THE winners of the senior men’s and senior women’s titles at Saturday’s Woodies DIY national inter-clubs cross-country championships at Santry Demesne are not interested in going to the world cross-country championships in Punta Unbria, Spain, on March 20.

MARK KENNEALLY had the honour of leading the Irish challenge home when he finished eighth in the senior men’s race at the SPAR European Cross-Country Championships at Santry Demesne, as the other more established members of the team flopped.

ALISTAIR CRAGG has made no secret of the fact that he fancies his chances in tomorrow’s SPAR European cross-country championships at Santry Demesne and his arrival yesterday added to the air of excitement that surrounds the Irish camp, situated just a stone’s throw from what is a resplendent course.

WITH individual and team medals within reach, Ireland’s cross-country team manager, Anne Keenan-Buckley, made no effort to hide her excitement when she introduced some of her athletes at Santry yesterday ahead of Sunday’s SPAR European cross-country championships.

IRELAND’S Martin Fagan will go head-to-head with Great Britain’s Mo Farah in the SPAR European cross-country championships at the Santry Demesne on December 13.

EUROPEAN cross-country champion Sergey Lebid will defend his title at this year’s championships in Dublin. The Ukrainian will be aiming to win his ninth crown at Santry Demesne, Dublin on December 13.

Mary Cullen was the story of the Irish today at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels as she took an excellent fourth position in the senior women’s race.

IRELAND will host the 2009 European cross-country championships.

Ireland beat off rival bids from France and Poland to host the European Cross Country Championships for the first time in 2009, it emerged today.

Ireland has today been awarded the right to host the 2009 European Cross Country Athletics Championships by the European Athletics Council.

VHI members who attend Dublin’s new €60 million private sports clinic will have their bills picked up by the health insurer, it was announced yesterday.

VINNY MULVEY (Raheny Shamrock) made the 100-metre trip from his apartment to claim the National inter-club cross-country championship title in spectacular fashion at Santry Demesne on Saturday from young Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers) and his flatmate, Killian Lonergan.

THE absence of the likes of reigning champion Gary Murray (injured) has thrown today’s national senior inter-club cross-country championships at Santry Demesne wide open. And it could be just the race for Vinny Mulvey.