Eight Irish clubs (10 teams) will join the cream of continental club cross country running at the European Champions Clubs Cup Cross Country (ECCC) taking place in Albufeira this Sunday (Feb 2nd).
Close to 100 teams will take on the undulating route, making it one of the biggest editions in recent years.
The Irish teams secured their place at the ECCC Cross Country by virtue of their first and second place team finishes at the Autumn Open (Mixed Relay) and 2024 National Cross Country Championships in Irvinestown.
Each club will be looking to replicate some of the success enjoyed by Irish teams in recent editions. Last year saw Irish clubs secure five top-10 finishes.
Leading the charge for Irish clubs in Albufeira this Sunday are:
Senior Men
- Candour Track Club: Fionntán Campbell, Paul Carty, Conor Gallagher, Tony McCambridge, Conall McClean
- North Belfast Harriers: John Black, Joseph Lavery, Brendan McCambridge, Conan McCaughey, Finn McNally, Andrew Milligan
Senior Women
- Leevale AC: Michelle Kenny, Niamh Moore, Sinead O’Connor, Hannah Steeds
- Letterkenny: Natasha Adams, Nakita Burke, Ann-Marie McGlynn, Claire McGuigan, Christine Russell, Noeleen Scanlan
U20 Men
- Lagan Valley AC: Rory Armstrong, Noah Harper, Niall McAufield, Jude McGann, Oisin McGann, Rhys McManus
- Clonliffe Harriers: Lorcan Benjacar, Harry Bogan, Leon Brady, Tom Breslin, Sean Cronin, Matei Urachi
U20 Women
- Clonliffe Harriers: Emily Bolton, Goda Buivydyte, Isla Duncan, Hazel Kenny, Lorraine O’Connor, Sorcha O’Connor
- Lagan Valley: Katie Graham, Katie Keown, Isa McCarron, Aoife McGee, Olvia Morgan, Chloe Young
Mixed Relay
- Dublin City Harriers: Niamh Carr, Philip Marron, Edel Monaghan, Pierre Murchan
- Dundrum South Dublin: Jamie Byren, Joseph Hastings, Eimear Maher, Amy O’Donoghue, Emma McEvoy (R), Sean Quinn (R)
How to follow
Action will be available on the European Athletics website from 9.55am local time with English-language commentary courtesy of Eurovision Sport.
Each team’s score shall be determined by the aggregate of finishing positions achieved by its 3 (three) best placed athletes. Scoring is not applicable for the Mixed Relay race where classification will be done according to the final position of the last athlete entering to finish line.
A report on all the results will follow post event.
Athletics Ireland would like to wish all of our clubs the very best of luck as they represent us in Portugal this weekend.
