Mountain running champs preview:

ON Saturday, the best junior and senior mountain runners in the UK will be at the British & Irish International Championships in Llanberis, competing for the honour of representing Great Britain in the World Mountain Running Championships at Villa La Angostura, Argentina on 16th November.

The recent Snowdon International Race winner Andrew Douglas (Scotland) will face stern competition from his Scottish colleague and the current European Mountain Running Champion, Jacob Atkin as well as a strong English contingent, while the Welsh will be hoping that local knowledge will be to their advantage with threetime Snowdon Marathon winner Russell Bentley and local favourite Matt Roberts relishing the challenge.

England’s women will be led by Italian-based Emmie Collinge who finished 2nd in the World Mountain Running Championships when they were held in Betws-y-Coed in 2015.

A year later, Emmie won the European Mountain Running Championships at Arco, Italy.

The junior races will incorporate the British & Irish plus Junior Home International Championships.

There will be plenty of local interest in both races with most of the Welsh team’s athletes based locally and in the North region.

Event HQ - Padarn Hotel. High Street. Llanberis. LL54 4SU.

Race schedule: 10:30 Under 17 girls & under 20 women - 7km/447m554m.

11:30 Under 17 boys & under 20 men 7km/447m-554m

12:30 Senior Men & Women - 12.5km/710m

All races are open for anyone to enter on the day. Entry Fee - £6.50.

Registration from 09:00am.