Considering the travel to Turin, Italy for the Spar European cross country we joked that it would be easier than the travel to Donegal for the nationals. It didn’t turn out that way. Starting out on Friday morning a heavy frost with fog didn’t auger well. Then ice problems at the airports led to delays, taxi journeys and even flight cancellations. However the show must go on.
The course itself proved challenging – especially the steep rise following an uphill pull and then a soft and steep part on the downhill. Of course there was a gentle 50m stretch – indoor and on carpet. Who wouldn’t enjoy it!!!
Our athletes did us proud. Hannah Kehoe on her first European cross country had a good run in the under 20s to finish 72nd. Shay McEvoy competing in the U23 race was full of running and finishing 15th was third scorer on the Irish team ensuring third place and bronze medals for the team. This proved important as team favorite Darragh McIlhenny had an off day. Then Aoibhe Richardson finishing 46th also won bronze with the senior ladies. The senior men finished in a somewhat disappointing 8th place as most of the team found the competition and the course rather stiff. Peter Lynch ran his usual unrelenting style to move through the field and finishing 15th he was first scorer for the team. Well done all. KCH Abu.