News - Sun 22nd Sep 2019 - Day 3: Ben Mounsey wins Three Mealls Trail 18k - Salomon Skyline Scotland

Day 3: Ben Mounsey wins Three Mealls Trail 18k

22nd Sep 2019

Champion fell runner Ben Mounsey triumphed in the Salomon Skyline Scotland Three Mealls Trail 18k this morning. First for the females was a former Oxford boat race winner, Lauren Kedar.

 

Skyline Scotland Trail Race - Runners 8 - Copyright No Limits Photography

Trail runners today. ©No Limits Photography

 

Skyline Scotland Trail Race - Runners 5 - Copyright No Limits Photography

Many runners enjoyed the 10k and 18k trail races. ©No Limits Photography

 

Ben, 38, from Yorkshire, was a commanding winner crossing the finish line in an impressive 1:35:08. He was more than 10 minutes ahead of the field of almost 150 athletes.

 

Despite being an experienced hill runner, who has represented Yorkshire, England and Great Britain at numerous European and International races, the inov-8 athlete described the 18k course as “very tough”.

 

He said:  “It was super gnarly and technical out there. The terrain was amazing. I had to concentrate hard even though I am well used to the fells. I really enjoyed the route.”

 

Ben is a previous winner of the UK Inter-Counties Fell Running Champs and a bronze medallist in the World and European Mountain Running Champs in 2015 and 2016. He earned a fifth place in the World Masters Mountain Running Champs in 2017 and 2018.

 

He heads to Italy to compete in the World Masters 2019 next week. He added: “I don’t think next week’s trails will be as tough as the 18k today.”

 

The challenging and technical Three Mealls Trail 18k included more than 700m of total ascent and a high point of 560m.

 

Second across the line was Matt Clark, 27, from the Lake District, in 1:44:59. He said: “I gave it my all on the uphill and then my legs felt dead on the descent. It was a great race and I am planning to build up to take part in the Ring of Steall Skyrace next year.”

 

Third place went to Helge Hansen, of Germany, in 1:47:08.

 

Skyline Scotland Trail Race - Runners 4 - Copyright No Limits Photography

Happy trail race runners today. ©No Limits Photography

 

Skyline Scotland Trail Race - Runners 1 - Copyright No Limits Photography

Great views from the trail. ©No Limits Photography

 

Skyline Scotland Trail Race - Runners 2 - Copyright No Limits Photography

Ups, downs and stone steps. ©No Limits Photography

 

Lauren is first female in 18k trail race

 

Lauren Kedar, of Aberdeen, crossed the line first for the ladies in a time of 2:08:17. She was 18th overall. She said: “That was one of the toughest running races I have done. It was tougher than the VK on Friday!”

 

No stranger to arduous events, Lauren, 24, was part of an Oxford crew that three times won the Oxford-Cambridge boat race between 2014 and 2016.

 

She said: “There was a lot more bog and mud than I was expecting in the trail race but I enjoyed it.”

 

In second place for the ladies and 22nd overall was Rickie Cotter, 33, of Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders, in 2:10:22. She was third in the Grey Mare’s Trail 5k yesterday.

 

She said: “I couldn’t keep up with Lauren on the descents. She was a different class and she has inspired me to improve my downhill running.

 

“While I can descend fast on a mountain bike I struggle on two feet. Both the 5k and the 18k have been great races and I’d like to do more.”

 

The third female was another Brit Justine Lynch, 30, in 2:17:17.

 

Club Shield - Copyright No Limits Photography

Club shield winners Ambleside AC. ©No Limits Photography

 

The Salomon Skyline Scotland trail race club shield was won by Ambleside AC. The team comprised runners Chloe Price, Adam Green and Kirsty Reade.

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