Brian Fay and Fiona Everard came out on top in extremely challenging conditions of biting wind, rain and also soft underfoot at the National Cross Country Championships in Derry today.
A big crowd witnessed two terrific senior races at the Templemore Sports Complex, with the men's contest in particular thrilling spectators.
The early lead was taken by the fastest 10,000 metre man in Europe this year, Efrem Gidey of Clonliffe Harriers, but such was the depth of athlete behind him he was caught before the halfway mark of the 7,500 metre contest.
Five men contested a pretty epic battle for the title from there on. Fay outlasted Nick Griggs in the sprint for the line by just two seconds, coming home in 25:13, with Cormac Dalton a close third, followed by Jack O'Leary, Darragh McElhinney and then Gidey.
In the senior women's race, Leevale's Niamh Allen, the runner-up last year, took the early lead all the way up to halfway but the 2023 champion Fiona Everard, a training partner of Allen, was saving her best for the second part of the race.
The Bandon runner surged to a clear 15-second margin of victory in 26:49 with Danielle Donegan of Tullamore Harriers AC, Offaly, in third.
Earlier, Emma Hickey and Noah Harris took the junior titles, both with impressive front-running performances.
