2008 Review The sport of mountain running is developing and growing both at national and at international level. At national level, the Wednesday evening Leinster league series of races in the summer attract around 200 athletes per race. These athletes come in all shapes and sizes, and many of them come back again hooked on the freedom and exhilaration of running in the mountains. The website, www.imra.ie, is a comprehensive record of all races and the characters that make them. Click on any athlete to see his or her racing history and photo album. Click on any event to see a photo record of the participants.
At international level, a record 38 countries participated in the 2008 World Trophy. The best Irish performance was in 1991 when John Lenihan won the up and down race and the team won bronze medals. The best recent performance was by Brian McMahon (Clonliffe) in 2008 when he finished 24th out of 157 runners. The IAAF Council in Beijing sanctioned the 2009 event as a World championship, and this elevated status is likely to attract more top class cross-country and road runners.
In 2008 athletes from 25 countries participated in the European championships. The best ever Irish performances were in 1996 when Robin Bryson (DSD) finished 11th and the senior men team was 6th. The best recent performance was in 2008 when Stephen Duncan (Omagh Harriers) finished 35th out of 84 runners and the senior men team finished 12th.
The World Long-Distance challenge was first held in 2004. For 2009, the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) has sanctioned a National team competition and this should significantly raise the importance and standard of this event. The 2009 race will be part of the Kaiser marathon in Switzerland in October which is a mixture of road and trail with two steep climbs in the second half of the race.
10 countries participated in the 2008 World Youths challenge. The best Irish performances were in 2008 when the boy’s team finished 4th and the girl’s team 5th. Selection for the 2009 team is largely based on the Irish schools mountain running championships which will be held in late March. Runners born in 1992 to 1993 are eligible.
Ireland has twice won individual gold medals at the World Masters through Robin Bryson (DSD) in 2004 and Mags Greenan (Clonliffe) in 2008. The 2009 race will be held in Zagreb in September. The European masters are held biennially. In 2008 Aisling Coppinger (W35) and Mags Greenan (W50) both won individual gold.
An inaugural Commonwealth mountain running championship will be held in Keswick England in September 2009. Two races will be held (an uphill only and an up and down). An application may then be made to include mountain running in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Can Ireland win medals in the World or European championships? Definitely our top cross-country teams could ……
