cheshire Harriers Coach: Jack Dobson)
- Katie Walshaw (Club: Holmfirth Harriers Coach: Mike Baxter)
- Nichola Jackson (Club: Preston Harriers)
- Catherine Spurden (Club: Keswick AC)
- Helen Glover (Club: Ribble Valley Harriers)
- Ruth Jones (Club: Salford Harriers Coach: Duncan Mason)
Team Managers are Mark Croasdale and Anne Buckley. Mark commented, "With selection at stake for the World Mountain Running Championships to be held in Premana, Italy on the 30th July as well as the Home International we expect the competition to be fierce in both men's and women's races."
Chris Holdsworthwill be making his England debut after excelling this season, he recently finished 3rd at the Three Peaks Mountain Race to book his place on the Great Britain Team for the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships later in the year at Premana, Italy. Joe Steward is also making his debut for England on the mountains, he recently finished an excellent 2nd in the Northern XC Championships and placed 6th overall and 2nd U23 in the Inter Counties Mountain Race to gain selection. Jack Wood is another who has gained Great Britain selection for the World Long Distance Championships when finishing 5th at the Three Peaks Mountain race, as well as being selected for England at the Home International where he will also be making his debut.
Chris Smith (pictured) is our most experienced international runner and has won silver and 2 bronze team medals at the last 3 European Championships, as well as a team bronze at the 2015 World Championships in Wales. Last season Chris won the Snowdon International Mountain race representing England. Max Nicholls is continuing where he left off last season and was a superb 3rd in the Inter Counties Mountain race (incorporating the England trial race) Max made his debut for the senior team last season after excelling as a Junior for the GB&NI team, where he was 5th at the European and 6th at the World Championships in 2015. Tom McGuiness ran for England last season in the U23 team and went on to represent England U23s at the Hochfelln Mountain race in Germany, Tom was 9th overall and 3rd U23 at the Inter Counties Mountain race to gain selection.
Katie Walshaw is the most experienced mountain runner in the women’s team having represented GB&NI at 2 World and 2 European Championships, Katie was 3rd at the 2015 Snowdon International Mountain race and 2nd at the Inter Counties at Broughton, Scotland to gain selection for the England team. Nichola Jackson has also been selected for the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships to be held in Italy and is having an excellent season, Nichola was 4th at the Inter Counties to gain selection. Catherine Spurden had an amazing run at the Inter Counties to place 5th and gain selection for England and will be another making their debut, Catherine recently Latrigg Fell race to confirm her great form. Helen Glover has been running on the fells and mountains for many years through the junior ranks, but is another having a great season, Helen was 8th at the Inter Counties to gain selection. Ruth Jones has had an excellent xc season and has transferred it to the mountains with a brilliant 7th place at the Inter Counties and finishing as the 1st U23.