Possible record of Nations at the 10. EA Mountain Running Championship 2011 in Bursa-Uludag (Turkey)
Confirmed Federations competing in the uphill running event are: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, FYR of Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and host Country Turkey, but also Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Montenegro and Serbia sent their preliminary entry forms.
Record of present Nations at the European Mountain Running Championships is 28 on 2005 in Austria (Heiligenblut). So it could be possible that this record will be broken this year in Bursa.
At the start , are announced about two hundred men and one hundred women divided in junior and senior categories.
The races should be very exciting with Ahmet Arslan from Turkey looking to defend his title with several in form Italian athletes looking to topple the 4-time European Champion. Again the Italian and Turkish teams look very strong but David Schneider (SUI) the winner from the WMRA 2nd GP race will hope to challenge. 2010 team medallists, Spain are also a nation with much mountain running expertise.
The Women's race should once again prove a wonderful competition with Martina Straehl (SUI) and Andrea Mayr (AUT) looking like the likely favourites. However there are many new faces emerging and WMRA Grand prix leader Emma Clayton ,(GBR) and Mateja Kosovelj (SLO) along with defending champion Marie Laure Dumergues (FRA). Italy and France may well battle for team honors again.
Impossible to tell more about junior races where surprise is always possible in these races!
EA President, Hansjorg Wirz announced his presence at the event, together TAF President, Mehmet Terzi.
WMRA is delighted that the LOC from Bursa are organizing a wonderful event on the scenic Mountains around Bursa.
WMRA offer particular thanks to the LOC and European Athletics for their progressive and support for Mountain Running and all the National Athletic Federations and the participants for their presence at the EA Championships.
news by Bruno Gozzelino and Bashir Hussain ,