Athletics: Six Nations extends to Loughrea

Ireland won the match, England won the Six Nations trophy - now all eyes

are on Loughrea where a men's Six Nations race will provide the highlight of

today's BUPA Ireland Run in Loughrea.

Irish runners will compete against England, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy to make the weekend a true Six Nations fare.

The race, which is due to get underway at 2pm today, has played host to

some of the world¹s top athletes since being revived in 1999.

Of course Sonia O¹Sullivan was the big drawcard for the last two years - the first

year racing round the town circuit in a world record time of 24 minutes 27

seconds.

She last year lost the race to her cross-channel rival Paul Radcliffe who used it as a build-up to winning her first world half marathon title a month later in Mexico.

Now it is the turn of the men to provide the spotlight for the expected 10,000 or more spectators in the absence of O'Sullivan who will miss today¹s event due to the impending birth of Sonia's second child in December.

Seamus Power, Peter Matthews, and Cormac Smith will race in the green vest

of Ireland against their European counterparts, which include Italy¹s former

world indoor 3000m champion, Gennaro de Napoli, who won two consecutive

world indoor titles in the 90s.

Smith finished second in the race last year and will be keen to go one better today, while Clare's Seamus Power is a tough competitor who has dominated cross country in recent years.

Matthews, who won team bronze at this year¹s European championships, is

ranked no 22 in the world.

Scotland's team comprises David Gardiner, Neil Wilkinson, and cross country

silver medalist and current Scottish 5000mchampion, Andy Caine.

France is sending its 1500m runner Said Chibili to lead its team, while the Welsh team includes distinguished road and cross country runner, Mark Morgan.

However England, in a bid for revenge after yesterday's loss in Lansdowne Road, will be hoping their top middle distance runner, John Mayock will lead their team to victory.

The Yorkshireman is Britain¹s most successful miler in recent years, and he is defending his title this year after winning in a respectable time of 23.53m last year.

Outside this international fare, are a host of top individual athletes, including Irish No 1, Cork's Mark Carroll, Limerick¹s Rosemary Ryan who represented Ireland at the Sydney Olympics and at the World Cross Country Championships.

Ryan finished just one place out of the medal sin the 5000m at the World University Games in Beijing last month.

However she is no stranger to success in the West - in August she won the popular Streets of Galway 8km in a new record time.

In total some 1,000 runners are expected to compete in this year¹s BUPA

Ireland Run in Loughrea, which is due to be started by All Ireland winning football

manager John O¹Mahony.

Like many popular races, many will be competing on behalf of charity, and O'Mahony is lending his weight behind the race¹s official charity, the Irish Heart Foundation.

Formerly the Loughrea Road Race, the run was revived in 1999 under a new

name - attracting some of the world's best athletes to the small east

Galway town and thousands of spectators.

Running legends such as Brendan Foster, John Treacy, Mike McLeod and

Sebastian Coe have joined O'Sullivan in their praise for this event, all

claiming it to be the most enjoyable and stimulating race in Ireland.

And Sonia O'Sullivan is urging everyone to get involved.

"I may not be running myself, but the BUPA Ireland Run is a great day out

and the atmosphere is unrivalled anywhere else in the country, " she said.

"This is a unique world-class event that allows amateur athletes to run alongside top class athletes."

Cash prizes will be awarded to the first eight men and women home, while

prizes of sportswear will be won by the ninth to 15th placed athletes.

In addition, every finisher will be given a limited-edition T-shirts and

souvenir medals.

There are also cash prizes of £70 for each of the first three Irish-based male and female athletes finishing, while the first Loughrea Athletic Club member or town resident to cross the finishing line is set to win 'View From' sportswear.

Special prizes for male and female veterans, as well as for participating corporate teams, will also be presented.

The official charity of this year's run is the Irish Heart Foundation which Galway football manager John O'Mahony is representing.

The five-mile BUPA Ireland Run is open to everyone over 15 years of age. It is preceded by a separate two-mile children¹s fun run for the under 15s.

The children's run takes place around Loughrea town centre, while the main

event involves two laps around the perimeter of the town.