Unknown

28 November, 2009

We are all just back from Susa, Italy - from the lovely warm sunshine ? t-shirt, shorts and sandals - we didn't like it though we much preferred the Irish RAIN!! Although it did rain up to last Tuesday and even snowed at the beginning of June - unheard of!

The day of the races - last Sunday 24th - was very warm and humid. The Girls were running 3 laps - 3.3k - and 360 meters of climb or 3 times up the hill. The Boys had 4 laps - 4.9k - and 520 meters of climb or 4 times up that hill.

The Girls race started in 26 degrees and finished 14/15 minutes later in 28 degrees- it just got hotter and hotter. The pace wasn't too fast at the start but soon picked up with Hannah Bateson of England playing the classic waiting game behind Sabina Borsoi of Italy before passing the Italian on the finishing straight to take the Gold. The Italian was second while Jessica Martin just got the Bronze in a sprint finish from the Italian Sara Bottarelli. Eimear Tangney of Ireland ran a very good race, kept her form and finished 19th,Carol Huet picked up her pace and position on the second lap and came in 28th while Shona Curran kept going despite feeling the heat and finished 30th. The Italians won the team gold, England were 2nd and Scotland 3rd. The Irish girls finished 6th.

The Boys race, in 28 degrees+ started very easy, even the Italians who trained on the course were cautious. The Irish boys having learnt from their experience in the Leinster League races of the Scalp and Howth took it nice 'n' easy at the start and worked their way through the field as the race progressed. This turned out to be a tactical race between Xavier Chevrier of Italy, the German Ren Stochert and Englishman Jonathan Brownlee. The Italian took Gold in the end with the German winning the Silver and England the Bronze. Irishman, Colm Murray ran a very controlled race, coming through in the final lap with a fantastic sprint to the line in 24th place. Kian Jennings kept Colm firmly in his sights and finished close behind in 26th place while Anthony Kavanagh was determined not to be beaten by the heat and finished 39th. In the team event Germany just pipped Italy for Gold while England got the Bronze. The Irish finished in a very good 7th place.

A great event - tears, exhaustion and dropouts all addded to the experience.

May I thank Isabelle Lemee and Paul Nolan for the drive to Susa, the navigation, the 'little' bit of French and Italian and the translation of the menus. A special congratulations to both Irish teams.
Au Revoir til next year!

Gerry Brady

01 April, 2009

By Vivian O'Gorman

We are all just back from Susa, Italy - from the lovely warm sunshine ? t-shirt, shorts and sandals - we didn't like it though we much preferred the Irish RAIN!! Although it did rain up to last Tuesday and even snowed at the beginning of June - unheard of!

The day of the races - last Sunday 24th - was very warm and humid. The Girls were running 3 laps - 3.3k - and 360 meters of climb or 3 times up the hill. The Boys had 4 laps - 4.9k - and 520 meters of climb or 4 times up that hill.

The Girls race started in 26 degrees and finished 14/15 minutes later in 28 degrees- it just got hotter and hotter. The pace wasn't too fast at the start but soon picked up with Hannah Bateson of England playing the classic waiting game behind Sabina Borsoi of Italy before passing the Italian on the finishing straight to take the Gold. The Italian was second while Jessica Martin just got the Bronze in a sprint finish from the Italian Sara Bottarelli. Eimear Tangney of Ireland ran a very good race, kept her form and finished 19th,Carol Huet picked up her pace and position on the second lap and came in 28th while Shona Curran kept going despite feeling the heat and finished 30th. The Italians won the team gold, England were 2nd and Scotland 3rd. The Irish girls finished 6th.

The Boys race, in 28 degrees+ started very easy, even the Italians who trained on the course were cautious. The Irish boys having learnt from their experience in the Leinster League races of the Scalp and Howth took it nice 'n' easy at the start and worked their way through the field as the race progressed. This turned out to be a tactical race between Xavier Chevrier of Italy, the German Rene Stochert and Englishman Jonathan Brownlee. The Italian took Gold in the end with the German winning the Silver and England the Bronze. Irishman, Colm Murray ran a very controlled race, coming through in the final lap with a fantastic sprint to the line in 24th place. Kian Jennings kept Colm firmly in his sights and finished close behind in 26th place while Anthony Kavanagh was determined not to be beaten by the heat and finished 39th. In the team event Germany just pipped Italy for Gold while England got the Bronze. The Irish finished in a very good 7th place.

A great event - tears, exhaustion and dropouts all addded to the experience.

May I thank Isabelle Lemee and Paul Nolan for the drive to Susa, the navigation, the 'little' bit of French and Italian and the translation of the menus. A special congratulations to both Irish teams.
Au Revoir til next year!