Irish Women 7th at Euro Mountain Running

At the European Mountain Running Championships in Gap, France, the Irish women did well to finish seventh of the 17 teams entered on a tough  course.

Sarah McCormack

Sarah McCormack, the national cross-country champion,  led them home in 17th place, followed closely by Sarah Mulligan of DSD,  the first Irish female winner of the Snowdon International last year. In 33rd place was Michelle McGee, the national novice and inter cross-country champion who was making her mountain running debut.

Winner was Austria’s former world champion and defending European champion  Andrea Mayr, who finished over a minute clear of the chasers. Interesting fact: women outnumbered men in the senior races, with 66 women turning out compared to 51 men.

Tom Hogan from Wexford led the Irish men’s team home in 30th place. He was followed by Brian McMahon of Clonliffe 32nd and Rathfarnham pair Eoin Flynn 36th and Mark Ryan 44th. The team finished 10th of the 14 entered. Killian Mooney of DSD was best of the Irish in the junior men’s race finishing 23rd.

Results –

Women – Senior 8.1km (66 finishers) : 1 Andrea Mayr (Aut) 39.43, 2 Mataja Kosovelj (Slo) 40.53. Irish: 17 Sarah McCormack (Clonliffe) 44.12, 23 Sarah Mulligan (DSD) 44.43, 33 Michelle McGee (DSD) 45.35. Teams (17) – 1 Italy 20 2 Great Britan 31, 3 Austria 36….7 Ireland 70. Junior 4.2km (39) : 1 Georgia Malir (GBR) 22.10. Irish: 34 Aoife Mulroy 25.21, 38 Eileen Rafter 29.30, 39 Niamh O’Connor 39.12. Teams (9) – 1 Turkey 14, 2 Great Britain29…9 Ireland 111.

Men – Senior12.8km  (51 finishers): 1 Bernard de Matteis (Ita) 56.10, 2 Robbie Simpson (GBR) 56.19, 3 Martin de Matteis (Ita) 56.32. Irish: 30 Tom Hogan (SBR) 62.24, 32 Brian McMahon (Clonliffe) 62.39, 36 Eoin Flynn (Rath WSAF) 63.10, 44 Mark Ryan (Rath WSAF) 64.23. Teams (14) – 1 Italy 11, 2 Great Britian 27, 3 France 31. …10 Ireland 98. Junior 8.1km (44): 1 Dominik Sandlo (Cze) Irish: 23 Killian Mooney (DSD) 41.44, 33 David Mulhare (Portlaosie) 42.53, 44 Cathal Doyle 48.36. Teams –  1 Italy 20 2 Czech Republic 21, 3 Turkey 26… 10 Ireland 1oo