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28 November, 2009

Despite check in delays in Dublin airport, cancelled flights due to a last minute air traffic control strike which caused a twelve hour delay in Frankfurt, missing boarding passes, lost luggage, over 32 degrees heat; the Irish team had great performances at the 9th Memorial Marco Germanetto International Youths races in Susa, Italy on 22nd June 2008!

After a quick tour of the main sights in Frankfurt, the girls undertook a bit of retail therapy and the lads found a big sports shop where they tested the comfort of the sofas for a few hours! Spirits were still high when we flew out of Frankfurt, with John and Michael singing James Blunts song ?You?re beautiful?. They gave up when the notes got to high much to the relief of surrounding passengers 

We landed in Citta de Torino (Turin International airport) at 10:40pm and it was a shock to be hit by such warm air when we stepped off the plane. We were delighted to see our bags already passing by on the conveyor belt when we got to the baggage area .....well almost everyones bags. We soon realised Vivians bag was missing; turns out it took a detour to Paris! Ever patient Vivian was delighted with his complimentary emergency overnight bag, until one of our bright sparks pointed out it was a womans overnight bag - unfortunately for Vivian no opportunity for slagging over the weekend was missed!

The following morning as we struggled with the heat, the hotel owner explained they were delighted with the very hot weather as Susa had two bad months of heavy rain and flooding.

This was not reflected on the beautiful convent grounds of Villa San Pietro, where the course was bone dry. The course started in a field at the bottom of a steep zig zag climb to a rocky outcrop where a monument marked the top, before the course immediately brought participants to a steep fast zig zag decent back to the field. The zig zag assent and decent made it very difficult to get into a steady rhythm, hence the ever changing route ensured participants were constantly changing their style to cope with the terrain. This added greatly to the challenge of these races.

Recognising the extreme weather conditions, race organisers had large containers of water along the course and at the finish area, from which they gave wet sponges to participants. Also at the top of the mountain, spray guns were used to spray participants with water as they passed by.

The cadette race for under 15 girls was 2.5km (two laps), with 130m ascent/decent.
The Irish team was represented by Laura Hannigan from Loreto Foxrock in Dublin.
Despite struggling with tummy problems due to the heat, Laura ran a strong race to secure 16th place in her International debut!

The WMRA International Youth Challenge race for under 17 girls was 3.3km (three laps), with 180m ascent/decent. Second up was Irish team members Eimear Tangney, St.Bridgets, Killarney, Co Kerry, Gayle Finn, Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co Cork and Daisy Murray, Team Purple, Co Down. Gayle, who started off slowly, ran a strong steady race to come in 19th place. Eimear started off strongly but found the heat difficult to cope with but still managed a fine run to come in 24th. Daisy Murray ran a very brave race and showed no signs of struggling with the illness she had suffered with for the two days prior to the race, to come in 26th place and secure the 5th spot in the team event.

The WMRA International Youth Challenge for under 17 boys was 4.9km (four laps), with 260m ascent/decent. In the final race of the day, the Irish team was represented by Michael Dowling, Scoil Congeas, Baltinglas, Co Wicklow, John Harrington, Maria Immaculate CC, Dunmanway, Co Cork and Emmet Jennings, Oatlands College, Dublin. From the start of the race, Emmet and John bravely fought to stay close to the leaders. Unfortunately this tactic didn?t pay off on this cruel four lap race where the midday sun distorted the best made race plans. Michael Dowling ran the race of his life starting at a very moderate steady pace but he kept passing many runners on every lap. This proved to be a winning formula as he finished in 9th position securing himself a well earned prize for his top 10 position. Emmet and John fought to the very end of the race, never showing any signs to giving up to the heat and came in 16th and 25th position respectively. Their brilliant performances secured 4th team, just outside the team prizes.

Congratulations to every member of the Irish team who showed fantastic courage to put in terrific performances in heat that saw many casualties to dehydration. Also well done for their upbeat, fun attitudes that made them the heart and soul of the event. On a weekend where anything that could go wrong, did go wrong, all team members constantly stayed in good form and made the best of whatever was thrown at them. A special thanks to Vivian O?Gorman for his assistance on this trip. Well done everyone and we hope to see you all again soon at the next junior trial races.


<a href="http://picasaweb.google.it/valegulli/Memorial08"> Photos </a>

Report to follow.

<b> Boys team </b>
1. Italy 9 (2 P. Ruatti, 3 F Viviani, 4 A DeBiasi)
2. Russia 39 (1 A Rusakov, 5 A Zvokov, 33 S Mokin)
3. Scotland 40 (8 R Simpson, 11 R Inglis,21 J Waldie)
4. Ireland 51 (9 M Dowling, 17 E Jennings, 25 J Harrington)
5. Slovenia 52 (14 R Potocnik, 15 M Oblak, 23 D Zupan)
6. Wales 65 (7 M. Kallenberg, 22 D Mountford, 36 M. Richards)
7. N. Ireland 114 (28 James Speight, 42 Sean Knight, 44 Michael Stephens)
8. England (6 J. Gratton, 20 J. Moody)
9. France (30 A. Serrano,39 L. Marachet)

<b> Girls team </b>
1. England 12 (2 A Jarman, 3 E Flanagan, 7 R Stuart)
2. Italy 30 (5 L Titon, 12 S Zubani, 13 M Tirinzoni)
3. Wales 41 (6 A Phillips, 10 A Davies, 25 C Lewis)
4. Slovenia 47 (11 K Obidic, 15 S Lavric, 21 K Kozjek)
5. Ireland 69 (19 G Finn, 24 E Tangney, 26 D Murray)
6. Russia (1 P Avdeeva, 17 A Bychkova)
7. Scotland (4 D Stokoe, 16 R Armitage)
8. Germany (22 S Bach)

<b> Boys individual </b>
1. Andrei Rusakov 17:44
9. Michael Dowling 19:08
17. Emmet Jennings 19:54
25. John Harrington 20:32

<b> Girls individual </b>
1. Polina Avdeeva (Russia) 13:59
19. Gayle Finn 16:08
24. Eimear Tangney 16:23
26. Daisy Murray 19:51

<b> Girls cadette </b>
1. Irina Gluschenko (Russia) 10:21
2. Aine McCann (N. Ireland) 10:32
16. Laura Hannigan 12:41

Gerry Brady

01 April, 2009

by Caroline Reid

Despite check in delays in Dublin airport, cancelled flights due to a last minute air traffic control strike which caused a twelve hour delay in Frankfurt, missing boarding passes, lost luggage, over 32 degrees heat; the Irish team had great performances at the 9th Memorial Marco Germanetto International Youths races in Susa, Italy on 22nd June 2008!

After a quick tour of the main sights in Frankfurt, the girls undertook a bit of retail therapy and the lads found a big sports shop where they tested the comfort of the sofas for a few hours! Spirits were still high when we flew out of Frankfurt, with John and Michael singing James Blunts song You're beautiful?. They gave up when the notes got to high much to the relief of surrounding passengers.

We landed in Citta de Torino (Turin International airport) at 10:40pm and it was a shock to be hit by such warm air when we stepped off the plane. We were delighted to see our bags already passing by on the conveyor belt when we got to the baggage area .....well almost everyones bags. We soon realised Vivians bag was missing; turns out it took a detour to Paris! Ever patient Vivian was delighted with his complimentary emergency overnight bag, until one of our bright sparks pointed out it was a womans overnight bag - unfortunately for Vivian no opportunity for slagging over the weekend was missed!

The following morning as we struggled with the heat, the hotel owner explained they were delighted with the very hot weather as Susa had two bad months of heavy rain and flooding.

This was not reflected on the beautiful convent grounds of Villa San Pietro, where the course was bone dry. The course started in a field at the bottom of a steep zig zag climb to a rocky outcrop where a monument marked the top, before the course immediately brought participants to a steep fast zig zag decent back to the field. The zig zag assent and decent made it very difficult to get into a steady rhythm, hence the ever changing route ensured participants were constantly changing their style to cope with the terrain. This added greatly to the challenge of these races.

Recognising the extreme weather conditions, race organisers had large containers of water along the course and at the finish area, from which they gave wet sponges to participants. Also at the top of the mountain, spray guns were used to spray participants with water as they passed by.

The cadette race for under 15 girls was 2.5km (two laps), with 130m ascent/decent.
The Irish team was represented by Laura Hannigan from Loreto Foxrock in Dublin.
Despite struggling with tummy problems due to the heat, Laura ran a strong race to secure 16th place in her International debut!

The WMRA International Youth Challenge race for under 17 girls was 3.3km (three laps), with 180m ascent/decent. Second up was Irish team members Eimear Tangney, St.Bridgets, Killarney, Co Kerry, Gayle Finn, Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co Cork and Daisy Murray, Team Purple, Co Down. Gayle, who started off slowly, ran a strong steady race to come in 19th place. Eimear started off strongly but found the heat difficult to cope with but still managed a fine run to come in 24th. Daisy Murray ran a very brave race and showed no signs of struggling with the illness she had suffered with for the two days prior to the race, to come in 26th place and secure the 5th spot in the team event.

The WMRA International Youth Challenge for under 17 boys was 4.9km (four laps), with 260m ascent/decent. In the final race of the day, the Irish team was represented by Michael Dowling, Scoil Congeas, Baltinglas, Co Wicklow, John Harrington, Maria Immaculate CC, Dunmanway, Co Cork and Emmet Jennings, Oatlands College, Dublin. From the start of the race, Emmet and John bravely fought to stay close to the leaders. Unfortunately this tactic didnt pay off on this cruel four lap race where the midday sun distorted the best made race plans. Michael Dowling ran the race of his life starting at a very moderate steady pace but he kept passing many runners on every lap. This proved to be a winning formula as he finished in 9th position securing himself a well earned prize for his top 10 position. Emmet and John fought to the very end of the race, never showing any signs to giving up to the heat and came in 16th and 25th position respectively. Their brilliant performances secured 4th team, just outside the team prizes.

Congratulations to every member of the Irish team who showed fantastic courage to put in terrific performances in heat that saw many casualties to dehydration. Also well done for their upbeat, fun attitudes that made them the heart and soul of the event. On a weekend where anything that could go wrong, did go wrong, all team members constantly stayed in good form and made the best of whatever was thrown at them. A special thanks to Vivian O'Gorman for his assistance on this trip. Well done everyone and we hope to see you all again soon at the next junior trial races.


Photos: http://picasaweb.google.it/valegulli/Memorial08

Report to follow.

Boys team
1. Italy 9 (2 P. Ruatti, 3 F Viviani, 4 A DeBiasi)
2. Russia 39 (1 A Rusakov, 5 A Zvokov, 33 S Mokin)
3. Scotland 40 (8 R Simpson, 11 R Inglis,21 J Waldie)
4. Ireland 51 (9 M Dowling, 17 E Jennings, 25 J Harrington)
5. Slovenia 52 (14 R Potocnik, 15 M Oblak, 23 D Zupan)
6. Wales 65 (7 M. Kallenberg, 22 D Mountford, 36 M. Richards)
7. N. Ireland 114 (28 James Speight, 42 Sean Knight, 44 Michael Stephens)
8. England (6 J. Gratton, 20 J. Moody)
9. France (30 A. Serrano,39 L. Marachet)

Girls team
1. England 12 (2 A Jarman, 3 E Flanagan, 7 R Stuart)
2. Italy 30 (5 L Titon, 12 S Zubani, 13 M Tirinzoni)
3. Wales 41 (6 A Phillips, 10 A Davies, 25 C Lewis)
4. Slovenia 47 (11 K Obidic, 15 S Lavric, 21 K Kozjek)
5. Ireland 69 (19 G Finn, 24 E Tangney, 26 D Murray)
6. Russia (1 P Avdeeva, 17 A Bychkova)
7. Scotland (4 D Stokoe, 16 R Armitage)
8. Germany (22 S Bach)

Boys individual
1. Andrei Rusakov 17:44
9. Michael Dowling 19:08
17. Emmet Jennings 19:54
25. John Harrington 20:32

Girls individual
1. Polina Avdeeva (Russia) 13:59
19. Gayle Finn 16:08
24. Eimear Tangney 16:23
26. Daisy Murray 19:51

Girls cadette
1. Irina Gluschenko (Russia) 10:21
2. Aine McCann (N. Ireland) 10:32
16. Laura Hannigan 12:41