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World Masters Mountain Running Championships 2023 - Madeira

The World Masters Championship adopts a new 2 race format from 2023 and takes place on the island of Madeira on 16th and 17th of September.

SMLPXL 20220903 181650067Following the success of the World Masters Mountain Running Championships last weekend in Clonmel, Ireland, we are already looking forward to next year's championship. Representatives of the LOC were present in Clonmel, where they were presented with the WMRA flag by Tomo Šarf.

Check out our report from this year's championship here.

Madeira is no stranger to international mountain running competitions, having hosted the European Mountain Running Championships in 2002 and 2015, as well as the European Masters Championship in 2020.

The 2023 championship, organised once more in partnership with World Masters Athletics, will bring a new format, with a short uphill race and a long trail race, similar to this year's European Masters Championship which took place in France in July.

Nélio Parreira, of the L.O.C.: "We are very happy to receive this event on our island, where other international Mountain Running events have already taken place, and this time in the municipality of Calheta, on the southwestern shore of the island, known for it’s nature and great weather, being the sunnier part of the island. And we can’t wait to welcome athletes from the four corners of the earth to participate in this event, that we hope will be an all-round success.

SMLphoto 2022 08 30 02 39 42"On the uphill race the athletes will be challenged over a 9.25k and 800m+ course that starts in Ponta do Pargo, the most rural area of the municipality of Calheta, and comprises many types of paths, going from dirt roads, to single tracks along the forest (that provide shade for the athletes), with short passes by meadows, and even a pass by one of the world famous madeiran levadas (small water channels, famous for its hikes), and will finish in the scenic location of Fonte do Bispo, with its picturesque altitude forest and quietness.

"And in the long distance race, athletes will run through the locations of Ponta do Pargo and Fajã da Ovelha, on a 32.4k course with a uphill gain of 1160m+, having changing views at each corner, and also different types of terrain all along the course, with it’s also different levels of technicity.”

Photos by Richard Bolt and Madeira LOC.