Tipperary Athletic News by Niall O Sullivan County Senior PRO

These championships are held every 2 years with the cream of master’s distance runners and race walkers meeting up to compete in distance events on the road and cross country. This year the championships were held in Sicily over the May Bank Holiday weekend with John Laste of Fethard AC and Ross Alexander of Coolquill AC flying the banner for Tipperary Athletics where both entered the two race walk events, over 20k and 10k. John was also selected for the Irish relay cross country team men’s over 60.

On Friday 1st of May both John and Ross competed in the 10k Walk in relatively good conditions, overcast but a very slight head wind on one side of the 1k looped course. It was a fantastic day for Ross who has been working off the J&N coaching endurance training plan and who has made fantastic progress in reducing his race times. In this event, Ross had an amazing walk knocking 2 mins 30 secs off his all-time best and finishing agonisingly in 4th place over 45 category, in a time 50 mins 40 secs. Ross was over the moon at his time and was philosophical regarding his position as he gained so much time on the German walker ahead of him and has him now in his sights for future races. John Laste was happy just to be going to the line in this one having undergone a partial knee replacement 11 months ago. So, to get back race walking was a dream come through. John waked a technically sound race getting through with no violations in 1 hour 10 mins 23 secs when finishing 6th in the men’s 60 category. 

There was no resting for John as he had an early start on Saturday 2nd May when he competed in the cross-country relay. This event was held over a technical course through forestry terrain with lots of tree stumps, roots and fallen branches. It also started on what only could be described as a beach. John was off on the second leg having taken the timing band from Michael Cornyn who was positioned very well. John completed his leg without any problems, running extremely well and handing over to Michael Fennell safely and Michael completed his run leading this Irish team to bronze medals in great style. A fantastic result for the team and especially for John who hadn’t run a championship race of any level since 2019 in Torun, Poland which was coincidentally, also through a forest course. 

On the final day of competition, Sunday, John and Ross then set their sights on the 20k Race Walk where in very hot weather conditions with the noon start time. They were joined by Bobby King of St Cocas AC, on the Irish team in the over 45 Category with both Bobby and John dropping down in age grouping for this race. This was a real endurance battle in the heat. But the two Tipperary men along with the Co. Meath man secured a fine bronze medal team win with Bobby King also taking the men’s over 80 title for Ireland a great day for the Irish team and the two Tipperary men with Ross again finishing in another 4th place in his over 45 category and John 6th over 60. The championships ended with the great news that Ireland will host the 2028 event will Galway as the venue.