Donegal couple, Brendan and Teresa McDaid, will play a crucial role when Ireland hosts Europe’s most prestigious cross country race this month. The venue for the Spar European Cross Country Championships is Santry Park, Dublin and Sunday next will mark the first time the competition has been held in Ireland.

Brendan will be responsible for the overall presentation at the course and he will take charge of the opening and closing ceremonies, ensuring VIP-s and dignitaries are accommodated before, during and after the race. Teresa is a member of the Irish Management Team and has been coaching the athletes in their preparation for the race.

Speaking about the race, Brendan said, “with the race having such high profile around Europe, it is great that Ireland will be showcased as a top quality international athletics venue. I have been working hard over the last number of months, along with the organising committee, ensuring all the necessary preparations are taken care of in the lead up to the event. With Europe’s elite athletes coming to Dublin, it is sure to be a great occasion for the Irish public to attend”.

Teresa has been a coach with Athletics Ireland for the past nine European Championships and her involvement in the Spar European Cross Country Championship in Ireland will be her proudest achievement as a coach. In her opinion, it will be one of the strongest Irish teams to compete in the European Championships and she is confident that the Irish team will be in with a chance of collecting medals after the race.

Speaking about the up-coming race, Teresa, who works in Letterkenny General Hospital, said, “I am really looking forward to the meeting at Santry. We have been preparing for the race over the last year and the training camps have gone really well. I feel we have a great Irish team. Mary Cullen is in the form of her career and after her confidence boosting win in Kilbeggen last month, she could go very close in the Women’s Senior race”.

The Letterkenny couple’s life is consumed by athletics and all of their spare time is taken up with training and race meetings. Brendan, who works as an after-sales manager for Ford, occupies the position of, Chair of Competition within Athletics Ireland and oversees all the local and national races which are held in Ireland. The athletics fanatic is also on the Donegal Athletics Council and holds the position of Treasurer with the Ulster Sports Council.

Both are members of their local athletics club in Letterkenny and are very proud to play such an instrumental part in what is a highly prestigious sports event. Teresa said, “Our whole life revolves around athletics so being involved for such a great occasion is reward for the long hours we have both dedicated to the sport”.

For more information and regular updates on the event and to sign up to the mailing list for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, log on to www.Dublin2009.ie.
Athletics Ireland is supported nationally in running this event by the Irish Sports Council, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, RTÉ, Failte Ireland and Clonliffe Harriers. Tickets for the event can be purchased from www.dublin2009.ie