from Athletics Northern Ireland Another busy weekend on the athletics front approaches. While all eyes will be on turin for the European Indoor Championships, a number of domestic events are also taking place including the Between the Bridges road race and the All-Ireland Schools & Universities which is being hosted by UU Jordanstown. A small Northern Ireland team of five is travelling to Nottingham for the Inter Counties/ UK Cross Challenge Final.
Brian Campbell, who is ranked 20th in the overall challenge joins Stephen Scullion in the Seniors. Scullion will be confident after his recent victory last weekend at the NICS XC in Stormont Estate and Campbell has had a great start to 2009 with an impressive win in Gransha to retain his title of NI Cross Country Champion.
They will be joined by Michael McKillop (St. Malachy’s) who finished 6th in the Inter-clubs XC in Dublin last weekend while the Monaghan twins will miss the All-Ireland Schools in the hope of top positions in the U15 Boys and in the overall challenge. Andrew is currently ranked third with his twin Patrick ranked behind him in fourth.
The Final will be shown on Sky Sports 3 from 11:00 and will feature an interview with young Patrick and Andrew Monaghan.
This is now the eleventh year that the UK Inter-Cross Country Championships have taken place at Wollaton Park in Nottingham. These Championships are one of the most important cross country meetings of the domestic season with over 4,000 competitors taking part.
The Championships, which bring together the best athletes of all ages, both men and women from all over the UK, also include the Finals of the UK Cross Challenge. It takes place in the beautiful surroundings of Wollaton Park, in over 500 acres of historic deer park.
Visit the fixtures section for the link to the event and view current rankings and timetable.
See also previews on the All-Ireland Schools, european Indoors and Between the Bridges Race Information.
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MOUNTAIN RUNNING PREVIEW
The opening race of the Northern Ireland Mountain Running Championship takes place at Slieve Gullion on Saturday. The Armagh AC promotion is the first of six races in this year’s NI Championship and a great race is in prospect.
Last year’s winner Deon McNeilly is the course record holder and he will be out add to his series of wins at Slieve Gullion. The Newcastle AC man will face strong opposition from a top quality field which includes 2006 winner Neil Carty (North Belfast Harriers), David O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC), NI Champion Des Woods and his clubmates Stephen Cunningham, Gary Bailey and Edward Hanna of Mourne Runners.
The women’s race also promises to be highly competitive. Sperrin Harrier Karen Alexander makes her Slieve Gullion debut and will be aiming to notch up her fourth consecutive win on the mountains. However, Charlene Haugh (Mourne Runners) and former NI Champion Shileen O’Kane (BARF) will be determined to get their Championship campaigns off to a winning start. The race covers three and a half mile with 1,000 feet of climb and starts at 12 noon.
VISIT THE FIXTURES SECTION AND WHATS ON FOR ALL THE DETAILS, LINKS, TIMETABLE AND VITAL INFO FOR FORTHCOMING FIXTURES THIS WEEKEND- FULL REPORTS TO FOLLOW NEXT WEEK.
BBC will have comprehensive coverage of the European indoor championships from Turin on their interactive channel and BBC 2 on all three days.
RTE will have edited highlights each night
RTE radio will also have coverage of the championships.
Also, highlights of the Woodie’s DIY Inter Club cross country championships will be shown on RTE television on Saturday Sport
Friday
0825-1245, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website
1355-1800, BBC Two and BBC Sport website
Saturday
0825-1130, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website
1400-1710, BBC Two and BBC Sport website
1715-1815, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website
Sunday
0815-1045, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website
1400-1710, BBC Two and BBC Sport website
RTE
Friday
Island of Ireland – 11.15pm
Saturday
Island of Ireland – 11.10pm
Sunday
Island of Ireland – 10.55pm