The under 16 and 18 British and Irish mountain running championships were held in Llanberis Wales over the weekend. Ireland won individual gold, silver and bronze medals and all four teams were on the podium. Killian Mooney (DSD) won the under 16 championship by 43 seconds from Max Wharton (ENG) and Bradley Travis (ENG). Killian finished third in 2010 in Glendalough and this was a significant further improvement.
He led by 100 metres at the top of the course and extended this on the descent. Ireland has only won an individual race in this competition once before back in 2001 when Peter Dalton won the under 18 boys race. With Danny Lawler (7th), Michael Healion (12th), and Andrew Cullen (13th) Ireland won silver team medals behind England and ahead of hosts Wales.
Clare McCarthy (DSD) was the silver medallist in the girls under 16 race for the second year in a row. Annabel Mason (ENG) won by an amazing three minutes. Mason won the UK trials for the World junior championships last August but did not compete in Albania. With Sorcha Humphreys (6th), Rosie Hynes (8th), and Ella Fennelly (11th) the Irish team won silver medals behind England.
England took the three individual medals in the under 18 boys with Marc Scott taking the gold. Hugh Armstrong (Ballina) and Jake O’Regan (St. John’s Clare) were 5th and 6th and helped Ireland to the bronze team medals. That was a very good mountain running debut for O’Regan who was in fourth position at the summit. Fintan Doherty (Clonliffe) in 15th and Kevin Brennan (St. Abban’s) in 17th completed the irish team.
Ffion Price won the under 18 girls. Having already won twice at under 16 level, she joins Carisa Hawitt (ENG) and Iain Donnan (SCO) with three individual wins with 2012 still to come. She had to work for her victory though as Meghan Ryan (DSD) led the race by around 50 metres at the top of the ascent. Louise Hill-Stirling (Clonliffe) took the bronze medal with Ireland also taking bronze team medals. Brigid Dennehy (Iveragh) was 11th and Eadaoin O’Reilly (Annalee) was 13th.
