Welsh athletes’ successful cross country season continues with a quartet selected to represent Great Britain against Europe and the USA in Scotland next month.

Charlotte Arter, Kris Jones, Matt Willis and Charlie Hulson will take part in the Simply Health Great Stirling Cross Country on Saturday, January 12.

They are part of a formidable 20-strong Great Britain team which also features the likes of European 1500m champion and double world indoor medallist Laura Muir.

The four athletes on their way to Stirling were part of the eight-strong Welsh contingent representing Great Britain at last week’s European Cross Country Championships in the Netherlands.

Arter was the highest placed British athlete home in the women’s senior race and had clinched her place in the European Championships team by winning the Liverpool leg of the British Cross Challenge in November.

All four Welsh athletes returned home from the Netherlands with team silver medals in their events.

Chuffed to be part of the @BritAthletics team for the @Great_Run Stirling XC next month. I've always enjoyed watching the races, so it will be fun to be involved 👍 https://t.co/XrhqPw2huT

— Kris Jones (@Thekrisjones) December 13, 2018

Jones has enjoyed a particularly eventful couple of weeks having only been drafted into the European Championships team at short notice.

Despite the late call-up, he produced an impressive performance to finish as the second Brit home in 12th place, clocking a time of 29:28 over the 10,300m senior men’s course.

The Swansea Harrier, who is based in Scotland, is particularly looking forward to the event, which is being held in Stirling for the first time, having previously been held in Edinburgh since its inception in 2007.

Jones tweeted after the team announcement: “Chuffed to be part of the @BritAthletics team for the @Great_Run Stirling XC next month. I’ve always enjoyed watching the races, so it will be fun to be involved .”

Joining Jones in the men’s senior team will be Liverpool Harrier Charlie Hulson. The North Wales-based athlete won the Cardiff Cross Challenge in October and finished 17th in 29:43 at the European Championships last weekend.

Wrexham AC athlete Willis, who finished 14th in the under-20s race at the European Championships, will be part of Great Britain’s junior mixed relay team in Scotland.

There is a further Welsh connection in the women’s team where English athlete Verity Ockenden, who runs for Swansea Harriers, has been selected.

Great Britain team leader Chris Jones said of the team selected for Scotland: “Following yet another strong performance by the British at last weekend’s European Cross Country Championships, we are delighted to be able to name such a strong team for the Great Stirling Cross Country next month.

“The team is brimming with cross country experience that will prove vital in navigating the course in such a hotly contested event against some of the best athletes from across Europe and the USA and I’m optimistic of yet another excellent showing from the British team.”

Last year’s overall team event was won by Europe ahead of Great Britain with the USA in third place.

The full Great Britain team for the Simply Health Great Stirling Cross Country event is:
Senior Men:
• Patrick Dever (Andy Bibby; Preston)
• Nick Goolab (Craig Winrow; Belgrave)
• Charlie Hulson (Chris Jones; Liverpool)
• Kristian Jones (Swansea)
• Ross Millington (Steve Vernon; Stockport)
• Andy Vernon (self; Aldershot, Farnham & District)
Senior Women:
• Charlotte Arter (Chris Jones; Cardiff)
• Kate Avery (Shildon)
• Emily Hosker-Thornhill (Mick Woods; Aldershot, Farnham & District)
• Verity Ockenden (Tony Houchin; Swansea)
• Jess Piasecki (Robert Hawkins; Stockport)
• Pippa Woolven (Matt Whiting; Wycombe)
Senior Mixed Relay
• Alex Bell (Andrew Henderson; Pudsey & Bramley)
• Laura Muir (Andy Young; Dundee Hawkhill)
• Philip Sesemann (Andrew Henderson; Leeds City AC)
• Jamie Williamson (George Gandy; Springburn)
Junior Mixed Relay
• Charlotte Alexander (Wayne Vinton; Herne Hill)
• Grace Brock (Cornwall)
• Jack Meijer (Barry Hearn; Marshall Milton Keynes)
• Matt Willis (Wrexham)