JEC 2008

From Niall Ewen, M18

The 2008 junior European cup was held in the spacious forests surrounding the city of Arlon in southern Belgium. The team consisted of Ruairi Short, Colm Hill and Fiach O’Rourke running M20. Running M18 were Niall Ewen, Kevin O’Boyle and Alan Lane. All under the watchful eyes of Ruth Lynam and David Healy.

Receiving a telephone call while still in bed at 5:50 on Friday morning announcing the car is waiting outside and fully believing that I had another hour before I had to go is always fun but it was decided that some of us were already working on Belgium time.

After a short hop to Brussels Charleroi we drove to Neufchateau about 30km north of Arlon where it was possible to stay in a sports center that night and collect training maps.

We woke early on Saturday morning and drove south to Arlon and the Middle distance.

At this point it should be mentioned that the maps consisted of about 1500 tree stumps marked “x” and an equal number of charcoal burning platforms marked “o”, wide contours, every shade of vegetation and one shoe stealing fence just before the run in. This required a completely different thought process and approach to routes (mainly straight through everything).

The accommodation was in the grounds of a sports center in six bed chalets, food was spot on mainly pastas and fruit. A free pool sealed the deal and provided a cool place to pass the day post race.

The long distance was well… long and the temperature was pretty high. That night one of the squad members (who will remain unnamed) left the chalet sleep-walking into the Czech chalet and the JEC organisers chalet, but third times the charm and he returned to our chalet.

Day three and we arrived at the relay passing signs for army tanks in the forest. Teams were, team 1 Fiach O’Rourke, Ruairi Short, Alan Lane and team 2 Colm Hill, Kevin O’Boyle, Niall Ewen. The men’s relay started and slowly started to return through the first spectator control. Fiach passed and began loop two, still no Colm. Fifteen minutes later Colm arrives through the first spectator shouting that he had stood in a wasp nest and needed sting cream at the second spectator control. When Colm stood on the nest he had to run in any random direction away from a cloud of angry wasps and map contact was somewhat lost. Colm then flew through the second spectator saying very politely that he in fact did not require any cream at that point and would continue the race. Kev was tagged and flew through his course I waited in the start box next to the last Spanish runner. Kev came down the run in followed by the Spanish second leg. After a mistake in the forest the Spaniard had 20 seconds on me at the first spectator; by the second spectator I had 20 seconds after dropping him in a technical contour section; at the third last control I made my move and lost the Spaniard and as I punched the control I could hear Colm’s voice echoing through the trees.

Driving back to the airport after the largest chicken dinner ever in the sport center we came upon some road works, first there were rows of six inch high nails sticking out of the road, then a series of deep pits. Dave made a joke saying it was like something out of the prince of Persia computer games and was waiting for swinging blades or something. A minute later we passed four huge circular saws sticking out of the road the car erupted in laughter.

Niall Ewen