Italian World Master Mountain Running Championships 2016

by Anne Sandford

WORLD MASTERS MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS, SUSA, ITALY 27/28 AUGUST 2016

26 Nations and 715 athletes took part in this annual prestigious event. 8 NIMRA runners went to compete in this beautiful part of Susa in Italy. The highest placed in her category was Shileen O’Kane – who came 6th from 27 and first counter in the Ireland Team FV45 and secured a Silver Medal. Hazel McLaughlin competed in FV40 category and came 12th from 15 giving a good account of herself in a tough 6.4k uphill mountain race with 772m climb and in 32 degrees of hot sun. Anne Sandford ran in FV50 and came 18th from 29 and was a team counter for GB & Northern Ireland to secure a bronze medal.

Hazel, Anne and Shileen

The men 55 and over also did the same uphill course. Eugene McCann securing a team bronze medal for Ireland coming 31st from 57. Peter Bell ran in MV60 category and came 38th from 52 having a good strong run with Willie John Brown also in same category taking 48th place.

Eugene and Peter

Gary Bailie and Darren Herron had the longer tougher course of 11km and Gary secured a credible 27th place in MV35 from 40 and was part of the GB & Northern Ireland team which came 4th. Darren also did very well in his first Masters Event.

Next year this event is to be held in Slovakia on 2nd September