MARTIN McCARTHY (Leevale) won’t be taking anything for granted when he lines up for the national inter-clubs cross-country championships long course race at Rathdrum on Sunday, for the Corkman has learned from experience.

DERVAL O’ROURKE reaped the rewards of professional preparation when she ran 8.18 secs to win the 60m hurdles at the international meet in Cardiff on Sunday.

THE stamina of the world class racewalker was underscored at Inchigeela yesterday when Robert Heffernan turned in a power-packed display of front running to win the Cork senior cross-country championship title.

VALERIE VAUGHAN (Blarney/Inniscarra) got the victory she had always wanted when she finished clear of defending champion Anne Keenan-Buckley (North Laois), to win the Evening Echo Cork Women’s Mini-Marathon yesterday, when she defied the tight corners and series of energy-sapping climbs that punctuated the new course to cover the five miles in 27 minutes 45 seconds, and that was just nine seconds clear of the runner-up.

Ireland made it a double win over England at the weekend when Ireland¹s