Young talent shines at the British and Irish Mountain Running Championships
The small village of Y Fron in North Wales hosted the 29th edition of the British and Irish Junior Mountain Running Championships where 80 young athletes from the five home nations came together to showcase their talent.
The courses were fast: the U17s racing over 6.2km with 257m ascent and the U20s over 6.8km with 300m ascent. The event delivered an unforgettable experience which pushed the athletes to their limits.
U17 men
The U17 men were the first to race, and after narrowly missing an individual medal last year, Jake Ireland competed with real determination. He ran a brave race but couldn’t quite withstand the fast finish of Scotland’s Billy Sutherland, who chose a longer but arguably faster underfoot route to win by just five seconds.
Debutants Thomas Wood, Zeke Sumner and George Martin also delivered impressive performances to finish 10th, 12th and 16th respectively, helping secure the team silver medal.
U20 Men
The standout performance of the day came from Jack Sanderson, who recently earned his second GB vest for the upcoming World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc, Spain. Competing as a first year U20 against a strong field, including his teammate and defending champion, Sam Bentham, Jack proved his strength. By the time they reached the summit of Moel Tryfan for the second time, Jack had pulled ahead and won by 34 seconds. Sam secured the bronze medal, with support from Alex Poulston in 5th and Jay Hutchinson in 18th.
With three athletes in the top five, the team clinched the gold medal in commanding style.
U17 Women
The U17 women took on the same challenging route as the U17 men, with Clara McKee leading from the front and dominating the race from start to finish. She secured a commanding victory, finishing 25 seconds ahead of the youngest team member, 14-year-old Isla Yorke. Close behind, Isla Pastor and Chloe Stuart finished in 4th and 5th place respectively.
These outstanding performances ultimately earned the U17 team the gold medal, showcasing their exceptional talent.
U20 Women
Amelie Lane, a seasoned international competitor, led the U20 women home in her fifth and final Junior Home International appearance. She finished in a strong 5th place, showing her talent and experience. Close behind debutant, Connie Jenneson claimed 7th, followed by Rose Gilldaley in 8th and last year’s U17 champion, Graihagh Turner, in 9th. Their outstanding efforts earned the team a well-deserved silver medal.
Results
England secured two team golds and two team silvers, matching Scotland’s impressive tally of the same results. As a result, they will share the Edinburgh Trophy for overall best team, highlighting a closely contested and exciting competition.
U17 Boys
- 2nd - Jake Ireland (Macclesfield Harriers, Alison Hartopp)
- 10th - Thomas Wood (Macclesfield, Alison Hartopp)
- 12th - Zeke Sumner (Ambleside AC)
- 16th - George Martin (Sedbergh School, Richard Wells & Kieran Walker)
Team - 2nd
U17 Girls
- 1st - Clara McKee (Calder Valley Fell Runners)
- 2nd - Isla Yorke (Warriors PAC, Sarah & Ronan Kearney)
- 4th - Isla Pastor (Warriors PAC, Sarah & Ronan Kearney)
- 5th - Chloe Stuart (Mercia Fell Runners, James Stuart)
Team - 1st
U20 Men
- 1st - Jack Sanderson (Settle Harriers, Alastair Scholey)
- 3rd - Sam Bentham (Ilkley Harriers)
- 5th - Alex Pulston (Wirral AC, Matt Seddon)
- 18th - Jay Hutchison (Trafford AC, Mike Hutchinson)
Team – 1st
U20 Women
- 5th - Amelie Lane (Wharfedale Harriers, Angela Mudge)
- 7th - Constance Jenneson (Buxton AC, Terry Fowler)
- 8th - Rose Gilldaley (Eden Runners, Derek Hurton)
- 9th - Graihagh Turner (Penistone Runners, Paddy Wright)
Team - 1st
Race photos by Bill Scriven