McMullan and Adams make it a golden day for England in the 2. Commonwealth M. R. Championships.
Conditions for the race saw rain and mist veil Moel Eilio, in the shadow of Snowdon." "
In the women's race, after a superb fifth place run at the recent World Mountain Championships in Albania earlier this month Lizzie Adams started favourite.
After a furious start on the initial road section as the female runners approached the mountain, Olivia Walwyn-Bush led English team mates Sarah Tunstall and Adams. Mary Wilkinson was tucked in behind, with Victoria Wilkinson in fifth.
But as the race turned onto the steep part of the course Brindley started to scythe her way through the front group, so much so that she led the race as they started the descent off the mountain and head back down to Llanberis. However, 25-year-old Hallamshire runner Adams was not to be denied as she passed and then held off Scotland's Tracey Brindley to win by a clear 19 seconds.
",This is the first major title I've won and it was nice to win it here. I lived in Llandrindod Wells when I was younger and I've been to the Snowdon area before,", said an exuberant Adams. ,",It was pretty tough, but very enjoyable. The weather made it wet and that made it tricky at the start", and concluded, ",England have got a really strong team and it was great to add gold to the bronze we won in Albania. Now I will concentrate on the cross-country season and hopefully make it to the European Mountain Championships next year.",
The next four places were occupied by English athletes - Mary Wilkinson, Olivia Walwyn-Bush, Victoria Wilkinson and Sarah Tunstall - with Scotland's Catriona Buchanan taking seventh. Eight place for the Kenyan, Vivian Kiplagat.
That enabled the English team to ,take , gold. Lizzie Adams and Mary Wilkinson won a Bronze Medal as part of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team at the World Championships in Tirana. The Scottish team taking silver. Jackie Lee ran a strong race in 9. for Wales and was backed up by Anna Barlett in 11. place, meaning that Emma Bayliss' ensured the bronze for Wales, in front of the following teams: 4. Australia, 5. Canada and 6 Northern Ireland.In the men's race, James McMullan was obviously inspired by Adams's success as he battled from fourth to first to hold off the strong Scottish challenge offered by young Scot, and former Snowdon Race winner Robbie Simpson.
The early leader had been Scottish Joe Symonds. McMullan was tucked in behind in third place at the point that they started the hard grind up to the Trwyn on Moel Eilio. Coming through after a steady start was Robbie Simpson, and with his superb technical skills he was going to be a threat in the second half of the race.
As they started the descent after the second loop McMullan pushed on and after a strong 22. place at the World Championships recently, the Englishman's form and basic speed told as he entered the finish area with a clear 17 second margin.
Simpson took an excellent silver medal with Symonds in third. That meant both countries were tied on 16 points for the team title, but Smith's eight place (third scoring English better then third scoring of Scotland: Anthony 11.) meant England retained their Commonwealth title on count back.
Third place in the team result for Wales with other four teams in the final result: 4. Australia, 5. Canada, 6. Isle of Man and 7. Northern Ireland.
It must be ,underlined the fourth place of Francis Khanje, from Malawi.
Bruno Gozzelino, WMRA President, and Bashir Hussain, WMRA Secretary, attended to the competition and both congratulated LOC and Welsh Athletic for the organisation of the races.
News by Matt Ward and Bruno Gozzelino
Photos by Patrizia Longo:
- on front page: Adams together Bruno Gozzelino. On right Alan Barlow.
- on second page: McMullan together Bruno Gozzelino