Cookies help our website to remember you and your preferences. For more information or to update your cookie settings, please go to our privacy policy.

Accept Decline
Skip to content.

The national charity and leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity

Menu. Open and close this menu with the ENTER key.

Hamilton shines as GB triumph at Inas European Cross Country Champs

Great Britain's six-strong team took silver at the 7th Inas European Cross Country Championships.

The UKSA GB Team runners competed hard but were beaten to gold by their Portuguese rivals on both days of the international weekend.

James Hamilton (22), competing at his first international event, took a strong individual bronze in the 3k on Saturday 21 February with a time of nine minutes nine seconds.

Sunday saw him improve still further, speeding his way to silver in the 6k, in a strong 20:52. 

Manager and Coach, Vic Collins, said:

"This GB Team was a great bunch of athletes who gave 100% the entire time. James Hamilton put in the strongest performance overall, but the whole team came together and were encouraging each other throughout the entire weekend.”

Five countries competed at the championships: Czech Republic, Portugal, Netherlands, Sweden and Great Britain. The races took place from the 19th-23rd February at Thornes Park in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

The championships were hosted by UKSA’s England member Mencap Sport in collaboration with the generous support of Wakefield Council.

Chief Executive at the UK Sports Association, Tracey McCillen added:

“It was great to see the team achieve the silver medal. A fiercely fought competition and exciting to watch, the weeekend featured a tremendously strong individual performance from James Hamilton, but importantly as a Team they came together to achieve a good position for Great Britain.”

McCillen went on to say:

“It was a pleasure welcoming our European colleagues, athletes and coaches to Wakefield. My thanks to them all, as well as to the Local Organising Committing, our England Member Mencap and to all the sponsors including Wakefield Council and Shanks, all of whom made this a successful weekend”.

UKSA promotes, facilitates and supports talented athletes with learning disability in the UK to train, compete and excel in national and international competitive sport. UKSA also manages the eligibility and classification process for UK athletes with learning disability.