EVERARD DEFENDS TITLE AS MCCAMBRIDGE CLAIMS MAIDEN AUTUMN OPEN WIN

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EVERARD DEFENDS TITLE AS MCCAMBRIDGE CLAIMS MAIDEN AUTUMN OPEN WIN

18 October 2026

The 10th edition of the Autumn Open Cross Country Festival, held in association with Fingal County Council, delivered an exciting afternoon of racing at the Sport Ireland Campus today (Sunday, October 18th), with some of Ireland’s leading distance runners producing impressive performances in glorious October sunshine.

With fast underfoot conditions greeting athletes across the senior, junior, masters and juvenile events, the festival provided an early opportunity for athletes to test their form ahead of next month’s National Cross Country Championships.

Everard Makes It Back-to-Back Autumn Open Titles

Fiona Everard (Bandon AC) continued her impressive cross country form with a commanding victory in the senior women’s 6,000m race, successfully defending the title she claimed twelve months ago.

The reigning national senior cross country champion was made to work for her break on the field, but showed her class over the second half of the race, stretching clear with 2000m remaining and never looking back.

Everard crossed the line in 20:22, finishing 13 seconds ahead of Roise Roberts (CNDR Track AC), who secured second place in 20:35. Roberts’ clubmate Kirsti Charlotte Foster completed the podium with a superb run to cross in 20:42.

The victory represents another encouraging performance for Everard as she builds towards the national championships, having enjoyed an outstanding cross country campaign last season which included a top-ten individual finish at the European Cross Country Championships.

McCambridge Edges Fitzgerald in Thrilling Men’s Finish

The senior men’s 7,500m race produced one of the most exciting finishes of the afternoon, with Tony McCambridge (CNDR Track AC) edging William Fitzgerald (Craughwell AC) in a dramatic battle up the home straight.

With little separating the leading pair in the closing stages, McCambridge found just enough to claim victory in 22:48, a single second ahead of Fitzgerald, who had also finished runner-up at last year’s event.

Cathal O’Reilly (Kilkenny City Harriers AC) completed the podium in 23:01, rounding off a fiercely contested race from the gun.

Brunt and Devereaux Impress in Junior Contests

There was no shortage of excitement in the junior races, with Megan Brunt (Blackrock AC) and Ruby Devereaux (Cork City AC) taking the honours in two competitive contests.

Brunt produced an excellent performance to claim victory in the junior women’s 4,500m race, crossing the line in 15:28 ahead of defending champion and European U20 cross country bronze medallist Emma Hickey (United Striders AC).

Hickey finished nine seconds behind in 15:37, with Claire O’Grady (Ennis Track AC) completing the podium in 15:44.

The result highlighted the depth of emerging talent in Irish women’s distance running, with the leading athletes continuing their preparations for the major cross country championships later this season.

The junior men’s 6,000m race was equally entertaining, with Devereaux and Odhran McBrearty (Finn Valley AC) locked in an exciting battle over the final kilometre.

Devereaux ultimately prevailed in 18:38, five seconds ahead of McBrearty (18:43), while Harry Moran (Donore Harriers AC) secured third place in 18:52.

Dublin City Harriers Complete Relay Hat-Trick

Dublin City Harriers continued their dominance of the Senior Mixed Cross Country Relay, securing a third consecutive Autumn Open title with another impressive team performance.

The Dublin club crossed the line in 18:37 to complete a remarkable hat-trick of victories, having also claimed the title in 2024 and 2025.

Rathfarnham WSAF AC secured second place in 19:11, with Nenagh Olympic AC completing the podium in 19:26.

The race carried added significance, with the top two clubs securing qualification to represent Ireland at next year’s European Club Cross Country Championships.

Doyle and Madden Lead Masters Honours

The masters races also delivered strong performances, with athletes competing for honours in the Jim McNamara Cup and using the event as an important opportunity ahead of the international masters cross country season.

Sean Doyle (Cork City AC) led the way in the masters race, taking victory and the Jim McNamara trophy in 23:48 following a closely contested battle with Conán McCaughey (North Belfast Harriers), who finished just five seconds behind in 23:53.

Niall Shanahan (An Bru AC) completed the top three in 24:22.

In the women’s masters race, Lisa Madden (Sportsworld AC) produced an impressive performance to claim victory in 21:59 and was also awarded the Jim McNamara trophy.

Fiona Gettings (Longford AC) finished second in 22:14, with Fiona Roche (Raheny Shamrock AC) taking third in 22:17.

Juvenile Relays Showcase Next Generation

The National Inter-Club Juvenile Mixed Cross Country Relays once again provided a fantastic showcase of emerging talent, with clubs from across Ireland competing for national honours.

Moy Valley AC enjoyed a particularly successful afternoon, claiming both the U15 girls’ and U15 boys’ relay titles.

There were also victories for Castlegar AC, Finn Valley AC, Dunshaughlin AC, Galway City Harriers, Swinford AC, Limerick AC and Dundrum South Dublin AC across the juvenile programme.

The relays remain an important part of the Autumn Open festival, providing young athletes with an opportunity to experience championship racing in a competitive and supportive environment.

Full results:https://myrunresults.com/events/national_autumn_open_xc__national_relays_2026/6430/results