WMRA Team England

Hilly Clothing Support Team England at WMRA 2009

 

 

Medals and great results for England's young mountain running athletes at the 4th International Youth Challenge, writes Jackie Newton.

"The race, held over 5km for boys and 3km for girls was run over a tough 1km lapped course which consisted of a steep climb from the start of 80 metres and then took the athletes down a difficult descent which included steps and sharp turns. Successes came for the athletes who started cautiously and ran the most even splits, with the exception of Russia's Andrey Rusakov who ran away from the start and won by over 30 seconds.

Many were caught out with the temptation of going off too fast and then losing form over the final laps. Rachel Robinson, Scunthorpe and Rachel Jefferson, Warrington came through from outside the top 15 to finish 4th and 6th respectively in the girls race with impressive splits. Robinson ran 4.44, 5.13 and 5.17 with Jefferson tracking her all the way.

In the boys race James Stevenson, Scotland took individual bronze after timing his effort almost perfectly. England claimed team bronze with Billy Pinder (Skipton) 5th , Jonny Bradshaw (Wharfedale) 12th , James Ellis (Warrington) 17th (non scoring), Ashley Kay (Rossendale) 23rd. Scotland were fourth and only two points behind with Stevenson 3rd, James Waldie 19th and Adam Gatens 20th".

Hilly again aided the young athletes by supplying them with essential socks and bits of kit which were well received by all.


Thomas Coxon, Hilly’s Marketing Manager, commented:

‘We were only too pleased to again help to support Team England at the WMRA champs, providing support in the form of kit and socks which many of the competitors wore during the successful day of competition, well done to all our young athletes'