Team announced for Trofeo Vanoni Mountain Relay Race

We are pleased to announce a strong team for the Vanoni mountain relay race taking place on 27 October in Morbegno, Italy. This is the first time England Athletics has sent a team to this prestigious and well established mountain race.

The races consist of a relay format with a team of three men over a distance of 7.2km with a 435m climb, and two women racing over 5km with 248m climb. The prestigious nature of the event and iconic status at the end of the season offers an opportunity for high level competition over what is considered a very fast mountain running course.

Team manager Sarah Tunstall is excited to see how our athletes tacklet this Italian 'classic' mountain running event:

"We hope the competition will provide a fantastic opportunity to race an Italian 'classic' as well as provide a development opportunity for our up-and-coming athletes."

Team

Senior men

• George Foster (Matlock AC, Sarah McCormack)
• Finn Lydon (Carnethy Hill Racing Club/ Charnwood AC)
• Felix McGrath (Bristol & West AC, Mike Down)

U23 men

• Matt Knowles (Edinburgh University Hare and Hounds/Lancaster and Morecambe AC, Sophie Dunnett)
• Ben Sharrock (Ambleside AC, Sarah McCormack)
• Tom Spencer (Cambridge & Coleridge AC, John Eves)

U23 women

• Alice Crane (Dorking and Mole Valley Athletic Club)
• Emilia Platt (Salford Harriers, Duncan Mason)
• Emily Shaw (Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds)
• Ellen Weir (Thames Hare and Hounds, Dean Miller)
• Lex Whitaker (Ambleside AC, Phil Townsend) pictured top
• Rosie Woodhams (Kendal AAC, Bill Foster)

Team managers

• Sarah Tunstall
• Gary Priestley

Athlete biogs

After surgery for a major injury in January, George Foster has returned to fitness this summer with wins at the Canigou Double VK (vertical kilometre) in a championship record and local fell races including Skiddaw and Grisedale Horseshoe. He told us:

"Being selected to race at this level for England is reward for the work that I have put in to get back fit and racing, and is my proudest achievement in the sport."

One standout highlight of Finn Lydon's running season this year would be the British short championships at Blisco where he spearheaded the race with Matt Knowles. He descended in a moderate fashion to take 5th in the end. Racing Vanoni in his first time representing England is important to Finn and something he's been aiming for.

Felix McGrath's main highlights of the 2024 summer season include a 3rd place finish at the competitive Trail Half Hanner race - part of the Golden Trail UK series - and the Snowdon International where he finished 9th in the race overall and was the highest finisher in the open (non-elite) category.

"The Trofeo Vanoni Relays will provide me with a great opportunity to compete with a strong England team against a high quality international field, and is an opportunity I am greatly looking forward to."

U23 men

In the U23 men's team, Matt Knowles recently won the Scottish University hill championships and English championship Race at Pike O’Blisco. He is also the senior British fell running champion. This will be Matt’s 3rd time racing at Trofeo Vanoni and he is looking forward to returning and representing England this year.

Ben Sharrock ran for England's Senior team at the Snowdon International in July and finished 7th Senior (2nd U23) at the Blisco British short fell running championship. He is delighted to represent his country abroad with the opportunity to race in the Trofeo Vanoni event.

This year Tom Spencer completed the Piz Tri Vertical and Fletta Trail, finishing 14th and 4th respectively in Italy. He also ran in Sierre Zinal in Switzerland coming 16th; his best race to date.

"Running for England is always special, and to do it as part of a team at the Vanoni Relays - a historic race known around the world - just makes it even more so."

U23 Women

Alice Crane was first U23 woman at the British mountain running championships and has been performing well in senior races all season. She is focussed on transitioning from junior to senior ranks and sees Trofeo Vanoni as an ideal stepping stone.

After a successful cross country season, finishing 5th in the Northerns in January, Emilia Platt has turned her off-road strengths to the mountains and raced in the Golden Trail series as well as one of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc races this summer. Last weekend she proved she is in great shape by winning the U20 English national cross country title. She is motivated and raring to go for Trofeo Vanoni.

Emily Shaw has enjoyed her first season of hill running, coming from a track background. She has experienced her first races in the Alps and is looking forward to gaining more experience at an international competition.

This season Ellen Weir travelled to Portugal to compete in a World Mountain Running world cup event, finishing 12th overall. She has performed well all season, winning fell races in the senior ranks. She is excited about the relay format of the competition.

Lex Whitaker has enjoyed a successful first senior season, representing England at the Snowdon International in July. She has also won the British and English U23 fell running titles and is looking forward to ending her season on a high at Trofeo Vanoni.

Rosie Woodhams started the season with a torn calf but has recovered to place 7th at the Youth Skyrunning championship VK. She has also raced over longer distances, finishing 3rd U23 at the UK inter-counties fell running championships. She has raced Trofeo Vanoni once before and remembers an incredible atmosphere. Rosie is looking forward to returning as part of a strong England team.