TWO local athletes recently shone to claim victories in their respective races for England.

Sam Bentham, of Ermysted’s Grammar School, and Jack Sanderson, of Giggleswick School, went to Glendalough, County Wicklow, Northern Ireland to compete for their country in an ‘overseas’ international.

Both athletes won their respective races to round off a great weekend for the Skipton duo.

Bentham and Sanderson qualified for the England team by winning their trials back in June at the Cracoe Fell Races and have been in good form of late, both recently running in the same GB team at an international in Annecy, France back in May.

At the ‘home’ internationals, four-man teams from England, Scotland, Wales and hosts Northern Ireland compete in boys’ and girls’ races at the U17 and U20 age groups.

Sanderson (Settle Harriers) was first away in the U17 boys’ event, which featured several steep ascents and fast grassy downhills for a total distance of 5km. The race also had 230 metres of climbing.

The Giggleswick student hit the front after about a kilometre and steadily built his lead to eventually win the race by a comfortable 21 seconds.

Another local athlete Archie Peaker (Keighley & Craven AC) finished 7th and was England’s 3rd and final counter to secure the U17 boys team victory to go with Sanderson’s individual gold.

Bentham, in the U20s men’s race, had a total distance of 6km and 290m of climbing to endure in what was a similarly difficult terrain to that of the U17 race.

The Ermysted’s student started well and led from gun to tape building a lead on the climb and just holding off his competitors on the descent as only 8 seconds separated the medallists.

Bentham’s England team won silvers to go with his individual gold as an impressive Scotland team had all 4 runners in the first 7 home.

Amelie Lane (Wharfedale Harriers) also bagged a gold and silver medal in the Girls U20 event as she was individual runner-up, but with an England one, two and three, they also won their team event.

In fact, with England winning three of the four team races, they also took the ‘Edinburgh Trophy’ for the overall best nation at these championships.