Nestled in the scenic heart of County Wicklow, the IMRA Brockagh Burst course served as the challenging route for this year’s British & Irish Junior Mountain Running Championships. The event, held in Laragh, showcased challenging terrain that included steep ascents and fast grassy downhills which tested the endurance and skill of every participant.
This year marked the 24th edition of the championships, drawing 95 athletes from Scotland, Wales, England, Northern Ireland and Ireland and a large crowd of supporters and spectators to enjoy the competition. Leading up to the event, IMRA held a tough trial race on August 24th to finalize the Irish and Northern Irish men’s and women’s teams in the U20 and U17 categories.
In a display of remarkable talent, Team Ireland excelled across all age groups, clinching six top ten spots across the four races. In the U17 races, Siobhan O’Loughlin (25:19) and Riley Connolly(20:36) led their teams home with very impressive 10th place finishes.
The U20 Girls team shone brightly, capturing the Team Bronze with standout performances from Caithlin Hughes (6th place, 29:24), Hannah Foley Wollimer (9th place, 29:43), and Sinead Farrell (10th place, 30:02). In the U20 Boys race, Luke Duffy led the Irish contingent with an exceptional 8th place finish in a time of 25:48.
All 32 Irish athletes demonstrated exceptional dedication, skill and determination, earning pride and praise for their efforts. The team’s performance promises an exciting future, and we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to take on the challenges in Wales next year.
