Britton blows rivals away

FIONNUALA BRITTON produced the performance of her life to win the BUPA Great Edinburgh cross-country race on Saturday, leaving the best runners from Europe and the US gasping behind her over the hilly and muddy Holyrood Park course.

The 27-year-old Wicklow woman destroyed the field to win the European cross-country title in Slovenia last month but this was an even more impressive performance as she took control after the opening 2km lap, which was covered in 7.20. Up to that point she had been surrounded by the Great Britain team that included Stephanie Twell and Gemma Steel, who finished third behind her in the European championships.

As Britton began to turn the screw, Steel was the only competitor who could respond before she too collapsed under the pressure applied with every stride by the Irish woman.