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European Cross Country Championships

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  • 07-12-2016 1:36pm
    #1
    Tombo2001
    Registered Users Posts: 6,491 ✭✭✭


    This is on Sunday. Hopefully RTE will cover it? They normally do....

    Its a super event, particularly as there is usually good Irish interest.

    The womens team looks strong on paper; I'm not sure if its as strong in practice as last years, when they won bronze. Lizzie Lee not running, Ciara Mageean is running.

    Laura Crow, Caroline Crowley, Shona Heaslip, Fionualla, Annemarie McGlynn, Kerry O'Flaherty, Ciara Mageean.

    U20 mens team also looks good. Jack O'Leary did very well last year and is (just working through my calculator here) a year older......


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    #2
    HelenAnne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭HelenAnne


    CAN'T WAIT!!! Unfortunately I'll be slogging around Dundalk myself at the same time, but I'll record them. Should be great!


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    #3
    ASIMON0V
    Registered Users Posts: 202 ✭✭ASIMON0V


    HelenAnne wrote: »
    CAN'T WAIT!!! Unfortunately I'll be slogging around Dundalk myself at the same time, but I'll record them. Should be great!

    Dundalk was like the somme last year. long spikes...triple knots....


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    #4
    KielyUnusual
    Registered Users Posts: 1,900 ✭✭✭KielyUnusual


    ASIMON0V wrote: »
    Dundalk was like the somme last year. long spikes...triple knots....

    This year ;). I'm hoping that the dry November we've had will lead to more favourable conditions on Sunday.

    I do love watching elite XC races as a spectacle but the dominance of the nationalised Turks sort of ruins the men's race for me. Looking forward to seeing how Fionnuala gets on in the women's race. Running great recently and seems in a supremely confident mood.


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    #5
    climbhigh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 115 ✭✭climbhigh


    Tombo2001 wrote: »

    Laura Crow, Caroline Crowley, Shona Heaslip, Fionualla, Annemarie McGlynn, Kerry O'Flaherty, Ciara Mageean.

    Has the team changed from what was selected i.e. you have not listed Michelle Finn and included Caroline Crowley and Annemarie McGlynn?


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    #6
    adrian522
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 16,095 Mod ✭✭✭✭adrian522


    Seems to be on RTE alright at 11am Highlights on BBC2 in the afternoon too.


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    #7
    pconn062
    Registered Users Posts: 5,370 ✭✭✭pconn062


    ASIMON0V wrote: »
    Dundalk was like the somme last year. long spikes...triple knots....

    Off topic, but the course in Dundalk is in very good condition this year. Was down at it yesterday, so long as it doesn't bucket rain between now and then it should be grand.


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    #8
    ASIMON0V
    Registered Users Posts: 202 ✭✭ASIMON0V


    pconn062 wrote: »
    Off topic, but the course in Dundalk is in very good condition this year. Was down at it yesterday, so long as it doesn't bucket rain between now and then it should be grand.

    Nothing that a 1,000 juveniles can't overcome :)


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    #9
    curtisbrown
    Registered Users Posts: 86 ✭✭curtisbrown


    I can't post a link, but according to european athletics.org, Fionnuala will be tied with Sonia for being the most capped Irish international female athlete of all time. 34 occasions each.


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    #10
    El Caballo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,137 ✭✭✭El Caballo


    Complete joke of a championship.


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    #11
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users Posts: 16,115 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    Shockingly bad TV direction.

    Ciara Mageean collapsed at the finish line, but had the presence of mind to roll over it.

    I see Kenya won the women's team race. I mean Turkey.

    Israel were 5th in the men's junior race. Most of their team had Ethiopian names.


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    #12
    walshb
    Registered Users Posts: 54,676 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    Great result for the Africans.


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    #13
    average_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 12,845 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    El Caballo wrote: »
    Complete joke of a championship.

    I think you mean the people that run athletics are a complete joke.

    Until the athletes stand up for themselves it will only go one way


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    #14
    kevd2000
    Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭kevd2000


    Just watched a replay of the XC on the rte player, I am a passionate follower of Athletics, but this is beyond ridiculous, an absolute disgrace that European championships can be so dominated by African athletes, that Callum Hawkins and Andy Vernon are the only European born athletes to medal in the European championships since 2012 is ridiculous. The women's race was not even worth watching given the dominance by the Kenyans. Same story as last year. I love athletics but this is trying my patience.


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    #15
    average_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 12,845 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    kevd2000 wrote: »
    Just watched a replay of the XC on the rte player, I am a passionate follower of Athletics, but this is beyond ridiculous, an absolute disgrace that European championships can be so dominated by African athletes, that Callum Hawkins and Andy Vernon are the only European born athletes to medal in the European championships since 2012 is ridiculous. The women's race was not even worth watching given the dominance by the Kenyans. Same story as last year. I love athletics but this is trying my patience.

    While it's frustrating, it's also a chance for someone to step up to the next level.


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    #16
    kevd2000
    Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭kevd2000


    Success breeds success. I imagine a lot of young European athletes are being lost to Athletes forever as they have nothing to compete for. Very disheartening for European athletes who make massive sacrifices for little reward. These guys compete for pride and medals and not money, so this "selective passport granting" is against the spirit of the sport


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    #17
    average_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 12,845 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    kevd2000 wrote: »
    Success breeds success. I imagine a lot of young European athletes are being lost to Athletes forever as they have nothing to compete for. Very disheartening for European athletes who make massive sacrifices for little reward. These guys compete for pride and medals and not money, so this "selective passport granting" is against the spirit of the sport

    If they are good enough they will come through. Plenty examples out there.


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    #18
    kevd2000
    Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭kevd2000


    Way More examples of great talents who give up. European athletics should be promoting European athlethes, Europeans are losing out on elite funding because they are not medalists, it's impossible for them to make a living and thus they give up and the situation is regressing. I used to love watching lots of athletics on the tv but now there is very little shown, part of the reason is lack of interest because of the lack of success by Europeans. The commercial viability of the sport in Europe is being undermined by the lack of stars that people can connect with. We will only see a step up when people can make a living through the sport. The first step to this is winning a European championship. Just to be clear btw, I also don't agree with the residency rule in rugby, which we take advantage of. There has to be a valid connection


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    #19
    walshb
    Registered Users Posts: 54,676 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    average_runner wrote: »
    If they are good enough they will come through. Plenty examples out there.

    But they are not good enough, so your point is moot, and the wider point stands. European titles being won by Africans. I know Eurovision can be messy, but I don't expect Athletics to be matching it.


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    #20
    pconn062
    Registered Users Posts: 5,370 ✭✭✭pconn062


    average_runner wrote: »
    While it's frustrating, it's also a chance for someone to step up to the next level.

    They shouldn't have to race against Kenyan athletes in the Euro champs to step up to the next level. The whole reason the Euro champs was developed was to give European athletes a chance to be competitive and win medals, thus giving them an impetus to believe and improve and as you say, step up to the next level. Success breeds success. I don't see how getting hammered by a bunch of East Africans encourages someone to step up to the next level.

    I agree with you about the organisation though, as usual with the IAAF it's not about the athlete, they are at the bottom of the heap, it's all about the dollar. The Euro cross in it's current format should be scrapped. It's now a nothing event, apart from checking out Fionnuala's result I didn't even bother watching or recording it. If I want to watch second rate Kenyans run I'll watch the African champs.


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    #21
    average_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 12,845 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    pconn062 wrote: »
    They shouldn't have to race against Kenyan athletes in the Euro champs to step up to the next level. The whole reason the Euro champs was developed was to give European athletes a chance to be competitive and win medals, thus giving them an impetus to believe and improve and as you say, step up to the next level. Success breeds success. I don't see how getting hammered by a bunch of East Africans encourages someone to step up to the next level.

    I agree with you about the organisation though, as usual with the IAAF it's not about the athlete, they are at the bottom of the heap, it's all about the dollar. The Euro cross in it's current format should be scrapped. It's now a nothing event, apart from checking out Fionnuala's result I didn't even bother watching or recording it. If I want to watch second rate Kenyans run I'll watch the African champs.


    The rule allowing it so easy to compete for another country, was there a vote for this and if so how did Ireland vote?

    Maybe we need to get sone plastic paddy's to run for us, it brought us success in football.


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    #22
    average_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 12,845 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    walshb wrote: »
    But they are not good enough, so your point is moot, and the wider point stands. European titles being won by Africans. I know Eurovision can be messy, but I don't expect Athletics to be matching it.

    It's obviously doesn't bother the European athletes much, since they won't make a stand.

    If the true Europeans boycotted the race things would change.


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    #23
    walshb
    Registered Users Posts: 54,676 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    average_runner wrote: »
    It's obviously doesn't bother the European athletes much, since they won't make a stand.

    And what's sadder is that they should have to!


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    #24
    average_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 12,845 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    walshb wrote: »
    And what's sadder is that they should have to!

    Yes it is, but if you can't stand up for yourself you shouldn't expect others to do it.


    A post from Sebastian coe in reply to sonia

    "@RTEsport @soniaagrith - working on this & will sit with new Athletics Integrity Unit that the IAAF Congress approved - launching April 17"


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    #25
    Djoucer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 620 ✭✭✭Djoucer


    Bit of a farce really. Who's going to bother watching this next year? Or any athletics for that matter?

    Great gutsy running from the British men.

    But this race sums up were athletics is at in 2016.


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    #26
    blackcard
    Registered Users Posts: 3,868 ✭✭✭blackcard


    Djoucer wrote: »
    Bit of a farce really. Who's going to bother watching this next year? Or any athletics for that matter?

    Great gutsy running from the British men.

    But this race sums up were athletics is at in 2016.

    BBC were making a big issue of the Kenyans running for Turkey and not even living in the country. Turkey buying medals. Fionnuala should have a bronze from today.


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    #27
    Tombo2001
    Registered Users Posts: 6,491 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    blackcard wrote: »
    BBC were making a big issue of the Kenyans running for Turkey and not even living in the country. Turkey buying medals. Fionnuala should have a bronze from today.

    Worth noting, something lost in the discussion around the Kenyans, the super performance by Ancuta Bobocel who came fourth for Romania.

    This is a lady who has no recorded 10k time; who is a specialist 3k steeple chaser; whose time for the 3k at the Olympics was a second slower than Kerry O'Flaherty, but yesterday was a full two minutes faster than Kerry O'Flaherty; who has only run one European senior cross country previously, finishing 41st; whose 5k PB is 40 seconds slower than that of Fionnuala McCormack, and whose track PBs were all set 4 years ago or more...... She has also got a strong track record in Cross Country as a Junior, having won an U20 European title 10 years ago.

    Quite a performance by her given her lack of form.


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