Irish Mountain
Running Association

WMRA Youths Challenge

Authors

Gerry BradyGerry Brady

Gerry Brady

Report by Mags Greenan

It was a pleasure to have co-managed the Irish Junior, team with Leo Mahon. Apart from an unexpected long delay in Frankfurt airport the two days ran so smoothly. Ironically the delay helped bond the team together as they spent the time playing cards with their Northern Ireland fellow competitors and this really enhanced the whole experience for them. In fact as onlookers we decided that cross borders communications never worked better.

Our hosts left nothing undone in making sure every thing ran smoothly. We were driven first of all to the course and although it was daunting enough I was delighted to hear the runners and their travelling parents say that the trial race in the Phoenix park was a true reflection of the race at hand. The start was at the foothill of a heartbreak hill and the lap finished with an equally tough down hill.

Fortunately the race was not until 6.30 the following day so weather conditions had improved but humidity was still high. The team were well rested and focussed and were fortunate to have had another good look at the course that morning.

First off were the girls lead out by the experienced Aine McCann. All set off with a good pace and gradually worked their way through the field. Aine had an outstanding run in 5th position which left her only 15 seconds off the bronze medal. Niamh and Sinead on their international debuts to mountain running finished in a most creditable 15th and 18th place respectively. For a few moments we lived in hope of a bronze medal only to discover that on count back we were fourth to the Russians. Considering that they had the 2008 champion and also the winner of the developmental race on their team it was a remarkable performance by our Irish girls. Incidentally in the photos you can see the same two Russian girls leading out the race but they paid dearly for their fast pace and dropped to 13th and 14th place. A valuable lesson was learned and the boys took this on board and started sensibly on their 5 lap course. Jonathan Philips sent all our hearts racing when he moved into 2nd position on the 3rd lap and a very excited Italian kept informing me that the Irish were battling it out with the Russians for first and second team position - can you just imagine! Unfortunately the pace was too cruel and he slipped back on the 4th lap only to dig deep again and finish strong on the 5th. On his debut international I think he learned a valuable lesson and will definitely be a star for the future. Following him was a very steady Michael Treacy who ran a perfectly paced race with almost even splits. While most were reduced to walking up the severe hill Michael had to push them aside to make room for him to run up it. He moved beautifully through the field to finish in a marvellous 7th position. With both him and Aine McCann still young enough for next years race we can look forward to great things. James Griffin another very talented runner, ran a steady race despite suffering and proved to be a most reliable team runner finishing in 30th position. There are definitely "courses for horses" and on a more suitable course James will show his class.

We had great celebration that night and although the Irish may not have been first in the medal rankings we certainly were first on the dance floor. Overall I think it was a great learning curve for these young runners and the team managers. We had fantastic support from the four travelling parents and sister which enhanced the whole experience. I really have to say that I witnessed first hand how an Irish team could actually mix it with the greats. There is huge potential there and I look forward to continuous growth in our sport.

Gerry Brady

Irish 3rd and 5th teams in Youths international

The Irish Youths mountain running teams were joint 3rd in the girls race and 5th in the boys race in the International Youths Challenge in Ostheim Germany. The races were run over a one kilometre lap with 76 metres of ascent. There was a tough climb early on in each lap with the girls having to do it three times and the boys five laps.

Orienteer Aine McCann (Down High School / East Down) had a fantastic run to finish fifth overall behind Italian winner Beatrice Curtabbi. Niamh Denny (Our Ladys Grove Goatstown / DSD) ran well to finish 15th in her first international mountain race and close behind her and also making her debut was Sinead Cronin (St. Dominics Cabra / Celtic) who finished an excellent 18th. Italy were convincing team winners with 12 points followed by Poland on 31 and Russia and Ireland both on 38. This represents the best ever performance by an Irish female team.

Michael Treacy (High School Rathgar / Rathfarnham) ran a steady race throughout and moved up on the last lap to finish an excellent 7th. Jonathan Phillips (East Glendalough / Roundwood) ran carefully on the first two laps before moving into a clear second on lap three however the effort took its toll over the next lap and a half before he rallied again to finish 15th. James Griffin (St. Marys Knockbeg / St. Laurence O Toole) completed the team with a solid run in 30th position. Russian Andrey Rusakov won the individual race for the second year in a row and led his teammates to a team victory. Italy were runners-up on 27 points followed by England on 40 and Scotland on 42. Ireland were fifth with 52 points. Northern Ireland were seventh team on 67 points led home by Eoghan Totten in 11th, James Speight in 24th and Jonathan Graham in 32nd.

A special thanks to Ordnance Survey Ireland for their sponsorship of the Irish schools championships which were used to select these Youths teams.

Girls
1. Italy 12 (1,2,9)
2. Poland 31 (3,7,21)
3. Russia 38 (11,13,14)
3. Ireland 38 (5,15,18)
5. Scotland 44 (8,16,20)
6. Slovenia 60 (12,23,25)
7. Wales 67 (17,24,26)
8. Germany 68 (19,22,27)

Boys
1. Russia 12 (1,2,9)
2. Italy 27 (4,10,13)
3. England 40 (5,12,23)
4. Scotland 42 (3,19,20)
5. Ireland 52 (7,15,30)
6. Slovenia 61 (14,21,26)
7. Northern Ireland 67 (11,24,32)
8. Germany I 76 (16,27,33)
9. Wales 82 (22,29,31)
10. Germany II 87 (25,28,34)

Individual boys
1. Andrey Rusakov (Rus) 20:42
2. Sergey Zvonarev (Rus) 21:16
3. James Stevenson (Sco) 21:20
7. Michael Treacy 21:56
11. Eoghan Totten (N Ire) 22:16
15. Jonathan Phillips 22:26
24. James Speight (N Ire) 23:20
30. James Griffin 24:39
32. Jonathan Graham (N Ire) 26:51

Individual girls
1. Beatrice Curtabbi (Ita) 14:20
2. Letizia Titan (Ita) 14:21
3. Justyna Jendro (Pol) 14:26
5. Aine McCann 14:45
15. Niamh Denny 15:40
18. Sinead Cronin 16:19