Record hunters in Enniscorthy

3 February 2013; Declan Reid, City of Derry AC, Peter Matthews, Dublin, Ciaran Doherty, Letterkenny, AC, Dave Morewood, Annadale striders, Antrim, at the front during the Mens master race during the cross country championship. Gransha Park, Derry. Picture credit: Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE

Lindie Naughton

WHEN Linda Byrne ran 32 minutes 52 seconds to win the Enniscorthy 10km last year, the course was firmly established as one of the fastest in the country.

Behind her, Maria McCambridge ran 33 mins 7 secs, while the men's record set by Mark Christie in 2009 stands at 29 mins 35 secs.

Thanks to generous local sponsorship, a course record bonus of €250 is again on offer this year. A feature of the event is the sumptuous post-race spread, which will send everyone home happy!

DSD's Matthews still the Master

Peter Matthews of DSD shrugged off the years to regain the men's title at the Woodie's DIY National Masters Cross-Country in Derry.

Matthews, who finished third in his first year as a master in 2009, went on to win the race in both 2009 and 2010. Just seven seconds behind for second place was Declan Reed of City of Derry, while third was Annadale's David Morwood, the winner in 2008 and 2009.

A year ago in Boyle, Pauline Curley, Mary Scully and Colette Tuohy were the top three in the women's race and they finished in that exact order again last Sunday.

For Curley, it was a fifth masters cross-country title since her first one in 2006. Winning the intermediate titles were Maria O'Sullivan of Raheny and Letterkenny's Chris Johnston.

Cléirigh Buttner beaten to bronze

DSD's Síofra Cléirigh Buttner lost out on a medal by just one second when she finished fourth in the junior women's race at the European Clubs Cross-Country in Castellon Spain. The 17-year-old Dubliner had finished sixth last year when DSD was third team.

This time the team finished fifth. The senior team, led by Ava Hutchinson 9th and Linda Byrne 11th, finished sixth. In the senior men's race, Sergiu Ciobanu led Clonliffe home in 36th place.

Mission central is striding to Carlow

After a successful Marathon Mission squad session in the Phoenix Park last weekend, the next stop is Carlow, where St Abban's will host a session on Saturday February 16 (10am). All ambitious distance runners are welcome. Good news for the group is that Athletics Ireland will consider B standards for the World Championships next August. These stand at 2 hours 17 mins for men and 2 hours 36 mins for women.

Regan rockets to indoors double

At the Leinster Indoors in Athlone, Barry Regan of St Abban's won both 60m and 200m sprints, while David McCarthy of Le Chéile opened his season with a win in the 400m. Darren McBrearty, a guest in the 800m, clocked a time of 1:50.53.

Sarah McCarthy of Mid Sutton won the junior 60m in 7.80, the 200m in 25.14 and the long jump with a leap of 5.77m. In the masters age groups, Joe Gough of West Waterford set a new M60 record of 59.08 seconds. Athlone is the venue this weekend for the masters championships on Saturday and juniors and U-23 men and women on Sunday.