Clare Scanlon

THERE were celebrations in Browne's Bar in the Cross on Sunday night after local girl Clare Scanlon won the World Masters Speed Skating Championships for the second time in four years.

Clare (37) was representing her adopted home, Holland, at this year's championships at the Ice Rink Piné, Baselga di Piné in Northern Italy.

The World Masters is reserved for competitors in the over thirties age groups.Originally from Crossroads, Killygordon, Clare now lives in Nijmegen, Holland with her partner Emile Jansen. She is a former member of the Finn Valley Athletic Club.

She finished in second to Dutch team-mate Irma Woud in the 500 metre event in rather difficult weather conditions on the outdoor circuit on Friday afternoon.However, she won in the 1,500 metres on Saturday and both the 1,000 metre and 3,000 metres on Sunday.

Competition was tough this year again with entrants from such countries as Germany, USA, Norway and Ukraine. She has been in Italy with the Dutch team since Sunday as they engaged in altitude training for this weekend's event which is located on an outdoor track at a lofty 1,100 metres.

Speaking from Italy yesterday, Clare said that while she was expecting a podium finish, she was not expecting to be picking up another gold medal. "I am not at all used to racing on out outdoor tracks and that's where Irma had the advantage over me on Friday as the weather conditions were very, very bad," she explained. "I was surprised by the performances of the Dutch girl as I had been expecting the Ukrainian girl to lead the way. I certainly was not expecting to win this year, however, once the weather improved I started to get to grips with the outdoor conditions. Although, I had a slow start, I pulled back time in the middle and long distance races at which I am stronger in. Naturally, I'm delighted to be World Champion. I will be celebrating tonight and, no doubt, my friends and family will be having a few drinks in Browne's Bar tonight too," she said.

Clare began her skating career sixteen years ago when she moved to Holland and is well known in speed skating circles there. In 2007, she became the first Irish person to compete in the World Speed Skating Championships in the Olympic Oval, Calgary, Canada where she took home the silver medal. In 2008 she won the tournament outright and picked up a silver medal last year.

Clare said she would loved to have been representing Ireland at the Winter Olympics. However, she explained, she would need to turn professional and train full-time in order to meet the qualifying standards.

Before beginning her skating career Clare was a popular athlete at home in Donegal. Originally from Crossroads, Killygordon, she is a former member of the Finn Valley Athletics Club and was on the U13 team that won an International cross country event in Gateshead in 1985.

Pictures.

CLARE SCANLON 2.

CLARE SCANLON 1.

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CLARE SCANLON 3.