The 35th Antrim IAAF International Cross Country will take place this year on Saturday 21st January 2012 in conjunction with the NI & Ulster Senior Cross Country Championships. This makes the event a great all rounder, already adding to the fact it is the fourth meeting in this winter’s McCain UK Cross Challenge series, an IAAF permitted race and part of the Athletics NI Cross Country League.
Organised by Athletics Northern Ireland and sponsored by Antrim Borough Council, it will be held in the picturesque venue of CAFRE, Greenmount Campus in Antrim. $15,000 is once again on offer in prize money for the senior races- $7500 for each race.
Helping launch the event, Newcastle athlete Kerry Harty will be competing and has just been named on the Irish Team for the European Cross Country Championships in Slovenia. Harty was 4th at the recent trials in Sligo and has just returned from 5 weeks training at altitude. Joining her is Jarlath Falls (Ballymena & Antrim) who finished 24th in the recent All-Ireland Inter Counties and 5th in the Bobby Rea Cross Country in November. A number of high class UK & Irish athletes are expected to confirm their attendance over the coming weeks to add to the international visitors.
The NI/Ulster Senior Cross Country Championships will be held in conjunction with the International. Clubs based in Ulster/NI will be eligible to take part in the Senior Championships with 6 to score for men and 4 to score for women. Separate NI/Ulster only results will be prepared from the overall results. The first 3 individual NI/Ulster finishers (M&F) will also receive prizes of £150, £100 & £50 in addition to their Championship medals and the winning teams (M&F) will each receive £100. These prizes are kindly sponsored by Championchip Ireland.
The event is one of the largest and most popular events in the Northern Ireland athletics sporting calendar with more than 1,000 competitors taking part in 12 races throughout the day from U13 right up to Seniors and Veteran.
Mayor of Antrim, Councillor Paul Michael comments,
“Antrim Borough Council is delighted that Athletics Northern Ireland has chosen to return to Antrim and CAFRE Greenmount Campus for the IAAF International Cross Country.
We are proud to support this prestigious event, which will no doubt contribute significantly to the Borough as it attracts so many visitors from across the UK, Ireland and beyond. We wish Athletics Northern Ireland, CAFRE and the runners every success for January 2012.”
Online Entry now available at www.athleticsni.org
Antrim XC-Mayor of Antrim Paul Michael, Kerry Harty, Jarlath Falls
