European Athletics Championships

**The Stars** · 08/08/2006, 4:08 PM

Has anyone been watching this.
Anyone know when Derval O'Rourke is running?

**Dodge** · 08/08/2006, 4:35 PM

Yeah been watching. A couple of decent performances so far. Liam Reale making the 1,500m final was a surprise. Joanne Cuddihy looked good in the 400m.

100m Hurdles gets underway @ 9.45 Thursday morning. She'll be doing well to make the final. has an outside chance of a medal (as any of the top 10 do in hurdling).

Cragg is our only solid medal chance in the 5,000m but hopefull O'Rourke or maybe Cuddihy can sneak one.

**Dodge** · 09/08/2006, 10:00 AM

For the Lazy but still a little interested. Here’s a round up

Day 1
Through
Liam Reale qualified for final of 1,500M
David Gillick 2nd in heat, qualified for semi

Out
Paul McKee and David McCarthy in 400m, finished 17th and 18th overall
Eileen O’Keefe finished 17th in hammer
Marie Davenport finished 22nd in 10,000m
James Nolan disappointingly out, ranked 26th in 1,500m
Michelle Carey ranked 21 in 400mH

Day 2
Through
Deirdre Ryan equals national record and qualifies for final of High Jump
Joanne Cuddihy looked really really good when finishing 2nd and qualifying for semi

Out
Gillick had a shocker when finishing 7th in his semi
Martin Fagan had a respectable 11th place in the 10,000m
Anna Boyle just missed out on qualification in the 100m

Day 3 (morning)
Paul Brizzel and Paul Hession both qualified for next round of 200m.

Gary Ryan was eliminated

This evening sees 2nd round action for Hession and Brizzle, Cuddihy in her Semi and Reale in the 1,500m final. Cuddihy has a chance at the final

**bennocelt** · 09/08/2006, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

For the Lazy but still a little interested. Here’s a round up

no need to quote whole posts - MOD

thanks for this Dodge

**beautifulrock** · 09/08/2006, 1:55 PM

Well done Dodge, makes for good viewing in the evening and RTE as always have a fine panel to help our Bill out. Gillickindeed had a shocker but at only 23 could still do something in a major championship. 100m was good and was glad it was sub 10 secs otherwise the Yanks would have scoffed even more than rthey are doing.

**pete** · 09/08/2006, 1:58 PM

The irish women seem to be showing up the guys this year.

Is there a reason why Ireland has improved dramatically in the 400m & below sprint events in recent years?

**Dodge** · 09/08/2006, 2:09 PM

Originally Posted by pete

The irish women seem to be showing up the guys this year.

Is there a reason why Ireland has improved dramatically in the 400m & below sprint events in recent years?

Apparently up until a few years ago we didn't have any dedicated sprint coaches and now we have a fair few. I'd also guess that the African domination of middle to long distances might've put some off. Although always American dominated, there's always been European medalists in the 400m and of course European Women are generally up there in World terms. Always though Athletics ireland should focus funding on events where Irish people could have a chance at Olympics medals.

**pete** · 09/08/2006, 2:19 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Always though Athletics ireland should focus funding on events where Irish people could have a chance at Olympics medals.

People only pay attention to Athletics when get medals at major events so we no better or worse than other countries.

Must be some niche events we could cherry pick?

**Dodge** · 09/08/2006, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by pete

Must be some niche events we could cherry pick?

Field events (all of them), Womens 400-5,000m (including steeplechase), Mens 800m

**Real ale Madrid** · 09/08/2006, 2:43 PM

According to Eamonn Coughlan last night Deirdre Ryan has no proper indoor facility to practise during the winter. People then wonder why we dont do better when it comes to big events. Any irish athlete that achieves PB's in major championships is a hero. We are a third world country when it comes to sports facilities.

**The Stars** · 09/08/2006, 9:55 PM

agree with Real....the facilitys in Ireland for top class athletics are nothing short of a disgrace.Time for the Government to put money into this,and get more youngsters involved if we are to have any hope in the future.

**Aberdonian Stu** · 09/08/2006, 10:26 PM

From BBC.co.uk on the mens 400m final:
Victory went to Frenchman Marc Raquil in 45.02 seconds but he had to come through late to get past Russian Vladislav Frolov who set a new personal best of 45.09.

In other news the Pope is Catholic.

Marc Raquil always, not some of the time, not most of the time but always has to surge through late. This little report would make it seem unexpected. With many runners yes, not with Raquil.

**Dodge** · 09/08/2006, 11:09 PM

Day 3 (evening) round up
Through
Paul Hession finished 3rd in the 2nd round of the 200m and goes through to the Semis.
Joanne Cuddihy finished 3rd in her semi and is now in the 400m final.

Out
Liam Reale finished in a more than decent 8th place in the 1,500m
Paul Brizzle pulled a hamstring in the 200m

Day 4 Irish in action
First up is Roisin McGettigan in the 3000m steeplechase semis. She's ranked in the top 10 and should make final.
Then Derval O'Rourke in the 100mH. She's in a tough enough heat but should progress.
Dave Campbell and Thomas Chamney start in the 800m heats. If either progress they'll have done very very well

First in the evening session is Alistair Cragg in the 5000m. He should progress very easily
The we have Ciara Sheehy and Anna Boyle inn the 200m heats. Both could progress but not expected
Then Joanne Cuddihy in the 400M FINAL. She's in lane 1 and is the slowest PB in the race.
Then Paul Hession in the 200m Semis. He's doe well to get here. First four go through and he's ranked 6th in PB terms. If he gets through the final is the last event.

Busy day for Irish tomorrow

**Aberdonian Stu** · 10/08/2006, 10:13 AM

Derval qualified easy enough. A little ragged but still comfortable.

**Dodge** · 10/08/2006, 11:28 AM

McGettigan and Fionnual Britton failed to qualify from 3,000m Steeplechase heats. McGettigan finished 5th but her heat was slower. She was a bit unlucky.

O'Rourke is 5th fastest qualifier and IMO looked copmfortable

The two 800m lads are out

**pete** · 10/08/2006, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

O'Rourke is 5th fastest qualifier and IMO looked copmfortable

She qualified 7th fastest & looking at competitions PBs will need get close to PB to make the final & have to beat her PB to have chance at medal. Saw interview this morning & she seemed to know that already.

**Dodge** · 10/08/2006, 12:00 PM

That was a typo. Meant to write 7th. As I said above she'd be doing well to make final but there's no doubting if she stays injury free she can challenge the others. She's lowered her PB 4 times this year and missed the first 2 months of season...

**wws** · 10/08/2006, 12:18 PM

Goof Balls

they're all hepped on Goof Balls

**Dodge** · 10/08/2006, 2:11 PM

Smie final draw made for 100mH. O'Rourke in 2nd semi. She has 4th quickest PB and SB in her heat and top 4 qualify. She's beside gold medal favourite Susanna Kollur of Sweden

**The Stars** · 10/08/2006, 4:06 PM

Missed Deravls race but Alistair Cragg looked very comfortable in his semi final,stayed in fourth the whole race,then went to the leader with 2 laps to go,and finish with plenty left in the tank.