Parnell and McEvilly claim wins

Lindie Naughton

CARMEL PARNELL, W55, and Martin McEvilly, M65, were Ireland's two individual winners at the British and Irish Masters' Cross-Country in Cardiff, with the M35s the only team winners.

It was an eighth title at this event for the super-consistent Parnell, who is now just one off Northern Ireland's Karen Marshall record of nine wins.

Tommy Payne was 2nd M55, while Natasha Adams W35 and Kathy McCourt W40 also took silver. Bronze medals went to Carmel Crowley W45, Niamh O'Sullivan W50 and Evelyn McNelis W65.

RECORD NUMBER AT C-C LEAGUE

A record total of 160 women had signed up before the opening race in this year's Women's Meet and Train Cross-Country League in Swords, with 132 finishing the two-mile race.

Among them were five teams from Brothers Pearse and a new team from Lakeshore Striders in Blessington, as well as the usual suspects from Fingallians, Sportsworld, Donore, Clonliffe, Lucan, Dunboyne, Blackrock, Crusaders and Tallaght.

First home was Laura McDonnell of Tallaght. Next round is hosted by Dunboyne at the Cowpark on Sunday December 1. Newcomers always welcome.

COLLINS BAGS IRISH SPOT AT NCAAS

SARAH COLLINS OF PROVIDENCE, ORIGINALLY FROM CORK, FINISHED THIRD IN THE NCAA EAST REGION WOMEN'S RACE IN THE BRONX LAST FRIDAY – A RESULT THAT SHOULD CONFIRM HER PLACE ON THE IRISH TEAM FOR THE EUROPEAN CROSS-COUNTRY. IN THE MEN'S RACE, WATERFORD'S SHANE QUINN (PROVIDENCE), FINISHED 7TH FOLLOWED BY RAHENY'S KEVIN DOONEY (YALE) 11TH AND MULLINGAR'S JAKE BYRNE (PROVIDENCE) 19TH.

In the South Central qualifier in Waco, Texas, Dave Flynn of Clonliffe was 16th and captained the winning team from Arkansas.

O'HANLON ON TOP IN STOOK RUN

On the roads, Gary O'Hanlon of Clonliffe and Clonmel's Angela McCann were the winners at the Stook 10-mile hosted by Gowran. Shane Whitty and Ruthanne Sheehan were the winners of the Eddie Murphy Memorial Marathon in Sixmilebridge.

Entries are already well up for the annual Jingle Bells 5km in the Phoenix Park on December 7 (11am) – the official launch of Christmas for Dublin runners.

Entry is limited to 1,500 so get in quick.

BHAA SERIES CONTINUES IN SANTRY

Grassroots running continues on Saturday (11am) with the Irish Life BHAA 6km Cross-Country in Santry – a combined race over four laps for men and women. Newcomers welcome; lots of spot prizes!

CONDOLENCES TO COGHLAN FAMILY

Deepest sympathy to Eamonn Coghlan and all the Coghlan family on the death of Kathleen, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.