Congratulations to the Irish U23 cross country team who yesterday won Ireland's first ever team gold in the European Cross Country Championships.

The articles in today's papers would be well worth reading for any aspiring young distance runner, e.g. http://www.examiner.ie/sport/other-sport/mccarthy-says-win-will-spark-gold-rush-139215.html

But also check out the history of these men by looking at previous results of cross country as they came up through the ranks, swapping positions at the top each year, e.g. 2004 U17 Boys: http://www.athleticsireland.ie/JUV_2004/u17b/04xccind.htm. Laois's Michael Mulhare is particularly inspirational progressing each year from 25th place finish in the U16 boys in 2003 to yesterdays 16th place finish in Europe. You can check out those earlier years results at http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?page_id=160.

Well done also to GCH's Gary Thornton who had a great run in the Senior race!