Britton: I gave it my all

A gutsy performance from Fionnuala Britton saw her finish just outside the medals in fourth position at the European Cross Country Championships this afternoon.

In a fast-moving senior women’s race Britton settled in the back of the pack before tussling with Portuguese Ana Dulce Felix for bronze.

The Portuguese was too good for the Wicklow woman on the day and pulled away from Britton before taking bronze in a clash with Great Britian's Gemma Steele.

Sophie Durate of France took the gold medal, some nine seconds clear of Britton.

It was disappointment for the defending champion who admitted: “I got beaten by the better athletes today. I gave it my all.”

“I’m very disappointed with fourth” she added. “I didn’t just want a medal, I wanted to win, but it wasn’t my day.”

The Irish team finished in sixth place overall, with Britton (fourth) Sara Treacy (33rd), Ciara Durkan(36th) and Sarah Mulligan (41st).