It was a case of mixed fortunes for Ireland's strong five man team at the World 24 Hour Championships, in Drummondville, Quebec on the 22nd and 23rd of July. Team captain Tony Mangan, who last year achieved the highest ever position of an Irishman at the championships, ran very strongly early on and was again challenging to finish in the top 20 until injury forced his retirement in the second half of the race. In total, he covered 140 kilometres for 72nd place. Richard Donovan was also forced to retire in the second half of the race, having covered 114 kilometres for 75th. Accomplished adventure racer and hill runner Eoin Keith ran very strongly early on but he also retired before the end of the race, run in very hot humid conditions on a difficult hilly road loop through Drummondville. The other two Irishmen benefited from cautious starts. Both Eddie Gallen and Dara O'Kearney were outside the top 100 in the race for the first four hours, but from there they rose steadily as others started to wilt. Eddie built on his excellent top 20 finish at the European Championships in May to cover 186 kilometres, placing him 46th. However, the revelation of the Irish team was debutante Dara O'Kearney, a late injury call up to the team. Having taken the entire month of June to recover from a hip injury that hampered his Ireland debut in the 100K Anglo Celtic Plate in late May, Dara produced a stunning run in the circumstances, covering 202 kilometres for 32nd position. Indeed, until an ankle injury reduced him to a fast limp for most of last 6 hours, Dara looked a certainty for a top 30 position with top 20 a very real possibility. The race also served as the Irish National Championships. The Irish team finished 14th overall. Dara O'Kearney's account of the race can be read at http://www.rahenyshamrock.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=443&Itemid=36 Tony Mangan's tribute to the new Irish champion can be read at http://www.rahenyshamrock.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=438&Itemid=36