European and Youths Trials

06 June, 2015 - Gerry Brady

The trials for the European championships, International Youth Cup, and Snowdon were held at Crone Wood, Wicklow in good sunny conditions. The Youths race was held over a short lap with a gradual climb of 400m and a steep descent over 270m. Alex Hunter surged into the lead after the first climb but unfortunately took a heavy fall early in the descent. He got back up and finished the three laps but his momentum was gone and he slipped back through the field - 16 years old Hunter was two minutes faster than anyone else on leg 3 of the Wicklow Way relay.

The DSD trio of Christian McKenna, Ruadhan O’Grada, and Luke McCann finished in the podium positions with Oisin Donnelly close behind. In the Youths girl’s race, Irish schools steeplechase medalist Toni Moore won from clubmate Aideen Casey.

The senior men’s race was the most competitive of the day with the bunch grouped together as they ran out the Wicklow Way. Louis McCarthy made the first break but he still had the short technical descent to the Dargle and the long climb to Djouce summit waiting for him. A mere 11 seconds separated Brian MacMahon from Ian Conroy at the finish with James Kevan a stone’s toss further back. Seamus Lynch made the journey down from Newcastle worthwhile with a very good run in fourth ahead of first-year senior Killian Mooney. McCarthy came next and then seconds separated Andrew Annett, Sam Mealy, Brian Furey, and Jason Kehoe. Laura Shaughnessy won the women’s race and Tadgh McGinty the junior men’s race. Conditions on the summit were sunny but blustery and the runners hastily donned their jackets and escaped to the shelter lower down.

Senior Men
1. Brian MacMahon (Clonliffe Harriers) 32:35
2. Ian Conroy (Raheny Shamrock) 32:46
3. James Kevan (Clonliffe Harriers) 33:26
4. Seamus Lynch (Newcastle A.C.) 34:36
5. Killian Mooney (DSD) 35:23
6. Louis McCarthy (Rathfarnham A.C.) 35:48
7. Andrew Annett (North Belfast) 36:16
8. Sam Mealy (Crusaders) 36:17
9. Brian Furey (Rathfarnham A.C.) 36:21
10. Jason Kehoe 37:39

Senior Women
1. Laura Shaughnessy 43:51
2. Annette Kehoe 50:50

Junior Men
1. Tadgh McGinty (Swinford A.C.) 39:45
2. Naoise Lennon (Swinford A.C.) 40:08
3. David Gormley (Armagh Harriers) 42:13

Youths Men
1. Christian McKenna (DSD) 25:40
2. Ruadhan O’Grada (DSD) 26:33
3. Luke McCann (DSD) 27:13
4. Oisin Donnelly (Armagh Harriers) 27:28
5. Shane Bracken (Swinford A.C.) 28:17
6. Alex Hunter (Ratoath A.C.) 29:10

Youths Women
1. Toni Moore (Armagh Harriers) 21:43
2. Aideen Casey (Armagh Harriers) 22:13