Masters Five Nations International Cross Country 13/11/2010

Racman

It seems to have been a well-kept secret but the masters international was held at Santry last Saturday. Usually England fill six of the top seven or eight places in each age category and win all the team gold medals. However, this time there were some phenomenal performances for the Irish and they won team gold in M35, M45, M55, M70, W35 and W65. In addition, there were individual golds for Ciaran Doherty (M35); Peter Mathews (M40) and Carmel Parnell (W55). In fact, Peter Mathews won the men's 35-49 race - apparently the first time that an Irish man has ever won this race.

It was a very well-organised event with huge voluntary input. I am told that each runner gets a vest and shorts the first time they are selected and they then have to pay all their own expenses after that.

Results on the AAI website at

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/masters-international-results.pdf

runnerboy

yes it was a great day for the irish teams but especially the men to see so many greats competing. the likes of peter matthews, paul macnamara and gerry ryan, mick traynor and pauric mckinney just to name a few. it really felt like a major cship and a great buzz by the crowd on the course. roll on next year to bellahouston park in glasgow.

Speedy44

runnerboy wrote: »

yes it was a great day for the irish teams but especially the men to see so many greats competing. the likes of peter matthews, paul macnamara and gerry ryan, mick traynor and pauric mckinney just to name a few. it really felt like a major cship and a great buzz by the crowd on the course. roll on next year to bellahouston park in glasgow.

nice one. Will have to ditch the DCM for next year and start training for that .
Is there a qualifying race for it, or are the teams picked on the basis of accumalated results?

Hard Worker

Speedy44 wrote: »

nice one. Will have to ditch the DCM for next year and start training for that .
Is there a qualifying race for it, or are the teams picked on the basis of accumalated results?

The Gerry Farnan 5 mile ( men ) and 3 mile ( women ) race has been used annually as the trial race for selection. You should first become a member of the Irish Master Athletes Association. The standard is very high. Some of the over 45 masters are still winning open races.

Speedy44

Hard Worker wrote: »

The Gerry Farnan 5 mile ( men ) and 3 mile ( women ) race has been used annually as the trial race for selection. You should first become a member of the Irish Master Athletes Association. The standard is very high. Some of the over 45 masters are still winning open races.

Yes indeed, a certain G. Ryan has set the bar very high for the rest of us:mad:

YFlyer

Wonder why Seamus Power did not race?

runnerboy

in fairness to seamus he is only back from injury and he competed in belgium a week before the vets race. he is running well and would have won the vets by over a minute. he is trying to make the european team and join the likes of jerry kiernan of competing in a major cship at the ripe old age of 40. hope he does as he is a legend in the sport

YFlyer

runnerboy wrote: »

in fairness to seamus he is only back from injury and he competed in belgium a week before the vets race. he is running well and would have won the vets by over a minute. he is trying to make the european team and join the likes of jerry kiernan of competing in a major cship at the ripe old age of 40. hope he does as he is a legend in the sport

I hope he makes the team as well.

I seen him in the video coming second in the Gerry Farnan 5 mile race. He looked well pleased.