Fay and Everard take Irish Cross Country titles

Raheny's Brian Fay and Bandon's Fiona Everard were the big winners in the Irish Senior Cross Country Championship at Templemore Sports Complex on Sunday.

Tyrone's Nick Griggs finished in second but would have the consolation of claiming the U23 title.

Irish 5000m record holder Fay used his track speed to cross the line in first place from Griggs and Mullingar's Cormac Dalton.

With little between the trio heading into the home straight, Fay had a little more in the tank to kick on in wet conditions.

The Dubliner becomes the ninth different winner of the race since 2016, picking up his first title in the process and will now look to the European Cross Country Championships in three weeks' time.

"It's brilliant…I'm happy to come here and get the win," Fay told Athletics Ireland afterwards.

"My outdoor season tailed off, I was racing too much, and I got too tired. I reset, took a break, got a few races done in Australia and built back up the mileage. I knew I was coming into good shape."

Griggs' silver helped Belfast's Candour Track Club to the senior men's team title and his U23 win came ahead of UCD's Jonas Stafford and last year's champion Niall Murphy, who took the bronze.

Everard 'relieved' to claim her second title

In the women's race, Everard secured her second Irish cross-country title in three years thanks to a strong finish.

Niamh Allen led the way early before Everard dug deep to get in front with just over one lap to go and there was no looking back.

"I felt really relieved crossing the line, but I'm delighted to make the team and win as well, I couldn't be happier," Everard told Athletics Ireland.

"I really wanted this. All season I was running with my aim to win this…I didn't put too much pressure on myself, but I knew it was possible. I always like muddy and hilly courses so when it was flat I said if I got some mud, I'd take that."

Allen, whose Leevale club took the team honours, had to be content with silver for the second year, while Tullamore's Danielle Donegan repeated her bronze finish from 2024.

In the U23 race, Candour's Roise Roberts took the win with Finn Valley's Amy Greene in second and European U23 1500m bronze medallist Eimear Maher taking bronze.

The men's U20 title went to Wicklow's Noah Harris with Cranford's Caolan McFadden second and Clonliffe Harriers' Tom Breslin third.

Togher's Andrew Hinds won the boys U18 title.

In the women's U20 race, 16-year-old Emma Hickey was the runaway winner to also claim the U18 title with the Wexford teenager 20 seconds clear last year's champion Lucy Foster, while Eimear Cooney took bronze.