Gillham wins Junior Home Country Hill Race Championships
Congratulations to Euan Gillham on a fantastic win in his first hill race to qualify for a GB vest at the World Mountaing Running Championships in Bulgaria next month.
Scottish Athletics Report:
There was victory for Andy Douglas of Inverclyde in the Senior Home Country Internationals Hill Race at Skiddaw on Saturday.
Over a 11.3km route including 1080m climb, he secured a clear win in 54:09 – more than two minutes ahead of second place. Also, because the event doubled as the Trial Race for the Mountain Running World Championships, he scooped automatic selection for the GB team for the Worlds, which take place in Sapareva Banya, Bulgaria on 11 September.
Also booking a seat on the plane to Bulgaria was Euan Gillham of Kilbarchan, who won the Junior men’s race (7.7k with 846m ascent) in 41:58. A fantastic result for Euan in his first hill race – he led all the way and won by almost a 90 second margin, finishing ahead of Josh Boyle, who gained a GB vest at the European Championships earlier this year. The result transfers Euan’s superb form on the country during the winter into the mountains.
Emily Nicholson took third in the Junior Women’s race world mountain trial, which also stands her in good stead for GB selection.
The senior men’s and women’s teams were second overall: Women’s team scorers were: 9th Scout Adkin, 12th Stephanie Provan, 13th Georgia Tindley, 16th Louise Mercer, who was also first U23. Helen Bonsor was 23rd.
Men’s team scorers: Andy Douglas 1st Andrew Fallas 15th, Sam Hesling 19th, James Espie 24th. Jacob Adkin was in 26th and Alastair Thurlbeck 46th.
