Race report 8th July 2007 There were good Irish performances in all races in the recent European Mountain Running Championships held in Cauterets, France. The races were run in cool conditions with the longer races running in a low cloud for around 5 km before emerging into the sunshine for the last 2 to 3 km before finishing at the 2,400m summit. This was in stark contrast to the strong sunshine on the Saturday. The championships incorporated junior races for the first time. Michelle Sturm finished 18th in a small field in the junior women’s race. Blue Haywood of Great Britain set the early pace but she was hauled in by Slovene Lucija Krkoc and in the end finished 5th and on the winning British team. Next on her agenda is the 3,000m in the European Youth Olympics. In the junior men’s race, Turkey had a 1-2-3 for an impressive clean sweep. Leading Irish performer, and youngest competitor in the race, was Michael Dowling from West Wicklow who finished in 30th place. Norway provided 1st and 3rd in the women’s race with Czech reigning champion Anna Pichrtova separating them. Switzerland packed well to take the team title. Ireland finished 14th of 16 teams and were led home by Fiona Maxwell of Mourne Runners. This represented an improvement on our placing of 16th (2006) and 17th (2005). Turkey also took the individual victory in the senior men’s race but Italy took the team title ahead of France and Germany. Ireland finished 14th led home by Robin Bryson. This equalled our 2006 team placing. Senior women (8,500m / 1010m ascent) 1. Switzerland 17 (4,5,8) 2. Czech Republic 22 (2,9,11) 3. Italy 29 (7,10,12) 14. Ireland 158 (48,53,57) 16 teams finished 1. Anita Evertsen (Nor) 51’45” 2. Anna Pichrtova (Cze) 52’34” 3. Kirsten Otterbu (Nor) 52’56” 48. Fiona Maxwell 64’05” 53. Tricia Sloan 66’55” 57. Alwynne Shannon 69’56” 59. Aisling Coppinger 72’41” 65 runners finished Senior men (12,800m / 1570m ascent) 1. Italy 15 (2,3,10) France 31 (6,12,13) 3. Germany 36 (8,9,19) 14. Ireland 147 (45,48,54) 17 teams finished 1. Ahmet Arslan (Tur) 68’39” 2. Marco de Gasperi (Ita) 68’50” 3. Marco Gaiardo (Ita) 69’09” 45. Robin Bryson 77’16” 48. Colm Mullen 78’36” 54. Stephen Duncan 81’47” 58. Ronan Guirey 83’43” 67 runners finished Junior women (4,000m / 450m ascent) 1. Great Britain 8 (3,5) 2. Austria 10 (4,6) 3. Slovenia 13 (1,12) 6 teams finished 1. Lucija Krkoc (Slo) 23’33” 2. Kerstin Straub (Ger) 23’58” 3. Hannah Bateson (Gbr) 24’50” > 18. Michelle Sturm 29’35” 20 runners finished Junior men (8,500m / 1010m ascent) 1. Turkey 6 (1,2,3) 2. Germany 21 (4,5,12) 3. Italy 34 (7,9,18) 9. Ireland 97 (30,33,34) 9 teams finished 1. Mehmet Akkoyun (Tur) 48’27” 2. Emrah Akalin (Tur) 48’34” 3. Mahmut Uruclu (Tur) 48’40” 30. Michael Dowling 60’11” 33. Jason Wilson 63’19” 34. Conor Moore 65’34” 36. Ciaran Collins 70’21” 36 runners finished for full results, see www.cauterets2007.com