Holmfirth Athlete strikes team gold in European Mountain Running Championships

Category: Ladies Published Date Hits: 959

Running in the searing heat of the Turkish Mountains Holmfirth's Katie Walshaw in her first outing for the Great Britain team helped the GB Women's secure Gold medals in the team event with a superb run finishing in 10th place. With Fellow Yorkshire athletes Mary Wilkinson and Emma Clayton both of Bingley Harriers just ahead of Katie in 4th and 6th place the ladies were clear team victors ahead of Italy and Russia.

The two lap course involved steep climb including a section of stone steps up to a monastery and a very technical descent each lap 4km in length. "I was in about 25th place at the top of the hill first time round" Katie explained "but I caught loads on the descent" and managed by the finish line to have moved up to 10th position.

Katie's European adventure began when she finished 3rd in the European Trial race back at the end of May in Sedbergh. Since then she has been working hard to improve her uphill skills including sessions using the steps at Castle Hill to prepare for the Turkish course. She was able to fly out to Turkey a week before the race to train on the course and also acclimatise for the Turkish weather the temperature on race day 30 degrees at 8.30am.

Katie's next race will be representing England in the Snowdon International Mountain Race on July 21st.