Experienced squad includes 2013 silver medallist Emma Clayton as well as European medallists Robbie Simpson and Georgia Malir

Emma Clayton, Robbie Simpson and Georgia Malir are among those included on the 17-strong Great Britain & Northern Ireland team for the World Mountain Running Championships in Italy on September 14.

The team has international experience, with only one of the selected athletes making their GB team debut.

Clayton, who claimed world silver over an up and down course in 2013, returns to contest this year’s event in Casette di Massa on the mainly uphill route. She will be joined on the senior women’s team by Rebecca Robinson, who won the trial race in Sedburgh on Saturday, Katie Walshaw and Mary Wilkinson.

Simpson also recently won a silver medal but in the senior men’s race at the European Mountain Running Championships in Gap, France, last month. Also on the men’s team is trials winner Andrew Douglas, James Walsh, Nick Swinburn and Orlando Edwards.

Malir took European junior gold in Gap while team-mate Catriona Graves won the trials race and Heidi Davies also features on the junior women’s team in Italy. Graves’ fellow trials winner Andrew Lawler leads a junior men’s team also including Max Nicholls, Jacob Adkin and Max Wharton.

“While we are traditionally stronger over the up and down format, there has been a growing confidence within Britain that we can succeed in the predominantly uphill only races, and so I fully anticipate another good medal haul in Italy,” said team leader Sarah Rowell.

GB & NI team for World Mountain Running Championships

Senior women

Rebecca Robinson
Emma Clayton
Katie Walshaw
Mary Wilkinson

Senior men

Andrew Douglas
Nick Swinburn
Orlando Edwards
Tom Addison
James Walsh
Robbie Simpson

Junior women

Catriona Graves
Heidi Davies
Georgia Malir

Junior men

Andrew Lawler
Max Nicholls
Jacob Adkin
Max Wharton

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