A dedicated team of nine Irish Masters athletes traveled to the picturesque island of Porto Santo to compete in the European Championships Non Stadia, held from May 17th to 19th. The Championships featured a schedule that included a 10k road race and 10k race walk on Friday, a 3x2k Cross Country relay on Saturday morning, and concluded with a half marathon and 20k race walk on Sunday. Despite the intense competition and challenging events, the Irish Masters delivered stellar performances, bringing home a total of eight medals—four individual and four team.
The individual medalists showcased exceptional talent:
- Tom Cuddy claimed Gold in the M65 Half Marathon.
- Sean McMullen earned Gold in the M75 20k Race Walk and Bronze in the M75 10k Race Walk.
- Martin Kerr took home Bronze in the M70 10k Road Race.
In addition to the individual successes, the Irish Masters excelled in the team events, demonstrating their ability to work together and support each other:
- The M70 team, consisting of Martin Kerr, Terry O'Hare, and Matt Alexander, secured Silver in the 10k Road Race.
- The M50 team, with Paul Blaney, Tom O'Connor, and Tom Cuddy, won Silver in the 3x2k Cross Country Relay.
- The M60 team, featuring Paul Cowie, Tom O'Connor, and Michael Cornyn, earned Bronze in the 10k Road Race.
- The M70 team, once again represented by Martin Kerr, Terry O'Hare, and Matt Alexander, clinched Bronze in the 3x2k Cross Country Relay.
Among the remarkable stories from the championships was Michael Cornyn's performance. Competing with a hamstring injury that had limited his preparation to cycling and swimming, Cornyn managed to finish the 10k road race, securing a crucial position that helped his team win the European M60 team Bronze, finishing behind Portugal and Italy but ahead of three other teams.
Unfortunately, he aggravated his injury less than 1k from the finish while overtaking a British competitor, forcing him to withdraw from the 3x2k Cross Country Relay the following day. Despite this setback, Cornyn expressed satisfaction with the overall experience, highlighting the camaraderie and success of the Irish Masters team. This medal was his fourth European medal, adding to his already incredibly impressive athletic career.
Every athlete on the team returned home with at least one medal, marking a highly successful outing for the formidable Irish contingent at the European Championships Non Stadia.
Featured Image: Courtesy of Michael Cornyn