GALA’S young hill runners headed to the Junior Home International in Ireland over the weekend – and performed with distinction.

There were four individual medallists and an overall second place for the squad behind England in the British and Irish Championships.

Scotland savoured two gold medallists in the four races as Tristan Rees of Fife won the U16 Boys by three seconds from Welsh opponent John Spill and former Gala Harrier Louise Mercer, of Edinburgh University, won the U19 Women’s title in fine style at Glendalough, in the Wicklow Mountains.

Tristan’s run led home a superb Scotland team effort – with all four boys in the top six for richly-deserved team gold medals. Thomas Otton, of Gala Harriers, was a bronze medallist, with club-mate Gavin Bryson in fourth and Corstorphine’s Sam Galloway in sixth.

Mercer’s victory helped the U19 Women to team silver, with Annabel Simpson of Fife in sixth place, Jennifer Ricketts of Deeside at 10th and Emma Dunnett of Edinburgh AC in 11th. But unfortunately Moorfoot’s Jacob Adkin (19th) struggled on the day with stomach cramps.

In the overall competition, Scotland finished second to England. The event is due to be hosted in Wales next year in conjunction with the World Mountain Running Champs.

The next event for the Harriers is the Loch Ness Marathon Festival on Sunday, September 28.