Britton basks in afterglow of golden team effort
Even in the sub-zero temperatures there was a warm glow from Britton and her senior team mates on their double gold success.
Despite her personal heroics in retaining the crown, the Wicklow warrior was securing as much enjoyment from the heroics of Linda Byrne, Ava Hutchinson, Lizzie Lee, Sarah McCormack and Sara Treacy.
“That really capped it for me,” Britton admitted, “because cross-country running is much about a team effort and to win it this way, coming down to the final scorer, is fantastic.
“I’m sure will be a great boost for the sport back home.”
And Britton was also keen to share the plaudits with coach Chris Jones for overseeing a training regime which proved vital in seeing off Portuguese rival Felix Dulce with a devastating sprint for the line 200m from home.
“We always felt that the field this year would be stronger and that is exactly the way it was. This time I knew what to expect and knew how hard it would be to win for a second time. But then I was more experience this time and had raced against most of the runners before. At one stage I was surprised to see a couple of the runners drop away but I ways felt that the last lap would be crucial.”
The fast finishing team of Byrne, Hutchinson and Lee scored a total of 52 points, tying them with France for the team honours. Countback decided the destination of the gold medal, with Ireland’s fourth scorer Lee finishing five places clear of France’s Laurane Pioche, giving Ireland their first European women’s title.
Cork woman Lee said: “My coach Donnie told me that I was in the shape of my life and just to go for it”
Ava Hutchinson added: “We always thought we could win a medal, maybe a silver or bronze but gold, this is a dream come true.”
For Team manager Teresa McDaid appointed to the role last month, this was an incredible baptism of fire. “I’m delighted with the results from the senior women. Fionnuala was out on her own and ably supported by all the girls.”
This is the second Irish team victory in two years after the achievement by the men’s U23 team two years ago.
Things did not quite work out for Joe Sweeney in the men’s event on this occasion. He was 5th last year but on this occasion he was 27th — one minute and four seconds behind winner Italy’s Andrea Lalli.
Top Irishman was Brendan O’Neill in 22nd with David Rooney 38th, Michael Mulhare 44th, Sean Hehir 52nd and Brian Maher 73rd.
In the junior men’s race, Armagh’s Stephen Kerr was the top Irish finisher in 37th — 55 seconds behind Polish winner Szymon Kulka — while Newcastle runner Eoghan Totten was a further 17 seconds back in 61st with Killian Mooney 89th and Ian Guiden 107th.
John Travers was top Irishman in the U23 event in 44th with Patrick Hogan 52nd, Dave Fitzmaurice 76th, Samuel Mealy 80th and Letterkenny man Christopher Johnston 86th.
In the women’s U23 race, Laura Behan was 54th while Fionnuala Britton’s sister Una was 58th.
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