A huge well done to ECH athlete Marshall Fleet who performed well in the below event, full GM team write-up below:

BRITISH JUNIOR INTERCOUNTIES FELL RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS

SATURDAY 21ST JUNE AT CLOUGHA PIKE FELL RACE

Huge success for Greater Manchester athletes at the British Junior Intercounties Fell Running Championships held as part of the Darren Jones Clougha Pike Fell Race on Saturday 21st June. The team secured 5 medals, with 3 team and 2 individual medals from the 6 intercounty races.

GM had 18 runners across all the age groups and aside from Yorkshire we had the fullest teams of all those racing. The team itself was a mix of experienced fell racers and some runners new to the English junior championships with almost half the team taking on fell running for the first time.

The Under 15 girls was a team fully comprising of 3 athletes who were fell racing for the first time and its testament to their grit and determination to put themselves on the start line and race against the best junior fell runners in the country. The team finished 7th overall with some amazing individual performances. Amber Khan (Sale Harriers) 19th, Emily Heys (Sale Harriers) 26th and Ella Straffon-Finch (Bury AC) 35th.

The Under 15 boys was an experienced team comprising all Trafford AC athletes. Tom Daly had an amazing run taking 2nd place individually securing a silver intercounty medal. This was backed up by great runs by Ethan Obrien, 18th, and Oscar Bundy 24th with the team securing 3rd place overall and a bronze intercounty team medal. Ben Higgins (Horwich RMI) was the reserve runner but he also had a good race finishing 35th.

The Under 17 girls was a mix of experienced and novice fell runners. But again, some strong individual performances saw them also secure 3rd place and an intercounty team bronze medal. Emily Hyder (Horwich RMI) had an amazing run in her first fell running season taking 5th place individually. Holly Nicholls (Wigan and District Harriers) also fell running for the first time was 14th and Roisin Jordan, Oldham and Royton Harriers, an experienced championship runner was 17th.

The Under 17 boys were in an absolutely stacked field of international and experienced championship fell runners. But they held their own finishing 8th team. Marshall Fleet (East Cheshire Harriers) was first back in 17th closely followed by Harry Yates (Horwich RMI) in 26th. Sam Ingleby-Castleton (Trafford AC) is a superb multisport athlete on the track but secured his place in the fell team for the first time and managed a superb 30th place.

The Under 19 girls ran with the seniors which adds another dimension to racing especially for Rafaella Ingleby-Castleton (Trafford AC) who like her brother is an excellent multisport track athlete taking on fell running for the first time. But she ran well finishing in 16th place. Rosie Philbin (Stockport Harriers) is an experienced championship fell runner which showed as she ran a superb individual race finishing 6th. The team finished 5th overall but were only 4 points off a bronze medal.

The Under 19 boys are a strong and experienced fell running team from Trafford AC having recently won the prestigious team award at Rivington Pike Fell Race. But much like all the races they were in a stacked field of international and experienced championship fell runners. But great performances by Jay Hutchinson who finished 3rd individually taking the bronze intercounty medal. Evan Lewis hot off the back of balancing training and GCSE exams finished 12th and Alfie Bundy 14th. The team securing another intercounty bronze medal for GM.

Thanks to everyone who took part. I didn’t think we could top last year’s results so to win 5 medals in 6 races is an outstanding effort. Not everyone gets the opportunity to represent their county in a race so embrace the experience. You all put yourselves on the start line against the best fell runners in the country and to run the way you all did is amazing.

Mike Bundy

British Junior Intercounties Fell Running Championships 2025

The Tour 2025