Senior Home International Race 2025 Report
Senior Home International – Whinlatter Forest on 17th August 2025
Whinlatter Forest in the Lake District played host to the 2025 Senior Home International (SHI) – doubling up as the British trial for the World Championships. The course was designed to mimic the “Up and Down” format of the Worlds: two fast laps of forest fire roads and single-track trails, clocking in at 9 miles with 750m of climb.
The weather, while perfect for glossy photographs of Lakeland vistas, was less than ideal for the runners. With sunshine and blue skies came heat, and any section without the forest’s shade quickly turned into a test of survival as much as speed.
Team NI Highlights
For Northern Ireland, the standout performance came from Jared Martin, who led the men home in 19th place with a time of 1:01:36. Having already booked his World Championship spot by finishing 2nd in the Irish trial, Jared showed impressive consistency – running at a similar pace here.
In the women’s race, Karen Wilton was first across the line for NIMRA, finishing 20th. All the more impressive given she’d raced the uphill-only event just two days earlier – clearly not one to waste a set of fresh legs.
Junior Success
In the junior one-lap race, Katie Graham had an excellent run to place 10th in 43:32, despite taking a tumble and nearly being misdirected onto a second lap.
The Full Results
Jared was followed in by:
Niall McCartan – 37th, 1:07:36
Ethan McMullan – 42nd, 1:08:36
Ashley Crutchley – 44th, 1:09:15
James Miller – 47th, 1:11:24
Lorcan Vallely – 48th, 1:12:09
Karen was backed up by:
Meadow McCauley – 24th, 1:21:20
Catriona Edington – 29th, 1:27:44
Sinead-Marie McAllister – 30th, 1:33:06
Both the men’s and women’s teams finished 4th overall in the SHI. The course, favouring fast road and trail specialists rather than open-mountain strength, saw Scotland dominate the men’s race (three in the top four), including a dramatic finale where Moray Pryde edged professional New Balance runner Jacob Adkin by a single second. England took the honours in the women’s competition.
Final Notes
The NI athletes appreciated the vocal support out on the course from Ian Taylor, before swiftly departing for ferries home. With no showers available, a dip in Bassenthwaite Lake served as an improvised (and rather bracing) alternative.
And while most runners were content to collapse after 9 sweltering miles, James Millar decided one race wasn’t enough – sneaking in an extra ascent of the wonderfully named BARF mountain.
