Devon Junior runner
Last week was super busy with championship and qualifying races. Great to see that Devon was represented by Tom Perry ( was Exeter Harriers now Dark Peak Fell runners) in the World junior Mountain trials. An amazing result and i am sure Tom’s local local running family are well chuffed. Enough from me – this is what Tom thought..
Tom’s account
‘Last weekend, I raced the GB u20 mountain running trials in Ambleside, which was the selection for the World Mountain Running Championships which will be held in Innsbruck, Austria in early June.
The race started fast, with a very strong field lined up (this race as well as being a GB/England Trial, was also an FRA junior race!). The course started in Rothay Park and winded up a steep road before heading up onto the fell. I got to the top of the first part of the climb in 5th place, feeling reasonably strong having tried to hold back a little on the climb. The course then followed an undulating track for around a kilometre before a short scramble and then we hit the final part of the climb up to the summit. I got to the top in 4th place, feeling a bit in the red zone, but confident that I could make up some ground on the descent. Off the summit I immediately moved into 3rd and had 2nd in my sights. After the initial steep part of descent, the course then followed another undulating track interspersed with a few bogs and stiles which was quite energy sapping late into the race. Just before the final steep descent back into Rothay Park I managed to overtake 2nd place and moved into an auto qualifying spot for Worlds. I pushed hard on the descent and was gaining on first but the finish came too soon!
It felt amazing at the finish, having finished in 2nd, and knowing I’d secured my spot for the World Championships in Austria, where I’ll be racing in U20 ‘up & down’ race on the 10th June. Achieving a GB vest in mountain running has been a dream of mine almost since I started running in the hills, so it feels incredible to achieve it in my final year as u20!
Close finish
The results show how fierce this competition was. Well done Tom! It really great to see the a local runner that has supported events from athletics, cross country, to Dartmoor Runners , to orienteering and of course the Dartmoor fell series. Get such an amazing result. Take note SW Juniors over the years we have produced some excellent international mountain runners.
Some of our local juniors are off to Shropshire on June 24th to take part in the junior Intercounties – good luck. And another big well done to Tom and family.
See you on the hills – Richard Best