Irish Team Depart for the European Cross Country Championships

POSTED:

The Irish team departed today, December 12th from Dublin Airport for the European Cross Country Championships in Somokov, Bulgaria. The 21st edition of these championships takes place on Sunday, 14th of December in the stunning setting of the Rila Mountains. The event programme includes six races with full Irish teams (36 athletes) competing in the men’s and women’s junior, U23 and senior races.

Former Double European Cross Country Champion Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole AC) heads up the senior women’s team as she bids for a podium position after placing fourth in the 2013 event. In competing in Bulgaria Britton receives her 31st cap for Ireland to place her third on the all-time list of International appearances for Ireland with Anne Keenan Buckley just one cap behind Derval O’Rourke and three caps behind Sonia O’Sullivan.

Britton faces an almighty battle in Somokov with defending champion Sophie Duarte of France, Gemma Steel (Great Britain) and Sara Moreira (Portugal) all in the line-up. Apart from the athletes Britton and the rest of the Irish team will face a challenging course in Somokov which is at a slight altitude of 1,350m.

The event will be broadcast in ten different countries with RTÉ 2 broadcasting the senior races live from 10.55am to 1pm.

Follow https://twitter.com/irishathletics for Live Updates! 

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