European Masters Athletics Championships 2023 - Pescara, Italy

IRISH MASTERS ATHLETES PERFORM SPECTACULARLY IN PESCARA

A team of 110 Irish Masters Athletes have returned home from the European Athletics Championships in Pescara with a huge medal haul of 53 medals - 17 Gold, 24 Silver and 12 Bronze.

The superb performance saw Ireland finish 9th overall on the medal table out of 34 nations that medalled - punching well above their weight compared to other larger European nations.

The athletes ranged in age from 35 to 77 and competed in the full range of Track and Field events in addition to Cross-Country, 10k Road and Half-Marathon.

There were many excellent performances including:

• Double Gold for both Annette Kealy (W55 - Raheny, in 10k Road Race and Half Marathon) and Joe Gough (M70 - West Waterford, in 800m and 1500m). Annette also added a Team Gold in W55 Half-Marathon (along with Donna Evans and Irene Clements) and Team Silver in 10k Road Race (team listed below). 
• A massive haul of 8 medals for Geraldine Finegan (W55 - North East Runners) and 7 medals for Edel Maguire (W60 - Clonliffe) - details listed in the attached.
• Annette Quaid (W45 - Leevale) won Gold in 400m and added 2 Relay Golds in W45 4x400m (along with Bronwen McDonald, Leanne Wellings and Maria Dunne) and Mixed 45 4x400 (along with Leanne Wellings, Ger Cremin and Carlton Haddock). The Mixed 45 4x400 time achieved of 3.49.52 appears to be a new European Record (subject to ratification).
• Carlton Haddock (M50 - Leevale) won Gold in 400m and also added 2 Relays Golds in M45 4x400m (along with Ger Cremin, Kevin Lynch and Jim Phelan) and Mixed 45 4x400 as listed above. 
• Michelle Kenny (W40 - Leevale) won Gold in 8k Cross-country and Silver in 10k Road Race in addition to Team Gold in 8k Cross Country (along with Eimear Purdue and Zoe Quinn). 
• Not to be outdone Michelle's mother Eileen Kenny (W70 - Athlone) won Silver in both the10k Road Race and the 5k Track. Eileen dropped down 3 age categories to add Team Silver in 10k Road Race (along with Carmel Crowley and Annette Kealy).
• The evergreen Sean McMullin (M75 - Mullingar) won double Silver in the 10k and 20k Road Walk and Bronze in the 5k Track race. If metal is ever in short supply just give Sean a shout as he must have a shed full of National, European and World medals at this stage! 
• Great to see a number of throwers competing for Ireland ably supported/ encouraged by John Dwyer (M40 - Templemore) who himself won Silver in Weight Throw and Bronze in Hammer. 
• Fantastic to see more Athletes competing for their 1st time including Catherine O'Connor (W35) who won Gold in 8k Cross Country. Carherine's sister Claire Quinn (W40) won Silver in W35 4x100 relay (with teammates Leanne Wellings, Mary Scanlon and Gemma Thompson).

Full list of results and medal table here.

Huge thanks are due to Team Managers - Anne Gormley (Donore), Sean McDermott (Castlegar; and Tribal Running), Sean McMullin (Mullingar) and Ian Egan (physical therapist - Castlegar).

The Masters association noted a special word of thanks to Breda Gaffney (W50 - Mallow) who agreed to compete in the W50 4x400m Relay just 4 hours after completing her half-marathon race where she won Team Gold with Catherine O'Connor and Gillian Sohun). Breda ran a superb leg of the relay and helped her team (Maggie O'Connor, Geraldine Finegan and Edel Maguire) win Silver.

Athletics Ireland would like to congratulate all those involved.