County fell runner is called up by Scotland
Last updated 11:48, Tuesday, 07 October 2008
TEENAGE fell runner Peter Harrison is aiming to hit the heights when he makes his junior international debut for Scotland on October 12.
Peter, whose parents Nigel and Sheelagh Barker Harrison live at Linstock near Carlisle, has been chosen as part of a four-man team to represent the Scots when the international is held on home territory at Bonaly, Edinburgh.
Along with Scott Green (Central), Ross Mathieson (Lasswade) and James Waldie (Cornwall), Peter will run in the under 16 event in the home international.
A pupil at Sedbergh School, with its excellent sporting tradition, Peter has had plenty of opportunity to develop his cross country and fell running talents.
Last weekend he came 4th in the inaugural English Schools’ fell running championships, held at Sedbergh.
Father Nigel said: “He has been running since primary school. He ran cross country for the county when he was 12, but since going to Sedbergh School he has got into fell running and has really taken to it and been getting better all the time.”
The 15-year-old has already represented the school’s cross country squad at under 18 level.
Legendary Cumbrian fell runner Joss Naylor was one of the guests at last Saturday’s championship and he presented Peter with his award.
Coach John Richardson had predicted a winning time of 34 minutes, but the winner broke 30 minutes and Peter clocked a time of 31 min 30 sec in coming 4th of 160 runners.
His younger brother Tom, 12, who attends Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith, also took part in the championships.
Peter also recorded a fourth place finish in the trials for the home international squad, held at Bonaly on the same course where next weekend’s event will take place.
His father said: “He qualified for Scotland through his grandmother, who is Scottish. We checked it out to make sure he was eligible before he took part in the selection meeting.”
Peter has run in some of the Lakeland fell races this summer and also runs in the Kendal fell running league during the winter months.
In last weekend’s championship race he was a member of the winning Sedbergh School team alongside Sam Fisher, in seventh spot, and James Brock, 10th.
