While the County action was taking place in Cashel, the National Race-Walking Championships were taking place in St Anne’s Park Raheny, at the World Athletics Race Walking tour.

Ross Alexander turned back the clock a little last Sunday with an exceptional performance at these Championships. National titles and world qualifying times were at stake for so many in the field of over 250 international race walkers. A magnificent array of world class walkers, Olympians, World championship class competitors as well as very many future national and international stars were showing off their fantastic potential as walk athletes.

For Masters M40 athlete Ross, it was his first time taking on the 35k senior distance but Ross was determined to put his autumn training block to the test and set his stall out early settling into a very good tempo clocking sub 5.30 per kilometre and going through 10k in 54 mins 25 secs, thus taking the National 10k men’s over 40 National title. As he pushed on, he reached the 20k mark in a massive new personal best time of 1hour 49 mins 39 secs, beating his previous best by over 4mins and 36secs a tremendous performance.

The personal bests did not stop there as Ross hit the 30k mark in 2.51.28 a new National over 40 record (subject to ratification) and another PB by 14 mins 30 secs. The last 5k of the race was a real battle of mental strength and physical endurance as the distance began to take its toll, on the Tipperary athlete but having put himself in with a shout for his first ever senior race walk medal. It was worth every ounce of sweat and no little pain, to complete the 35k in 3 hours 28 mins 16 secs and take the National Seniors Bronze medal. A well-deserved reward for so many years dedicated to the sport.