Team GB & NI opened the European Off-Road Championships in style, with Jacob Adkin and Morven Goodrum winning senior gold and the women’s team adding a team title.
Great Britain and Northern Ireland got off to a flying start on the first day of the European Off-Road Championships on Friday (June 5) with Jacob Adkin and Morven Goodrum securing the title. individual gold medals in both adults and women‘race Adrian Stott reports.
In wet, foggy conditions, the morning’s racing began with junior uphill-only events for men and women, running around 4km with 425 meters of ascent.
Younger men‘the race was dominated by France, who completed the first four places. Their first two runners, Yannick Memheld and Emelien Simeno, had been neck and neck most of the way and decided to cross the line together. The judges did not separate them, awarding both of them the first place.
The third and fourth places are occupied by France with their compatriots Oscar Cransac-Shairiges and Matteo Bagnus. secured the minimum points ahead of Italy and Spain to win the team award. Great Britain, led by Joel Gillan, is ninth, finishing a close fourth, just two points behind the Spaniard.
The junior women’s race also saw drama at the finish line. Czech sportswoman Anna Kinklova just led Germany‘Gloria Herold as they approached the finish line and held her arms up in triumph. He seemed to slow down a bit and as the German pushed for the line they seemed to cross it together. As with the junior men, the judges awarded the bronze medal to Julia Erle of Germany in 21:53 (22:28).
Great Britain‘Nancy Corry, in her first European Championships, had a great run and finished fifth. Hania Čebrešuk, 19th, and Isla Pastor, 22nd, tied well with Sophie Wood, 38th, leaving them fifth in the team competition.
While both senior races lacked close finish drama, both Jacob Adkin and Morven Goodrum showed their class with decisive wins over the 9km race.
Setting off first among the men, Adkin was with the lead pack from the start. He gradually broke through and stretched his lead to the summit, breaking the tape on the misty, windy summit in 49:21, well ahead of Sweden.‘the experienced Peter Engdahl, who clocked 51:28, and Italy‘Andrea Elian: 51:40.
It was Adkin‘The second title of Europe, winning also in 2019.
The Swiss team did well with three in the top 10 and took the gold medals from France and Italy. Great Britain, albeit with solid performances from Finn Grant, Matt Knowles and Tom Spencer, are just three points behind the Italians in fourth place.
Adkin said: “It was difficult. I didn’t know what to expect today, but my legs felt surprisingly good. It was a really good course, I can’t find the words now, but it was a really good day.”
Goodrum finished two and a half minutes ahead of Germany‘Laura Hottenrot, with France’s Nellie Clemens a further 10 seconds behind in third.
With Goodrum‘Teammates Scout Adkin fifth and Kirsty Dixon 12th, they also comfortably won the team gold medals with Hannah Russell in 31st.
Goodrum said: “Actually I’m a bit shocked because it’s my first international. I just went for it and it worked. I’m a little lost for words. The course was great. It was dry when we started, but the rain just picked up as we climbed. The last kilometer was a killer.”
The championships continue on Saturday with 52km of trails, including 2400m of climbing, and conclude on Sunday with the classic up-and-down race, with the seniors running 13.1km and 825m of climbing and the juniors 5.7km with 325m of ascent.
