RIVERSIDE Runner Andrew Moraghan made his mark on the international stage by claiming FOUR medals at the European Masters Championships in Hungary.

RIVERSIDE Runner Andrew Moraghan made his mark on the international stage by claiming FOUR medals at the European Masters Championships in Hungary.

The 37-year-old pulled on the GB vest to represent his country and returned with one gold, two silvers and a bronze medal.

Middle-distance runner Moraghan won silver in the 800m in the 35-40 age group, and collected a bronze in the 1,500m.

He then teamed up with the other GB athletes at the championships to form a formidable relay squad in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m events.

As the self-financed athletes enter the championships independently, the relay team had no time to prepare for the events.

However, they shook off the drawbacks to take silver in the 4 x 100m, and gold in the 4 x 400m event, where they missed out on a national record by just 0.17secs.

Despite the medal haul, Moraghan said the championships had been tinged with a disappointment.

“I was delighted to win the medals, but I had set myself a target of gold in the 800m.

“I’d been training hard, and as I knew most of the field I thought I could win.

“However, the German proved just that split-second better on the day.”

After deciding to enter the championships late last year, Moraghan set himself a rigid training schedule to get him to peak fitness by mid-July.

“I felt I could do well, because I’d put together a plan to get me in top shape for the championships,” he said. “And I suppose coming back with four medals can’t be bad.”

Moraghan will next be in action at open events in Glasgow and the Channel Isles.

Next year he is targeting the World Championships in the USA, where he is already planning to team up once again with his relay team �members from Hungary.