By James Sexton

The 13th European Cross Country Championships in Italy has a new Mens Cross Country Champion for the first time since 2001 with Mo Farah Britain taking the title after five years of dominance by the Ukraine’s Sergie Lebid. The best of the Irish athletes was Mark Kenneally Clonliffe Harriers in 31st position with Martin Fagan Mullingar Harriers unable to compete due to food poisining. The Irish Team gave a very poor performance finishing 8th out of ten countries.

The senior ladies once again another Irish athlete had to withdraw due to food poisining Rosemary Ryan Bilboa A.C. in Limerick and Mary Cullen North Sligo was the best of the Irish in 14th place with the Irish Team finishing 8th out of nine. The winner Tetyana Holovchenko Ukraine a surprise winner over Maria Konovalova Russia and once again Olivera Jevtic Serbia third and our own Orla O’Mahoney from Ennis a former Marian A.C. athlete will be disappointed with her 46th place finish as she was looking to a top 30 spot.

Binnis Uslu Turkey became the first athlete to win the U/23 ladies event when she edged out Fionnuala Britton from Wicklow and this is the first ever holding of this U/23 championship and again Ireland finishing 8th in the team placings.

The mens U/23 Mark Christie Mullingar Harriers was a big medal hope is this race after winning the National Inter Counties in Dungarvan and he was very disappointing finishing in 19th place with Joseph Sweeney the best of the Irish in 13th and a very good Team performance finishing 4th overall just 8pts off the bronze medals.

Brendan O Neill who is only 17years of age gave a great display of running in the Junior mens when finishing 19th with Roseanna Galligan coming home in 12th position in the Junior Ladies with both Irish teams finishing 16th overall.

Results of Irish :

Junior Ladies.

16. Ireland

12. Roseanna Galligan

38. Breffni Twohig

47. Sara Louise treacy

60. Ellen Diskin

76. Laura Huet

84. Bryony Treston

U/23 Ladies.

8. Ireland

2. Fionnuala Britton

20. Orla Drumm

35. Linda Byrne

52. Niamh Devlin

54. Ciara Durkin

62. Siobhan O’Doherty

Senior Ladies (8000m).

8. Ireland

13. Mary Cullen

42. Aoifa Byrne

46. Orla O’Mahoney

51. Pauline Curley

56. Niamh O’Sullivan

Junior Men.

16. Ireland

19. Brendan O’Neill

66. David Rooney

85. Cathal Dennehy

86. Kevin Lawler

90. Mark Hoey

U/23 Men.

4. Ireland

13. Joseph Sweeney

19. Mark Christie

24. Andrew Ledwith

46. Michael Clohessy

62. Mark Hanrahan

75. Mark Kirwan

Senior Men (10000m).

8. Ireland

31. Mark Kenneally

35. Vinny Mulvey

39. Garry Murray

52. Joe Mc Allister

59. David Kelly