Jason Wilson, an 18 year old Ballymoney runner for Pegasus AC has made it onto the Northern Ireland Under 20 squad for the World Mountain Running Trophy at Ovronnaz in Switzerland!  Jason has had to base his training for the past 9 months with the mountains in mind, and the trial race which was held at Rostrevor a couple of Saturdays ago.

The Rostrevor course provided a tough setting for this important trial, with rain threatening a complete wash-out of the course but this did not deter Jason.  The 4.5 mile course had 1950 feet of climbing to be negotiated before the team could be decided but Jason was not going to miss out on his ultimate goal of the year.  In the end, he finished 2nd to a fast finishing Ciaran Collins of Omagh Harriers.  Other members of the Under 20 team come from Omagh in the shape of Noel Collins (silver medallist at the Youth Olympics in the 3000m steeplechase earlier this year) and Conor Moore (runner for Ireland this year).  Other successes Jason has had this year include being winner of the Hill and Dale junior category (mountain running series held down in the Mournes, selection to run at the British and Irish Junior Mountain running championships in South Wales, currently 4th in the British Fell Running Under 23 Championships and 7th and first NI finisher at the Knockdhu International held at Cairncastle, Larne.  This has been a fine year for the Bendooragh Road lad and we at Pegasus would like to wish him all the best at this prestigious event!

Other races which have taken place recently include the Lurig Challenge held in Cushendall a number of Saturdays ago now, with Jason coming 14th overall (33:17) out of the large field of 145.  Peter Bell (5th place finisher at this year’s North Pole marathon) didn’t have one of his usual high standard runs but still managed to bound in 3rd Vet 50 (38:54). Also, Chris Denton and Sonia Knox were running at the East Antrim Harrier’s promoted Scott and Gault 10 Mile road race held at Ballyclare.  Chris notched up a very creditable 13th (1:04:45) despite being heavily in training for the Longford marathon coming up very shortly.  Sonia pulled off a great result to finish 3rd female overall in a rapid time of 1:14:28 behind the super vet Anne Paul (City of Derry AC).