Killian Mooney Third in the British Championships
Killian Mooney (Dundrum South Dublin) won an individual bronze medal in the under 20 race at the British and Irish Junior Mountain Running Championships. Mooney won the under 17 race in 2011 and was a bronze medallist in 2010 when the event was last hosted by Ireland. The races started on the shores of the Upper Lake in Glendalough and climbed steadily up forest and grass paths onto the Camaderry ridge before returning by the same route. Mooney led by 18 seconds at the turnaround point but Iolo Hughes (WAL) and Andrew Lawler (SCO) gradually reeled him in on the long descent. Lawler finished 11th in the recent World Mountain Running Championships in Italy.
Team Performance
The Irish team were silver medallists, two points behind winners England. William Hynes (Swinford AC) had an excellent race to finish seventh overall and he has two more years in this category. Tadgh McGinty (Swinford AC) and Ronan O’Fril (St. Malachy’s AC) completed the team.
Aoife Mulroy (Swinford AC) was the leading Irish runner in the under 20 girl’s race. Her fifth placing confirmed her form from 2013 when she was a bronze medallist in the under 17 race. Ireland finished two points outside of the medals. In the under 17 boy’s race, Alex Flynn (Ratoath AC) was making his debut on the hills. He followed the leader on the ascent and was within five seconds of him at the top. A slip early on in the descent shook his confidence but he recovered to finish seventh overall. Tristan Rees (SCO) won the race from John Spill (WAL) and Thomas Otton (WAL).
Heidi Davies (WAL) led all the way in the under 17 girl’s race with Fiona Bunn (ENG) and Lucy Byram (ENG) following her home. Caoimhe Harvey (St. John’s Clare) had a strong debut to finish eight. England won the team from Wales and Scotland.
Juvenile Races
There were under 11/13/15 open races held in conjunction with the internationals and Dunboyne AC showed a wealth of future stars across all categories. Conor Leane was particularly impressive when he not only won the under 13 race but also beat the under 15 boys. Lauren McConnell also impressed when she challenged the boys in the early stages of the race. Aoife McCormack and Rachel Norman almost dead-heated in the under 11 girl’s race.