Mountain specialists do Northern Ireland proud in Czech Republic

On Saturday 31st August 2013, a number of Northern Ireland based mountain runners took on the World Mountain Running Association’s annual ‘World Masters Mountain Running Championships’ in Janske Lanze, Czech Republic. The race covered 8.6km and included 650 metres of ascending.

Up against the world’s top masters mountain runners, the Northern Ireland contingent did themselves and the province proud. Ian Bailey (Newcastle AC), a man who has been in excellent form this season, recording several notable wins including a victory at the Slieve Donard Classic, claimed a top ten finish in his Vet35 category, clocked 45:04 (10th place).  In the Vet50 category, Deon McNeilly (Newcastle AC) crossed the line in 45:40 (12th place) and was followed by club mates Barry Wells (56:31) and Eugene McCann (59:41) who claimed 40th place and 43rd place respectively.  Peter Bell (Pegasus AC) covered the course in 1:03:18, bactrim 960mg taking 18th place in his Vet55 category, while Willie John Brown (BARF) recorded 1:06:16 to secure 47th place in his Vet60 race.

Shileen O’Kane (Lagan Valley AC) was the leading Northern Ireland lady; the Hill & Dale series winner finished in a brilliant 55:40 (7th place Vet45). Shileen’s Lagan Valley AC team mate and friend, Hazel McLaughlin produced one of the performances of the day to seal 6th place in her Vet35 category after running 59:11, shortly before Anne Sandford (Lagan Valley AC) followed up her excellent performance at Slieve Bearnagh last weekend with another good run.  Anne just missed a sub one hour time, finishing in 1:00:36, thus claiming 16th place in her Vet45 race.

Full Results:  World Masters Mountain Running Championships 2013 Results

Many Thanks to Ryan Maxwell for the report www.nirunning.co.uk