A challenging course in Champéry saw several big crashes in seeding runs on Saturday, which ultimately saw the remainder of the seeding cancelled.
The Irish riders present met the challenging conditions head on, and in the Elite Category Ronan Dunne grabbed himself a top 10. A strong ride for the Wicklow native saw him just one second off a podium place.
Caolan Sammon came in 113th, with Ross Ennis and Henry Kerr taking 127th and 128th respectively in a stacked Elite field.
In the Junior category, a heavy crash on Saturday meant Alex Hickey did not start the race on Sunday. Callum Morris, however, bagged himself a 9th place, sitting just 3 seconds off the podium places.
Three Irish riders took the track in the Under 17 Category. Cailan Lancashire was the highest place at 47th, while Ros O'Keefe finished 10 places back in 57th. Darragh Ryan rounded out the Irish representatives in 71st.
An immense ride from Diarmuid O'Sealbhaigh in the U15 category saw him take 6th place, while Irelandâ's only other representative in this category, Jamie Kennedy, placed 22nd in a very talented field.
The Masters 45-49 saw two Irish riders in the top ten. Michael Cowan took 7th place, just two seconds ahead of Dale McMullan in 8th.
Michael White was Ireland's sole representative in the Masters 60-64 category, and finished just off the podium in 4th.
Full results are available - click here
UEC Downhill European Championship Preview
A large Irish presence takes to the track at the UEC Downhill European Championships when racing gets underway in Champéry, Swizterland this weekend.
Ronan Dunne will look to continue his fantastic 2024 form, having won a UCI World Cup event in Poland, as well as RedBull Hardline events in Wales and Tasmania. The 2023 Irish National Downhill Champion will be joined in the Men's Elite category by World Cup regulars Ross Ennis and Henry Kerr. Caolan Sammon, who saw a mechanical take him out of contention in this years National Championships, will round out the Irish contingent in this category.
2024 Junior Downhill National Champion, and more recently Under 21 Enduro National Champion Callum Morris will represent Ireland in the Junior Category. Morris will be joined by Alex Hickey, who impressed with a top 25 placing in the Under 19 category at the iXS European Cup Second Round in Leinzerheide in June.
Sammon and Hickey's young FloGas Racing teammate, Ros O'Keefe, will take to the track in the Under 17 category. Joining him will be Cailan Lancashire and Darragh Ryan, both hoping to carry strong domestic form onto the European stage.
The Under 15 Category will feature two Irish riders in Diarmuid O'Sealbhaigh and Jamie Kennedy.
Ireland will also have representation in the Masters Categories. Dale McMullan and Michael Cowan will race in the 45-49 Category. Michael White will be Ireland's sole competitor in the 60-64 Category.
Riders get their first look at the 1.52km track for practice on Friday, 9th of August, with practice and seeding taking place on Saturday and finals taking place on Sunday, 11th of August.