A: Grange, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland | E: info@mullingarharriers.com

European Masters Non-Stadia Championships 2022 (13th to 15th May)

 

Sean McMullin – European Masters 30k Race Walk CHAMPION

(More photos below)

 

Mullingar Masters excel at Europeans

Two International debuts, a European title, an individual silver medal, two team silver medals and a fourth place team made for an extremely memorable few days in Italy for three of Mullingar’s master athletes.

The European Masters Non-Stadia Championships got underway in Grosseto, Italy on Friday morning 13th May where Sean McMullin and Colm Walsh competed in the 10k race walks, which were held in Sandro Pertini Park over five laps of a 2k looped flat course that had long sweeping bends, so with no sharp turns it was more like racing on a track and was therefore very fast.

First into action in hot sunny mid-twenties Celsius conditions was Sean McMullin who lined up in his race with over seventy men across several age categories, but Sean is used to competing at European and World level, so knew who his opposition was in his own age group and remained focussed on them. He gave his customary polished performance to finish second and add another European masters race walk medal to his collection, reinforcing his formidable reputation in the event.

By mid-morning when Colm Walsh took to the line in a very big field of over forty men across several age categories, the 28degC heat was intense and posed a real challenge. This was new territory for Colm, being used to much smaller fields in Ireland and much cooler conditions but settling in superbly, he stayed focussed and concentrated on his own race. He went out hard for the first 5k but the water stations only had cups of water, which are difficult to manage when moving at pace, so he couldn’t keep hydrated too well and had to ease back on the second 5k as the heat began to take its toll. He battled on with great determination to the end though and any disappointment he felt on a relatively slow time was put aside when he learned that he had finished a terrific fifth in his age category, and even better that he was second finisher on the Ireland team that placed second, earning him a silver medal in his first International masters competition, a brilliant medal-winning International debut.

Saturday morning dawned just as warm as Friday when Aidan O’Donoghue competed in the 5k run at the same Sandro Pertini Park venue as used for the race walks. Nearly one hundred men across three age groups toed the line in sweltering conditions and even though Aidan ran as best as he could he didn’t feature in the individual results, but was delighted to learn that he was third finisher for the Ireland team that placed a very creditable fourth team behind Italy, Germany and Romania. Aidan was delighted to have made his International debut in his first European Masters competition and is looking forward to further opportunities.

The final event of the Championships took place on a warm sunny Sunday afternoon, where Sean McMullin competed in the gruelling 30k race walk, but at least it was late in the afternoon and had cooled a little, but still tough conditions for such a long distance. Doubling up the start with the women 20k race walk saw over ninety athletes setting off from the gun, making it very busy in the early stages until things settled but Sean has considerable experience in such events and it didn’t faze him in the slightest. Drawing on all his physical and mental reserves Sean kept his focus and settled into his race and maintained excellent technique under the vigilant eyes of the judges. As the fifteen laps of Sandro Pertini Park counted down, he slowly pulled clear of his rivals, holding off a late challenge, to win and clinch the European title. To add to the celebrations, Sean combined with two others to secure the silver team medals for Ireland. An individual gold and a team silver are very well deserved awards for such an accomplished and dedicated master athlete.

Sean of course is no stranger to International competition but for Colm and Aidan this was their first time to compete at this level. They both gave great accounts and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and now that they have made their International debuts their names will be added to the International Roll of Honour in the Clubhouse, bringing the total to 122 members of Mullingar Harriers AC that have represented Ireland since the Club was founded in 1975.

 

Colm Walsh & Sean McMullin – 10k Race Walk SILVER medals

Aidan O’Donoghue (5k Run) delighted to represent Ireland in European Masters competition

Colm Walsh (centre) receives his 10k Race Walk team SILVER medal

Sean McMullin – European Masters 30k Race Walk CHAMPION