Mark Ryan wins European Masters Gold

Gold for Ryan

The 5th European Masters Mountain Running Championships were held in the picturesque town of Ludwikowice Kłodzkie near Wroclow in Poland. The championships were held on an uphill only course on the historic Run on the great Owl route. This is the highest point (1015m) in the Owl Mountains. The 9.4km course with a climb of 570m varied between road, trail, mountain paths, and a technical 500 metre climb to the summit lookout tower which was built in 1906.

The categories started in descending order with the Men 35-39 age group the last race. A lead group formed after 500m consisting of athletes from Germany, Italy, Poland, Czech Rep, Austria, and Ireland. The first significant climb came about 1,500m into the race, where Mark Ryan (Rathfarnham) began to push the pace and gradually pulled away from the group. The lead increased from there to the finish with Mark winning by over two minutes in a time of 38.04. His time was the fastest in all races. The silver medallist was Polish athlete Piotr Kon and in 3rd place Czech Republic athlete Vladimír Srb.

Ryan is the first Irish male individual champion in this competition. He has regained the form he showed when finishing 26th at the World Mountain Running Championships in 2011.

Mark said shortly after the race “It’s a special feeling today, winning the gold medal is a dream come true, and hearing the Irish national anthem is a moment I will always cherish”.

Brian MacMahon won the open race on the same course in a time of 37.45 after being challenged by a Polish athlete throughout that race. Eoin Flynn and Tom Hogan will join Brian and Mark on a strong Irish senior men’s team at the upcoming European Senior Mountain Running Championships in Gap, France on the 13th of July.