British & Irish Masters International XC 2023 (11th Nov)
Regarded by many as the highlight of the masters calendar, the British & Irish Masters International Cross Country took place on Saturday morning 11th November in Tollcross Park in Glasgow where teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland battled it out on a challenging undulating course, but the crisp dry sunny day meant underfoot conditions were very good. Among the Irish team was Mullingar’s Gerard Gavin, Eddie Newman and Sean McMullin, excited to swop the maroon of Mullingar for the green of Ireland.
The event was first held in 1985 and every year since, barring the Covid related cancellations of 2020 and 2021, the overall contest was won by England until last year’s event at Dublin where Ireland won both the men’s contest and the women’s contest to take a shock overall win. Ireland was not expected to be as strong away from home and hosts Scotland were hoping to mount a challenge for overall honours but the Mullingar men were determined not to be found wanting.
Race one of four was the 6,000m for older master men where Sean McMullin faced the challenge of running along with several master men age categories. His experience in International competition came to the fore though and he remained focused on his own race to finish an excellent 10th place, the third score for the Irish team that placed 2nd to win a team silver medal and earn valuable points for Ireland.
The final race of the morning was the 8,000m for master men where Gerard Gavin and Eddie Newman competed. Both ran great races and Gerard finished strong to help the Irish team to 3rd place in his master category and win a team medal, followed in by Eddie who was delighted to finish second score for the Irish team that placed 3rd in his master category and win a team medal too.
Each country was awarded points for their placings in all the age team categories. Ireland’s women were victorious, Ireland’s men were second to England, and in the overall contest for combined men and women, Ireland finished second to England, just ahead of hosts Scotland.
