Gala Harriers teenager Ava Richardson helps Scotland win bronze medal at youth mountain-running cup in Spain

Back from left, Lasswade’s Rowan Taylor, Ross County’s Lachlan Thomas, Strathearn’s Andrew Grant and Garscube’s James Alexander, with, front, Edinburgh’s Jessica Taylor, Giffnock North’s Ruth Walsh, Edinburgh’s Elsa McGregor and Gala Harriers’ Ava Richardson at this year’s international under-18 mountain-running cup in Spain on Saturday (Photo: Phil Mestecky)

Gala Harriers junior Ava Richardson helped Scotland’s girls’ team win a bronze medal at this year’s World Mountain-Running Association international under-18 cup in Spain’s Palencia province on Saturday.

The 15-year-old finished the 5.4km circular loop in 32:40, placing 44th out of 55 finishers.

First home for the Scots was Giffnock North Athletics Club’s Ruth Walsh in eighth place in 29:20, followed by Edinburgh Athletic Club’s Jessica Taylor, ninth in 29:22, and her clubmate Elsa McGregor, 16th in 29:44.

Those times earned Scotland’s first team medal at the annual event since 2008 after finishing third out of the 15 countries competing, 14 points behind winners Spain but only two shy of runners-up the USA.

From left, Lasswade’s Rowan Taylor, Edinburgh’s Jessica Taylor, Ross County’s Lachlan Thomas, Giffnock North’s Ruth Walsh, Garscube’s James Alexander, Gala Harriers’ Ava Richardson, Strathearn’s Andrew Grant and Edinburgh’s Elsa McGregor at this year’s international under-18 mountain-running cup in Spain on Saturday (Photo: Phil Mestecky)

Their male counterparts finished ninth, thanks to Garscube Harriers’ James Alexander placing 18th out of a field of 57 in 25:24, Lasswade Athletic Club’s Rowan Taylor 26th in 26:23, Ross County Athletics Club’s Lachlan Thomas 36th in 27:07 and Strathearn Harriers’ Andrew Grant 38th in 27:30.

2025’s race, the 18th, will be held next June at Bratislava in Slovakia.

Gala Harriers teenager Ava Richardson helps Scotland win bronze medal at youth mountain-running cup in Spain

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