Guest Post: FEARGHAL CURTIN BACK IN TOP FORM ...by John Walshe

Fearghal (left) on the podium

FEARGHAL CURTIN BACK IN TOP FORM ... By John Walshe

After missing most of the year due to injury, Youghal athlete Fearghal Curtin finished off 2024 in style with a brilliant second place on New Year’s Eve at the São Silvestre da Amadora race in Portugal.

Over a hilly course of 10.270km, Ferghal finished just three seconds behind the winner, Rúben Amaral. The Portuguese runner had set a course record of 30:19 the year before but on this occasion had to run 51 seconds faster to hold off the Irishman as they recorded respective times of 29:28 and 29:31.

Fearghal was proudly wearing his Youghal colours, which are similar to the Sporting Club of Portugal – a branch of the famous Sporting Lisbon football club – that Amaral was running for. So he relished in the support received from the thousands lining the course, who thought the Youghal man was one of their own!

After a great start to 2024 when he recorded a very impressive half-marathon time of 61:45 in Houston, Fearghal had one of the big city marathons in mind but recurring injury problems ruled that out. Back home in Killeagh for Christmas from Wales where he is based, he didn’t slacken off in his training before travelling to Portugal, clocking up a total of 112 miles in the previous week.

Fearghal Curtin, in his Youghal colours, finishing second behind winner Amara

The São Silvestre da Amadora has a chequered history and is the oldest event on the athletics calendar of mainland Portugal. First held in 1975, this was the 49th edition. Winner of that inaugural race was Carlos Lopes, who also won in 1983 and 1986. He would, of course, go on to win the 1984 Olympic Marathon title at Los Angeles ahead of John Treacy.

Two other Olympic champions amongst the women’s winners are Rosa Mota (marathon 1988) and Fernanda Ribeiro (10,000m 1996). The latter – who finished second to Sonia O’Sullivan in the 1995 World Championship 5000m – notched up six victories in row between 1993 and 1998.

There was an extensive prize list on New Year’s Eve, with both winners receiving €1,500. Awards went down to the 25th finisher (both male and female) who received €50 each. There was a entry of almost 2,600 for the race which commenced at 6pm.

All finisher received a medal and - which may raise a few eyebrows to runners here at home -the entry fee up until mid-October was just €12. 

EUROPEAN MASTERS ATHLETICS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BRAGA, PORTUGAL 20TH-27 TH FEB. 2022

EUROPEAN MASTERS ATHLETICS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BRAGA, PORTUGAL 20TH-27 TH  FEB. 2022

Braga report by Ronan Gately for the Irish Masters Athletics Association

Masters Gold for Cork runner Michelle Kenny (centre). Photo: Patrick Crossan

Irish Masters Athletes had, by far and away, their best ever European Championships with a total of 59 medals won (previous highest total was 41 from World Indoor Championships in Torun in 2019) by the 87 Irish athletes who competed. This resulted in Team Ireland achieving 7th  place on overall medals table - their highest ever ranking (ahead of countries with much larger populations including Poland, Netherlands, Denmark, Austria) out of the 43 countries participating (2361 competitors). 

The Irish Team's medal breakdown was: 24 Gold, 18 Silver and 17 Bronze

The full list of medal winners is on the IMAA website Some truly outstanding individual performances including: Triple Gold in W55 Category for Anne Gilshinan Slaney AC (Wexford), originally from Virginia, Cavan.

800m, 1500m, 3000m Double Gold and 1 Silver, in addition to Gold in 4x200m W40 Relay for Annette Quaid of Leevale (Cork) 400m, 800m, 1500m (Silver)
Double Gold for Denise Toner, Clones AC in 1500m and 3000m.
2 Golds each (Individual and Team) in Cross-Country for Mother and Daughter combination of Eileen Kenny (W70, Mullingar Harriers) and Michelle Kenny (W40, Leevale AC). 

Team Ireland's eldest athletes did not disappoint, with the following medals won in M75
category:
Sean McMullin (Mullingar Harriers, age 75) - Double Gold in 5k Road Walk and 3,000m Track Walk
Evelyn McNelis W75 - Double Silver in Cross Country and 3000m
Michael Kiely (Rising Sun AC, age 77) - Silver in 800m and Bronze in 1500m
Hugh McSweeney (Eagle AC, Cork, age 77) - Silver 400m.

Michael and Hugh (who had last competed in Europe, 31 years ago in Budapest) also won Gold in the 4x200m Relay - dropping down to the M70 category to assist Mick Priest and Matt Slattery achieve this outstanding result, setting a new Irish Record in the process.

Annette Quaid & coach Donie Walsh of Leevale AC

Joe Gough (West Waterford AC, M65), no stranger to World and European podiums, won Gold in 1500m and Bronze in 800m. Paul Forbes from Great Britain had won the 800m and had broken Joe's 1500m World Record just a few weeks previously, but ultimately Joe's superb race tactics won the day in an enthralling 1500m race. All the more remarkable as Joe is just a few months shy of his 70 th  birthday.

Team Ireland entered a total of 7 teams in the 4x200m relays (its highest number of teams ever in sprint relays) and came away with 6 medals in M70 (Gold), M45 (Bronze) and W50 (Gold), W45 (Gold), W40 (Gold) and W35 (Silver). 

Special mention to joint Team Managers Anne Gormley and Patrick Crossan who put in a trojan amount of work over the full week of competition. Also to Ian Egan, Physical Therapist, who travelled out at his own expense and tended expertly to all the niggles and injuries of the Irish athletes.  

Finally it would be remiss not to acknowledge the generosity of all the Masters athletes from Team Ireland who made a special collection amongst themselves and raised €2,000 cash plus additional gear and clothing which was presented to the Ukrainian Masters athletics team. These athletes from Ukraine are still stuck in Portugal, unable to return home to their partners and children due to the conflict in their country. In a very emotional and poignant presentation the Ukrainian athletes expressed their deep gratitude to all those still present. We can only hope and pray that they can return safely to their families as quickly as possible.

Photos...
1) Patrick Crossan has a large gallery of photos HERE

Photographs of the European Cross Country Championships...

As many of you will have seen or heard on the news, the European Cross Country Championships in Portugal were on last Sunday, the 11th of December and the Irish mens Under 23 team won the gold medal!

In the womens race, Fionnuala Britton from Wicklow (shown above) finished in 4th place, just missing out on the bronze medal by the slimmest of margins.

There was also a Cork connection with the race in that local runner Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC was also taking part. Lizzie has won many of the local races and finished in a very credible 35th position in what you can imagine at this level is a very competitive field.

Photographs...
Lizzies dad, Gearoid O'Laoi was also on hand with his camera and has put together a very large gallery.

His photographs of the European Cross Country Championships can be seen HERE

Links....
There is a race report on the AAI website HERE

The results of all of the races can be seen from this page HERE