Double inter-counties target for Lombard

FIACHRA LOMBARD will not just be bidding for a berth on the Irish team for next month’s European cross-country championships when he competes in Sunday’s national inter-counties championships at St. Augustine’s College, Dungarvan.

The 26-year-old Leevale man, now based in Birmingham, also wants the title that was snatched from him by Seamus Power in a thrilling race at Donoughmore two years ago.

Power, who has won nine successive titles, will not compete on Sunday, due to a recurrence of the back injury that ended his Olympic dreams.

Lombard has recovered from a long term Achilles injury and has recently run a number of low key races in the UK before beating a star-studded field in the big cross-country race at Margate last month.

He won a bronze medal in the European championships in Malmo in 2001.

Meanwhile, Sonia O’Sullivan will celebrate her 35th birthday on Sunday in the Nike Run London 10k.

She pulled out of last weekend’s cross-country race at Parliament Hill having missed training with a shin problem. She is unlikely to run in the European cross-country championships next month.