Adrian Stott looks at the British team and international contenders at this weekend’s event in France
Not only is the track and field season in full swing, but the mountain and trail running season is now well underway with the second edition of the European Off-Road Running Championships (ERROC) in Annecy, France, this weekend (May 31-June 2).
Ten races will be spread over three days, with day one featuring the vertical uphill-only races for senior and junior men and women. The senior course is 7.6km with 990 metres of climb, and the junior races are 5.6km, with 830 metres of climb.
Day two features the trail races for both men and women over a challenging 58km course with 3450m of climbing.
The final day will involve the classic up-and-down races over 16km (940m) for the seniors and 5.9km (400m) for the juniors.
At the first edition of these championships in La Palma in 2022, the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team came home with 11 medals from individual and team performances, finishing fourth in the medal table. A strong team will again be heading to Annecy to take on the best in Europe, hoping to bring back more medals.
Thomas Roach (WMTRC 2023)
British athletes to watch in Annecy
Men’s trail race: At last summer’s world event, Innsbruck-based Thomas Roach took silver in the world short trail 45km race, while Tom Joly secured 11th place in the long trail 85km. With just one trail race in Annecy over 59km, it promises to be a mix of experienced long and short-trail athletes chasing the medals. They will be backed up by Luke Grenfall-Shaw and James Tilley, a late call-up after Tom Evans withdrew due to injury.
Women’s trail race: GB regulars over the last few years, Katie Kaars-Sijpestein and Meryl Cooper lead a solid women’s trail team. They are joined by Georgia Tindley and Holly Page, who are both making a return to International championships after injury issues the last few years.
Cooper said: “I am really looking forward to the European Championships and competing against the best in Europe. We have an amazing team and I am excited to see what we can achieve together. The trail course is going to be really challenging with a bit of everything in there to test us!”
Scout Adkin (Mark Croasdale)
Women’s mountain races: In-form Scout Adkin, the bronze medalist in the up-and-down event and 4th in the uphill-only race two years ago, will hope to add to her international medal count. Both women’s mountain teams secured team…
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