Britton conquers Edinburgh; Byrne comes in sixth

Fionnuala Britton opened her 2013 season with an impressive 16-second victory in the Great Edinburgh international cross country.

Britton faced up to both minor medallists from Budapest last month and a sizeable challenge from European under-23 champion, Britain’s Jess Coulson.

The double European champion‘s class told out early in the race as she displayed similar tactics to those displayed in Budapest by hitting the front early on.

At halfway it became a two-woman race between the Irish woman, running in the blue European team singlet, and Coulson.

The young Britain, who trailed the Irish woman by three seconds at halfway, started to struggle in the rough Edinburgh terrain, where Britton took full advantage.

Britton strode out an easy winner, even allowing for a fall in the final lap, to take the 6km race by 16 seconds in 20:40 from Holland’s Adrienne Herzog.

Britton told BBC Sport after the race: “I didn’t think the race would go like that, no one went with me so I had to push it on.”

Britton’s focus for 2013 is now towards the World Cross Country in Poland this March where Britton hopes Team Ireland can recapture the form of Budapest.

European team gold medallist Linda Byrne was also in action for the European team finishing sixth overall in 21:06.