Podium places for mountain running England Team in Italy

The prestigious Trofeo Vanoni Italian Mountain Race race is held every October in Morbegno. The race is run as a relay over a distance of 5km/248m for women and 7.2km/435m for the men. A high level of competition is always expected and this year was no different with teams from; Scotland, Wales, France, Ireland, Poland, San Marino, Slovenia and Mexico all in attendance, as well as the best Italian runners.

Trofeo Vanoni has been twinned with the Snowdon International Race since 1980, with each event welcoming runners from the other town each year and founding long term friendships. It is an event like no other with a myriad of steep gradients, slippery cobbles, fast road sections and wall jumps - and as a consequence it features in the book of the "World's Ultimate Running Races". Really one for the bucket list!

An England Team of 12 athletes travelled to Italy on Friday afternoon, heading along the shores of Lake Como to Morbegno in the Valtellina valley.  It was drizzly but atmospheric as we approached the mountains of Northern Italy. On arriving, some of the team went straight to recce the course, returning with a mix of apprehension and excitement after seeing the unique course and all the varied terrain.

The team was a mix of athletes who had raced Trofeo Vanoni previously and were returning for a 2nd, 3rd or 4th time. For others this was their first ever experience of international mountain racing.  The aim was to provide an introduction to European style mountain running amongst a quality field in order to act as spring board for some of our most talented athletes. 

Women's race 

The women's race is run as a 2-stage relay and a fast start saw Eve Pannone (Ambleside AC) to the front. She was running for the Snowdon team and led the field as they charged out of town in to narrow cobble alleyways. She battled with Elisa Sortini of Italy, to the top of the climb before Sortini used her local advantage to edge the win in a time of 22:36 to Eve's 23:02.   For England, Alice Crane (Dorking and Mole Valley AC) had a fantastic run, finishing in 4th position and in turn clocking the fastest U23 time of the day in 23:13. She handed over to the recently crowned English U20 National cross country champion Emilia Platt (Salford Harriers).

The other two lead runners on the England teams packed amazingly with Lex Whitaker (Ambleside AC) capping an already successful season after winning both British and English U23 titles, in a time of 25:35 and Rosie Woodhams (Kendal AAC) finishing strongly clocking 25:22 and placing 12th and 11th positions respectively. They handed to Emily Shaw (Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds) and Ellen Weir (Thames Hare and Hounds).

British athlete Emmie Collinge who also lives locally, in the Valtellina valley and is a former European Mountain Running Champion (2016) and World Silver medallist (2015) had teamed with Elisa Sortini and she continued to extend the lead over the field. Collinge clocked 22:12 at the line and recorded the fastest leg of the day to take the win for the local duo. Emilia had to battle with another local, former Mountain Running World Champion (2013) Alice Gaggi. Emilia ran an outstanding leg finishing in 23:29 to claim 3rd place overall, first U23 team and the individual 3rd U23 fastest leg.

A superb run from Emily, who is very new to mountain running saw her finish in 6th place, overtaking Scotland in the final 200m. She clocked an individual time of 23:23 to take 2nd fastest U23 athlete, making it an England 1-2-3 on the U23 podium!  Ellen ran strongly and also overtook numerous places on leg 2 to finish a fantastic 8th position. All three of the England teams were U23 athletes and raced amazingly well to all place in the top-10 rankings of such a competitive field.

Afterwards they were delighted with their results and described the electric atmosphere in the crowd that lined the trail. It was like no race they had ever run before. They enjoyed signing autographs for the children who they had seen racing before them and had stayed to cheer the senior events.

England women's team results

• 3rd: Alice Crane / Emilia Platt
• 6th: Lex Whitaker / Emily Shaw
• 8th: Rosie Woodhams / Ellen Weir 

Individual U23

• 1st Alice Crane 23:13
• 2nd Emily Shaw   23:23
• 3rd Emilia Platt 23:29

Men's race 

The men’s race is traditionally run in the afternoon, starting at 2pm. This meant they could support the women in the morning before turning their attention to their task in hand.

The men’s event is a 3-stage race and England had a strong senior team and U23 team. The streets of Vanoni were busier than ever with hardly any space for front row spectating.

Leg 1 started, but for the first time in the long history of Trofeo Vanoni a false start occurred. Amidst the confusion the runners covered approximately 2 minutes at a rapid speed before being recalled. George Foster (Matlock AC) and Matt Knowles (Lancaster and Morecambe AC) regained their composure and after the second, successful start were to the fore by the top of the climb with Matt - who has run here 3 times previously - in 6th with George just behind in 14th using his uphill strength to stay close to a cluster of Brits in front of him.

On the descent Matt took two places to finish in 4th place clocking 30:47 which would end up being the fastest U23 time of the day. George, who has had a long lay-off from injury showed he is returning to fine form, maintaining 14th position in a time of 32:30. They handed to Tom Spencer (Cambridge and Coleridge AC) and Felix McGrath (Bristol and West AC) respectively.

Tom has enjoyed a successful summer and has achieved good results in some European races already, including a fine 16th place at the famous Sierre-Zinal.  He climbed well, in 5th position with Felix picking up a place to 13th looking really strong in the process. The positions remained largely unchanged on the descent with Tom crossing the line in 6th with a time of 31:32 and Felix running 31:25 but more importantly picking off a couple more spots to place 11th for the final change over.

Leg 3 saw Ben Sharrock (Ambleside AC) take one place, climbing fantastically in 5th then descending in what can only described by the team managers as “heart in mouth” fashion, which nearly saw him overcook a tight corner but also meant he held off strong competition behind to run 32:17 and cement a brilliant 5th position overall and 1st U23 team. Matt mounted the individual U23 podium in 1st.

For the seniors Finn Lydon (Carnethy Hill Racing Club) had a brilliant final leg, after starting in 11th he worked his way to 6th on the climb and - like Ben - produced a stunning descent amongst tough competition to defend 6th position to the finish in a time of 31:16.

At the finish line supporters were now a few rows deep and the noise was exhilarating for the final straight. The atmosphere was incredible and despite the pain of racing at such unrelenting speeds, it was all smiles and fantastic camaraderie amongst teams who shared respect for each other's efforts of exertion on such a demanding course.

Overall the entire England team performed fantastically, with team and individual performances above expectations. The fast and furious course did not disappoint and the crowds lining the course provided an unforgettable experience for all the athletes. The 'draw' of Vanoni was obvious and it left nobody surprised that runners return year after year to race on this unique and exhilarating course.

Men team results;

• 5th - Matt Knowles / Tom Spencer / Ben Sharrock
• 6th - George Foster / Felix McGrath / Finn Lydon 

Individual U23 results:

• 1st Matt Knowles 30:47
• 4th Tom Spencer 31:32

Photos by George Foster and Sarah Tunstall