Euro Masters: Gold for Traynor, Toner and Woodlock

Mick Traynor, Denise Toner and Ann Woodlock led the medals rush for the  team of 40-plus Irish at the European Masters Indoors held in Torun, Poland from March 22-28.

Traynor from Raheny Shamrocks won the M50 cross-country title with just over a second between him and local man Marek Dziegielewski who finished second. Traynor also finished third in the 3000m and fifth in the 1500m.

Since her move into the masters’ ranks, Denise Toner from Clones has been winning all round her at national level and in Torun, she produced her best run to date for victory in the W35 800m with a time of 2:15.73.

Then there was Ann Woodlock of Donore, the doyenne of Irish women masters, who won the W75 1500m and 3000m by considerable margins in both races.

Other medal winners were Kathryn Casserly, 2^nd W35 1500m; Mary Barret of Loughrea 2^nd in both W50 shot putt and high jump; Lucan’s Niamh Fitzgerald, 3^rd W40 800m, Geraldine Finnegan of Dunleer, 3^rd W45 javelin; Cathal McLoughlin 2^nd M45 1500m; Anthony Martin 2^nd M55 4000m,  Brian  O Domhnaill 3rd 5km road walk and Pat Bonass of Clonliffe 3^rd M70 cross-country.

There were near misses for Paul Smith fourth M35 3000m,  Jacqueline Stamp, 4th W40 1500m, Hazel Galloway 4th W55 200m, GeraldineFinegan 4th W45 pentathlon.