Hill selections – GB Euros, Scotland Youth

Friday 3rd June 2016

Gavin Bryson wins Junior Men’s trial – photo by Andy Stark

British Athletics media announcement for Euro Champs selection

Three Scottish athletes will head to Italy next month to lead GB teams in the European (Up and Down) Mountain Running Championships on Saturday 2 July.

Trials winners Andrew Douglas and Rebecca Hilland will headline the senior men’s and women’s teams respectively after convincing displays at the Trials in Whinlatter Forest last weekend.

The senior men’s team is spearheaded by Douglas, who is coached by Sophie Dunnett and has a wealth of experience in a British vest over the last few years, and is joined by Chris Smith and Ben Mounsey who were also part of the bronze medal winning team at the world championships last September.

Trials winners Laura Stark of Kilbarchan AAC, coached by Arthur Smith, and Edinburgh AC’s Gavin Bryson, who is coached by Garry Robertson, are named in the junior teams and they will achieve their debut GB vests.

Team Leader Sarah Rowell said: ‘We saw some excellent racing at the Trials with a lot of new faces coming through and earning selection, as well as experienced athletes producing fine performances when it matters. Both are encouraging as we seek to build upon last year’s successes.

‘We go in to the Europeans in an upbeat mood after a landmark display at the worlds in Wales last year, and we have selected teams which are capable of pushing for medals in the Italian mountains.’

Laura Stark – first GB vest

The full British Athletics team for the European Mountain Running Championships in Arco, Italy on July 2:

Senior men: Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett); Alex Pilcher (self-coached); Ben Mounsey; Chris Smith (Philip O’Dell)

Senior Women: Emmie Collinge; Heidi Dent (Derek Hurton); Rebecca Hilland; Sarah Tunstall

Junior Men: Josh Boyle; Gavin Bryson (Garry Robertson); Ciaran Lewis (James Thie); Jake Smith (Brian O’Hare)

Junior Women: Scarlet Dale (Colin Gemson); Heidi Davies (Chris Jones); Laura Stark (Arthur Smith); Bella Williams (Rob Lewis)

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Anna Macfadyen (left): Scotland Hill Running selection

Six athletes will represent Scotland in hill running at the International Youth Cup in the Czech Republic.

The annual international event for 16 and 17-year-olds takes place on and Scottish youngsters competed in trial races at Ben Lomond as part of the Junior Championships.

In the Scotland boys team, there are places for Fife AC brothers Tristan and George Rees. Scottish National XC champion, Anna Macfadyen of Forres, is in the girls team.

Scotland Girls: Anna MacFadyen (Forres Harriers); Mairi Wallace (Moorfoot); Grace Whelan (Moray)

Scotland Boys: George Rees (Fife AC); Tristan Rees (Fife AC); Finlay Todd (Ross County)

Tags: Andy Douglas, Euro Hill Champs, Gavin Bryson, International Youth Cup, Laura Stark