ATHLETICS Ireland's European Cross Country hopefuls in action

Many of Ireland's top cross country runners will be in action across Europe this weekend as they continue to prepare for next months SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Dublin. Athletics Ireland is sending a squad of 28 athletes to Mol in Belgium for the International Cross Country meet, while four Irish athletes will compete at the high profile cross country event in Burgos, Spain.

Mary Cullen (North Sligo AC) will be in action in Spain alongside fellow Irish cross country runners Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers), Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers) and Hazel Murphy (Dundrum South Dublin). Cullen's last race was a comfortable victory at the Gerry Farnan Cross County Festival in the Phoenix Park. Burgos will give Cullen a perfect chance to test herself ahead of next month's European Cross Country as she will go head-to-head with World 3,000m steeplechase champion Marta Domيnguez, who is also in preparation for the European event in Santry.

Christie, Kenneally and Murphy will all use Burgos as a warm up for the Woodie's Inter-County Cross Country Championships in Kilbeggan, Westmeath on the 22nd of November. The Inter-county will act as the trials for the Irish team for the European Cross Country with the top three in each race automatically guaranteeing themselves a place on the Irish team.

There will also be strong Irish representation at Mol in Belgium with 28 athletes in action with women's and men's teams in senior, U-23 and junior in action. Those with eyes on the European Cross Country include Fionnuala Britton (Sli Cualann), U-23 silver medallist at the European Cross Country in 2006, Deirdre Byrne (Sli Cualann) and Linda Byrne (Dundrum South Dublin), all of whom have experience at European level.

The SPAR European Cross Country Championships will take place in Ireland for the first time on the 13th December in Santry Demesne, Dublin. For more information and regular updates on the event and to sign up to the mailing list for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships then log on to www.Dublin2009.ie. Athletics Ireland is supported nationally in running this event by the Irish Sports Council, Fلilte Ireland, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, RTة, Failte Ireland and Clonliffe Harriers.