from the Athletics Association of Ireland British and Irish Junior Mountain Running International
Teams from England, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will participate in the annual British and Irish Junior Mountain Running International in Glendalough, County Wicklow this Sunday.
An open under 14 race will begin proceedings at 9:15 with the under 16 girls international race at 10:00 am. The final race, the under 18 boys, starts at 10:50.
The event has in the past featured some runners who have performed well at World level. Best known of these are probably the two Brownlee brothers who became elite triathletes and are medal contenders for the 2012 London Olympics. Karrissa Hawitt (ENG) won the under 16 girls race in 2001 and 2002 and the under 18 girls race in 2003. She also won the junior girls race at the World Mountain Running Championships in 2003. Laura Park (ENG) is the other runner who has won at both British and World levels: British and Irish under 16 in 2006 and 2007 followed by the World Mountain Running Trophy junior girls race in 2008.
England has traditionally dominated the event. However their grip has been loosened in recent years by Scotland in particular and Wales. Ireland has only ever provided one individual winner in Peter Dalton in 2001 when he also led the under 18 boys to a team win. The runners participating this year are listed at https://www.imra.ie/ad-hoc/2010_B&I_Entries.doc
2010 International Youths Challenge winner Ffion Price (WAL) is a strong favourite to retain her title in the under 16 girls race. Ireland were third in the under 17 Youths Challenge in Italy and two of that team (Meghan Ryan and Claire Brennan) are competing on Sunday. Clare McCarthy will join them and could provide a surprise. Halina Rees (SCO) and Emma Spencer (ENG) will also be in contention for individual medals. In the team, England has always won this category but this year they will have to fight for it! The under 16 boys race is one of the most open and all four Irish runners will be hoping for a high placing.
Laura Riches (ENG) was third in the 2009 under 16 race and will be hard to beat in the under 18 race. She edged out Beckie Taylor (ENG) for fifth in the international Youths challenge. Scout Adkin (SCO) was fifth last year and won the Scottish trial race. Rachel Jefferson (ENG) who was third in 2009 is still eligible. Wales (2007), Scotland (2008) and England (2009) are the most recent winners. Niamh Denny and Catherina Mullen are likely to make the top six and should lead Ireland to team medals but the gold may be a step too far.
The under 18 boys race is always a very competitive battle. Jamie Stevenson (SCO) and Billy Pinder (ENG) were third and sixth last year. They will be joined by Marc Scott (ENG) who was runner-up in the under 16 race in 2009 and ninth in the Youths Challenge. Kevin Dooney (IRL) was sixth in the International Youths Challenge and is a very competitive runner. Scotland won the team in both 2008 and 2009. As in the under 16 boys race, the team is up for grabs.
Ireland performed well in 2009 in Sedbergh with the under 18 boys and girls teams both winning silver, and the under 16 boys bronze. In 2010 in the International Youths Challenge, the under 17 Irish boys team won while the girls were third team. With strong home support expected from the Irish hill running and athletics communities, all four Irish teams should perform well.