Great Britain team take Team Silver at European Cross Country Championships

Sprinting their way to the finish line, the UKSA GB Team earned Team silver at the 7th Inas European Cross Country Championships this weekend.

The six GB Team runners put up a tough battle, succumbing to the strong Portuguese runners on both days.

James Hamilton (22) at his first international event took a strong individual bronze in the 3k on Saturday with a time of 9:09. Sunday saw him improve upon that by speeding his way to silver in the 6k, in a strong 20:52, just behind the Portuguese gold medallist.

Manager and Coach, Vic Collins commented: “This GB Team was a great bunch of athletes who gave 100 percent the entire time. James Hamilton put in the strongest performance overall, but the whole team came together encouraging each other throughout the entire weekend”.

Chief Executive at the UK Sports Association, Tracey McCillen said: “Great to see the Team achieve the silver medal. A fiercely fought competition and exciting to watch. Tremendously strong individual performance from James Hamilton, but importantly as a Team they came together to achieve a good position for Great Britain.” McCillen went onto say “It was a pleasure welcoming our European colleagues, athletes and coaches to Wakefield. My thanks to them all as well as to the Local Organising Committing, our England Member Mencap and to all the sponsors including Wakefield Council and Shanks all of whom made this a successful weekend”.

Five countries competed at the Championships, Czech Republic, Portugal, Netherlands, Sweden and Great Britain. The races took place from the 19th-23rd February at Thornes Park in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The Championships were hosted by UKSA’s England member Mencap Sport in collaboration with the generous support of Wakefield Council.

The UKSA GB Team was made up of six athletes: Brothers Neill and Tony Collins [Rainham, Essex], twin brothers Chris and Dave Lazenby [East Hunsbury, Northampton], James Hamilton [Ballyclare, Northern Ireland] and Adam Wilson [Bradley Stoke, Bristol]. The Team was led by Manager/Coach Vic Collins with the support of Team Support Officer, Allan Harrison.