Schools athletics: Twins aim for double in Bupa Great Winter Run

Emma and Oonagh Dunnett, twins from Thurso High School, Rachael Dunn (St George’s) and Eildih Prise (Cults Academy) head an East Under-17 team that is favourite to win the Inter District Championships at the Bupa Great Winter Run in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park on 7 January.

Rachael won the Scottish Schools’ 15-17 cross-country championship at Irvine earlier in the year, with Emma, Eilidh and Oonagh filling the next three places. East face West and North in Edinburgh.

For the 16-year-old twins, reaching the top of their sport demands tremendous dedication. They are members of Edinburgh Athletics Club and have spent 37 weeks on the road this year, travelling to competitions from their home in Caithness.

“They started running with Caithness AAC but joined Edinburgh about three years ago because they needed to take on central belt athletes in order to move up to the next level,” explained their mother and coach, Sophie Dunnett.

“It’s been a great move, but it is tough because they are in their fifth year at Thurso High. When they finish school they hope to go on to Edinburgh University.

“After Holyrood, their January programme also includes McCain UK Cross Country Challenge events in Liverpool and Antrim.”

Both girls have represented Scotland at age-group level – they also compete in road racing, hill racing and 3,000m on the track. For Emma, the highlight this year was representing Scotland at hill racing’s International Cup in Slovenia.

“Our main goal is to get our GB vests for the European Cross-Country Championships,” said Emma, who has won silver and bronze medals at Under-15 level in the Great Winter Run. This is our first year at Under-20 level so we have three years to make it.”

East have 14 girls in the Under-17 team, while North have only two in Isla Mackay (Lochaber High School) and Mhairi MacLennan (Charleston Academy).

Brogan Wallace clinched her place at the head of a 15-strong West line-up by winning the Under-17 individual title at the recent West District cross-country Championships over Irvine Moor. She also led the Glasgow School of Sport at Bellahouston Academy to the team victory.

Stacie Taylor, who was the individual runner-up, and Elizabeth Edgar were the other members of the team and they will also be part of the West team in Edinburgh a week on Saturday.

“The same three girls finished first, second and third in the Renfrewshire County Championships,” said Norrie Hay, the head athletics coach at the Glasgow School of Sport.

“It is the first time we have won the West District title and it is great to have the three girls running in Edinburgh. The Great Edinburgh Run is televised by the BBC and it promises to be a great experience.”