Gerry Brady

18 May, 2010

Results: http://www.evaa.ch/files/clasificaciones_cpto_europa_montaa_cerdanyola_2010_xls.htm
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24280411@N06/sets/72157623965908411/

Irish Joy in Barcelona

Individual gold medals for Donna Mahon (Rathfarnham W35) and Helen White (Sportsworld W45) and team gold for the Women 45-54 team. Silver for Stephen Duncan (Omagh Harriers M35) and Anne Sandford (Newcastle W45). Bronze medals for Barry Minnock (Rathfarnham M35), Tish McCann (Mourne Runners W45) and Mags Greenan (Clonliffe W50). Silver team medals in the Mens 35-44 and bronze in the Womens 35-44 categories. In summary a record bonanza in Barcelona!

The 11 km race was run on a fast course in the forests south of Cerdanyola del Valles. At the 3 km mark Duncan, Minock and the eventual Spanish winner Vincente Pena had gone clear. On the last climb Minnock lost vital ground and was joined on the descent by an Italian. Over the last two kilometres Duncan lost a little ground and Minnock finished well for bronze.

Donna Mahon in third was running well off the leading W35 runner on the ascent but had a fantastic second half to catch everyone and win convincingly. Helen White went off hard and held the lead throughout the race for a magnificent victory.

In the M35-44 team, Leo Murray (Tir Chonaill M40) eventually got the better of Ed McEntee (Sportsworld M40) for the third scoring position after trailing him on the ascent. Rob Cummins (M35) provided solid backup as fifth scorer. Having three runners chasing the vital third medal greatly helped the team performance.

Aisling Coppinger (Clonliffe W35), the defending champion, and Zoe Melling (Rathfarnham W35) combined with Mahon for the W35-44 team bronze medals.

All runners started together in a mass start with everyone wearing five years age group codes. It took sight of the official results to see that Ireland had a clean sweep of the individual W45 medals and a team victory in the Womens 45-54 category. Anne Sandford (Newcastle W45) won the silver and Tish McCann (Mourne Runners W45) the bronze medal.

An off-form Mags Greenan held back by illness and an upset stomach still managed to muster enough grit to take the bronze medal in the W50 category. Pat McCavana (GEN M50) was best of the Irish men in the M50 age group. Willie John Brown (Newcastle) was first Irish finisher in the M55 class.

Link to race web page on IMRA event page.

W35
1. Donna Mahon 47:35
5. Aisling Coppinger 53:34

W40
8. Zoe Melling 55:25

W45
1. Helen White 49:24
2. Anne Sandford 52:51
3. Tish McCann 53:37

W50
3. Mags Greenan 54:26

M35
1. Vicente Pena (ESP) 38:29
2. Stephen Duncan 38:45
3. Barry Minnock 39:42

M40
10. Leo Murray 45:10
11. Ed McEntee 45:19

M50
15. Pat McCavana 46:50
20. Gerry Brady 49:13
28. Dave Bell 55:33
30. Seamus Greenan 57:05

M55
25. Willie John Brown 59:54

Thanks to Leo Mahon (on the course), Grace Murray (photographs) and Peter White (start and finish) for making things easy for the runners.

Next up World masters at the end of August in Poland. Robin Bryson and John Lenihan to run in M45 category in five years team age groups. More later on Poland and photos from Grace Murray ...