World Masters Mountain Running Championships, Meduno 2025: NI / NIMRA Runners’ Report

08 September, 2025 - Jason Wilson

Over the last weekend in August, the 24th World Masters Athletics (WMA) / World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Masters Mountain Running Championships were held in Meduno, Italy. It was the second running of the successful three-race format, featuring Uphill, Classic, and Long Distance races to cater for all mountain running tastes. Nestled at the gateway to Val Tramontina, Meduno sits amid the Friulian foothills and is renowned for the slopes of Monte Valinis, a landmark for aerial sports and a natural grandstand for mountain running. The town’s setting—between river beaches, historic hamlets and panoramic ridgelines—offered a spectacular arena for this festival of mountain running.

A total of 1183 entries from 36 countries lined up across the three-race programme, underlining the reach of masters mountain running across four continents. Italy had the largest delegation (511), while it was pleasing to see Ireland having the second most entries (102), ahead of traditional mountain running powerhouses like Germany (64) and France (59). Runners from as far afield as Australia, Mexico and Uruguay were also in attendance. Adding two extra competitors compared to the previous year, 19 NIMRA / Northern Irish athletes lined up for either Ireland, Great Britain, and in one case, the United States of America.

The first race got underway on Friday, with 506 runners negotiating a 5km uphill only course, with 800m of elevation to contend with. Heavy rain over the previous couple of days left parts of the course muddy and slippery, so it was reminiscent of typical Irish conditions! In terms of NIMRA / Northern Ireland medal successes, Sinead-Marie McAllister started off her first Masters World Championships brilliantly, being the second scorer on the Irish F35 team to ensure she got her hands on the F35 team gold medal. Shileen O'Kane demonstrated her well-known climbing strength to lead home the Irish F55 team, with Aine McNeill also having a solid ascent to ensure two NIMRA runners made up the bronze medal winning Ireland F55 team. Kate Bradley represented herself very well in her first race at this level, helping the F40 Ireland team secure the bronze team medal. Phil Goss, in his first foray as an M40 at these particular championships, ably supported the new M40 world champion Ian Conroy to grab the bronze team medal; his fourth consecutive medalling year which is a great achievement. In his second time at these championships, Jason Wilson managed to finish as the third scorer on the strong Irish M35 team which won the bronze medal ahead of Uruguay and just behind the Italian and German M35 teams.

Male placings: Phil Goss 55th 40:37; Jason Wilson 70th 41:47; Peter McEvoy 108th 44:26; Tim Lowry 236th 54:35; Wilson McAlister 262nd 56:50; Donal O'Kane 290th 1:01:52; Peter Bell 302nd 1:03:50; Willie John Brown 329th 1:16:45

Female placings: Shileen O'Kane 35th 48:51; Sinead-Marie McAllister 68th 54:17; Kate Bradley 93rd 58:06; Aine McNeill 96th 58:54

The second day featured the 34km Long Distance race with 1800m of climbing. Although 357 runners started off the race, the tough course resulted in 17 DNFs. Despite only having a small number of runners taking part, NIMRA / Northern Ireland runners won two team medals. Esther Dickson, finishing off her preparations before taking part in the Elite World Mountain / Trail Running Championships in Spain later this month, was the lead Irish F35 runner who helped her team obtain a great team gold medal. Adam Cunningham (M35 Ireland) was the first Irish runner home, doing a fantastic job to improve on his 19th position from Canfranc (15th this time) and helping to ensure the 3-man Irish M35 team collected the silver medal ahead of Lithuania M35s.

Male placings: Adam Cunningham 15th 3:18:55; Paul Le Blanc 163rd 4:43:46

Female placings: Esther Dickson 20th 4:18:41; Sonia McIntyre 44th 4:44:30; Catriona Shatwell 90th 6:33:02

Sunday saw the curtain close on this showcase of masters athletics with the Classic race. The biggest entry of the three races was assembled, with 605 runners negotiating a 15.4km up-and-down course, with similar amounts of climbing to negotiate as Friday's Uphill race, followed by long flowing descents back into the crowds lining the streets of the usually sleepy Meduno. More medals were won by NIMRA / Northern Irish competitors. Sinead-Marie McAllister sailed nicely up the mountain and danced her way down the descent to help Ireland F35s secure the team silver medal behind the host nation. Phil Goss had another rapid race at this level of competition, leading home the Irish M40 team to help them achieve a bronze team medal, adding to his growing medal collection. In his favoured mountain running discipline, Tim Lowry had a typically rapid descent to pass many of his rivals and help the Irish M50 team secure the bronze medal by only two points from the German M50s. Kate Bradley had another strong race to finish off her first ever Masters World Championships, coming home second Irish F40 to help guarantee her team the bronze medal.

Male placings: Phil Goss 28th 1:11:48; Jason Wilson 37th 1:13:38; Adam Cunningham 41st 1:14:15; Peter McEvoy 117th 1:21:48; Tim Lowry 190th 1:29:29; Maurice McCartan 211th 1:31:49; Wilson McAlister 268th 1:39:09; Donal O'Kane 291st 1:42:48

Female placings: Shileen O'Kane 37th 1:29:37; Kate Bradley 61st 1:36:51; Sinead-Marie McAllister 64th 1:37:20; Hannah Shields 68th 1:37:51; Aine McNeill 111th 1:48:16

Congratulations to all Northern Irish competitors who showed how well our athletes can compete against the top mountain running nations in the world. Thank you to Meduno for providing a well-organised weekend of races and great post-race entertainment, and also to IMRA for the large amount of organisational work that went on in the background to put together the Irish teams and also for providing the Sunday night meal. Next year's event will be hosted by the Czech Republic in Janske Lazne, the third time it has been hosted at this venue.

Jason Wilson and Mark Alexander (with abstracts from the WMRA press release)

Race Reports and Summary of Irish Team Results World Masters Mountain Running Championships, Meduno

02 September, 2025 - Aidan Cleary

The Championships opened on Friday, 29 August, with the Uphill Race: a demanding 5 km course with 800 m of ascent from Meduno’s historic town centre to the summit crest of Monte Valinis.
Forecasts threatened heavy rain, but instead the athletes faced high humidity (96%) and temperatures ranging from 23°C at the start to 18°C near the summit. Conditions were sticky, energy-sapping, and required precise pacing and hydration strategies.
The route began on tarmac before switching quickly to steep, rain-slicked trails. Athletes battled greasy surfaces and sustained gradients, with the final kilometre packing nearly 300 m of vertical gain. The summit finish on Monte Valinis was alive with crowds, cowbells, and a festival atmosphere, setting the tone for the weekend.
What stood out for me throughout was the strength of Irish support. Along the streets of Meduno, at aid points on the climbs, and especially at the summit finish, Irish voices were loudest—green flags waving, families and clubmates lining the course. This encouragement created an unmistakable lift for the Irish athletes, many of whom credited the atmosphere as a decisive factor in their medal-winning performances.

That evening, I attended the medal ceremony, where we celebrated an extraordinary set of results.


Team Results – Uphill


F35 Gold: Angela Tobin, Sinéad-Marie McAllister, Katie Mullan

F40 Bronze: Clare Sullivan, Kate Bradley

F45 Silver: Lorraine Bolster, Alice Clancy, Paula Donnellan Walsh, Imogen Boaden, Lisa-Ann Quirke

F50 Gold: Rebecca Quinn, Ide Kelleher, Sharon Woods, Margaret Hassett, Joanne McCann, Joan Ryan, Elaine Mullan, Caroline Sullivan

F55 Bronze: Shileen O’Kane, Mari Johnston, Áine McNeill, Gabrielle Dillon

M35 Bronze: Emmet McNamara, James Kevan, Jason Wilson, Peter McEvoy, Rob Tobin, Eoin Cotter, Edward Murphy

M40 Bronze: Ian Conroy, Philip Goss, Eoin Dinneen

M45 Silver: John Kinsella, Seán Quirke, Ciaran Steed, Aidan Cleary, Louis Mullee

M65 Bronze: Conor Nolan, Martin McDonald, Liam Lenehan, Liam Lynch

Total: 9 team podiums
Gold x2 Silver x2 Bronze x5


Individual Results – Uphill


Ian Conroy (M40) – Gold

LONG DISTANCE, LONG SMILES — Storm-Quickened Trails at Meduno
Saturday, 30 August, brought the Long Distance Race: 34 km with 1,850 m of climb, traversing Meduno’s lanes, villages, and the slopes of Monte Valinis.

This race was personal for me. Last year in Canfranc, the Long Distance was my only event—and it was punishing. Returning to Meduno, I cut 50 minutes off last year’s time.

After overnight rain, the course was slick and technical. We navigated demanding downhills and warm 20°C temperatures before being met by storm showers in the final kilometres. The bursts of rain proved more refreshing than disruptive, sharpening focus and energy in the closing stages.
Irish supporters once again made themselves felt. Positioned at strategic points along the course, they brought colour, noise, and encouragement that lifted spirits even in the toughest climbs. As the storm broke in the final kilometres, Irish flags and shouts of encouragement became a welcome beacon for tired legs.

Again, I joined the 18:00 medal ceremony, where Irish podiums rolled in.


Team Results – Long Distance


F35 Gold: Esther Dickson, Angela Tobin, Katie Mullan

F45 Bronze: Orla McEvoy, Alice Clancy, Sarah Whelan

F50 Silver: Rebecca Quinn, Sorcha Kearney, Sareen Walsh

M35 Silver: Adam Cunningham, Rob Tobin, Mark Smith

Total: 4 team podiums
Gold x1 Silver x2 Bronze x1


Individual Results – Long Distance


Rebecca Quinn (F50) – Silver

CLASSIC DISTANCE CLOSES MEDUNO WMMRC 2025

The Championships concluded on Sunday, 31 August, with the Classic Distance event. Originally set at 14.1 km with 735 m of climb, the course was adjusted to 16 km and 800 m of climb due to storm damage from Saturday’s rain.
Clear skies and rising temperatures presented a final challenge. We ran through narrow cobbled streets, flag-draped hamlets, and forest trails, cheered on by locals at every turn.
Among these cheers, the Irish contingent once again stood out, making Meduno feel like home turf. Whether gathered at the start line in town squares, cheering from shaded forest paths, or celebrating at the finish, the Irish support provided both energy and pride. The closing day became as much a celebration of community as competition.
Post-race, I joined the 18:00 medal ceremony and later celebrated at the Irish team post-event party, where athletes, families, and supporters came together to close a remarkable weekend.


Team Results – Classic Distance

F35 Silver: Angela Tobin, Sinéad-Marie McAllister, Katie Mullan

F40 Bronze: Clare Sullivan, Kate Bradley, Patricia Ryan, Deirdre O’Shea

F45 Silver: Lorraine Bolster, Paula Donnellan Walsh, Sarah Whelan, Lisa-Ann Quirke

F50 Silver: Ide Kelleher, Sharon Woods, Margaret Hassett, Joanne McCann, Joan Ryan,
Caroline Sullivan

F65 Bronze: Máire Uí Chonghaile, Maureen Anna Lynch, Esme Caroline Alexander
M40 Bronze: Philip Goss, Paul Duffy, David Nolan

M45 Silver: John Kinsella, Seán Quirke, Ciaran Steed, Robert Cunningham, Maurice McCartan, Aidan Cleary, Louis Mullee

M50 Bronze: Kenneth Bates, Tim Lowry, Ian McHardy, Micheál McSweeney, Eddie Meegan, Eric Kelly

M65 Gold: Gerard Maloney, Conor Nolan, Liam Lenehan, Liam Lynch, David Dinsmore

Total: 9 team podiums
Gold x1 Silver x4 Bronze x4


Individual Results – Classic Distance


John Kinsella (M45) – Silver

Gerard Maloney (M65) – Silver

Conor Nolan (M65) – Bronze

Hazel Stapleton (F75) – Silver


The Triple Crown Challenge


Eight Irish athletes took on the ultimate test of endurance and resilience at Meduno: the Triple Crown, completing all three Championship races—Uphill, Long Distance, and Classic—across the weekend. Joining them in the Triple Crown was my proudest personal achievement.

Graham Bushe
Micheál McSweeney
Aidan Cleary
Rob Tobin
Katie Mullan
Angela Tobin
Ken Bates
Vasiliy Neumerzhitskiy


Three races in three days left my body wrecked but my spirit full. Competing day after day, in shifting conditions and against the world’s best, embodied the grit and camaraderie of the Irish team.


Overall Summary


Across three days of competition, Ireland secured 22 team podiums and multiple standout individual performances. Gold x4 Silver x8 Bronze x10


Individual Medals:


Gold Ian Conroy (M40, Uphill)

Silver Rebecca Quinn (F50, Long Distance)

silver John Kinsella (M45, Classic)

Silver Gerard Maloney (M65, Classic)

Silver Hazel Stapleton (F75, Classic)

Bronze Conor Nolan (M65, Classic)

The Irish team delivered one of its strongest World Masters Mountain Running Championship performances to date. Finishing 2nd to hosts Italy on the Medal count. Results were built not only on athletic ability, but also on the remarkable backing of Irish supporters who travelled in numbers to Meduno. Their presence—flags, banners, cheers, and constant encouragement—created a sense of home advantage and community pride, reinforcing Ireland’s reputation for spirit, camaraderie, and excellence on the international mountain running stage.

Aidan Cleary, Irish Team Manager & Runner