Ukrainian Sergiy Lebid has joined Portugal's Paulo Guerra in the record books as a four-time winner of the European senior cross-country's men's title.
In his first cross country race of the winter season Lebid scored a runaway success, winning by 21 seconds over the 10,000-metre course.
Lebid became the first runner to claim three successive titles after breaking away on the penultimate lap.
Spain's JC de la Ossa crossed the line second in 31:08 with Eduardo Henriques claiming third for Portugal in 31:15.
In a nail-biting team race, France claimed victory over Spain on countback after both finished with 47 points. Portugal were third with 65.
Best of the Irish was Seamus Power who finished 19th while Peter Matthews finished in 49th, Vinny Mulvey was 52nd and Mark Keneally crossed the line in 61st place. Ireland were 10th overall.
Earlier in the Junior Men's race Mullingar's Mark Christtie ran superbly to finish in sixth place with Ireland placed 7th overall, while in the Junior Women's race Fionnula Britton was 21st as Ireland finished 8th Overall.
Filed by Neil Callanan
