Inter Counties Mountain Running Champs

The British Inter Counties Senior Mountain Race and Junior Hill and Fell Championships 2026

The senior championship is organised on behalf of the UK Counties Athletics Union by the UK Athletics Sub Committee for International Mountain and Trail Running under UKA rules. The junior championships are organised by the Fell Runners Association on behalf of the UK Counties Athletics Union.

The 2026 senior race is scheduled for Sunday 3 May at the People’s Hall, Howgill Lane, Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5DQ. The senior course is 14.5 km with 980 m of ascent. The race starts and finishes above Lockbank Farm, the route will be marked and marshalled and access to the fell is via the public footpath by the farm. The senior event incorporates the British Athletics trial for the Senior Up and Down race for the European Off Road Running Championships in Kamnik, Slovenia, 5 to 7 June 2026. U20 athletes who wish to be considered for junior GB selection should race the junior trial rather than the senior race.

Entries for the senior race are pre entry only, open from 1 March and closing on 1 May on SiEntries. The event is open to athletes aged 18 or over on the day of the race. Entry is limited to county competitors and athletes racing the trial for GB and NI selection; non county entrants will be vetted. Entry fee is £15.

Races are held under Scottish Athletics rules. Competitors must carry a waterproof top with taped seams, waterproof bottoms, hat and gloves. Any athlete who retires must report their retirement to a race marshal. In severe weather a cut off may be applied at the end of the first large lap.

Parking for competitors is signed and located at Sedbergh School sports fields off Back Lane with a charge of £5 per car. People’s Hall parking is for marshals only. Toilets are available at the People’s Hall.

Team declarations for the senior race must be emailed on or before Thursday 30 April. A maximum of two male and two female replacements may be used on race day; replacements must be entered or replace a runner who has entered. Forms for team changes will be available at registration.

The FRA Junior British Inter Counties Hill and Fell Championship races for Under 16, Under 18 and Under 20 are scheduled for Sunday 14 June at Edale as part of the FRA English Junior Fell Championships series and organised by Dark Peak Fell Runners. Individual entries for juniors close on Friday 12 June and are online only via Nifty entries. County team members and reserves must enter by Sunday 7 June and declared county teams and reserves must be emailed to the Junior Inter Counties coordinator by that date. On the day substitutions are allowed only from the pool of pre entered reserves. Medals are awarded to the first three individuals and to members of the first three teams in each age category, with two to count for team scoring. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.