Junior European Cup - Belgium - 30 Aug–1 Sep 2008
From Ruth Lynam, Team Manager
Six Irish Juniors ran at the Junior European Cup in Belgium, accompanied by Leaders David Healy & Ruth Lynam. Nick Simonin was out of action due to illness, so the team consisted of M20s Ruairi Short, Colm Hill, Fiach O'Rourke, and M18s Alan Lane, Kevin O'Boyle, Niall Ewen.
Based in Arlon, on the Luxembourg border, the terrain was generally flat forest with a few steep-sided valleys, intricately mapped vegetation, and myriads of charcoal-burning circles & tree stumps. Apart from a couple of route choice legs among the valleys, the navigation relied largely on compass work, counting off paths, and interpreting vegetation changes near the controls - the straight route was nearly always best.
The competition consisted of Middle Distance on Saturday, Long on Sunday and Relay on Monday. Switzerland, France, Czech Republic & Russia hogged the prizegiving in the individual events. The turnout was poor though - only 12 countries attended, and the standard was very high, the Irish results should be judged by relative time rather than by placing. In general the Irish – and notably the inexperienced M18s Alan, Kevin & Niall - ran well-controlled races, not error-free but keeping time losses small and relocating very well. Fiach fell foul of Emit in the Middle Distance, and Ruairi mispunched in the Long, redeeming himself somewhat with a very good run in the Relay.
The Relay provided the most excitement. The terrain was similar to that of the previous 2 races with the addition of a small very technical contour area which caught out lots of the best teams. Austria & Germany surprised everyone including probably themselves by taking 1st & 2nd in the Mens' Relay. From the Irish point of view Colm, Kevin & Niall set up a suspense-filled final leg against Spain. Below is Niall's description of this, and other aspects of the weekend.
Full results are at http://www.frso.be/blog.php?bid=10
Results in brief:
Middle Distance
H18 4.3km 37 comps. 1 Lucas Basset FRA 24:39, 28 Alan Lane IRL IRL 39:57, 29 Kevin O'Boyle IRL 40:13, 32 Niall Ewen IRL 43:37
H20 4.6km 29 comps. 1 Benjamin Lepoutre FRA 28:51, 16 Ruairi Short IRL 37:46, 24 Colm Hill IRL 56:02, Fiach O'Rourke IRL nc
Long Distance
H18 9.9km 37 comps. 1 Florian Howald SWI 59:32, 30 Alan Lane IRL 79:42, 32 Kevin O'Boyle 85:14, 36 Niall Ewen IRL 104:19
H20 10.8km 29 comps. 1 Thibaut Poupard FRA 65:38, 24 Colm Hill IRL 88:29, 26 Fiach O'Rourke IRL 89:52, Ruairi Short IRL nc
Relay 5.2km 19 teams + 3 mixed. 1 Austria 31:34, 31:59, 31:39. 16 Ireland1 Fiach O'Rourke 44:45, Ruairi Short 35:10, Alan Lane 51:30. 17 Ireland2 Colm Hill 60:13, Kevin O'Boyle 49:05, Niall Ewen 53:55.
Ruth Lynam
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