Campbell set to retain his title Willowfield’s Brian Campbell is firm favourite to retain his NI & Ulster Senior Cross Country title this Saturday over a new flat 7½ mile course adjacent to the Antrim Forum. The event is sponsored by Antrim borough council and organised by Athletics Northern Ireland. A year ago in Coleraine triathlon specialist Campbell upset the form book to get the better of Willowfield’s Dean Fisher and Annadale’s Paddy Hamilton. There will however be little threat from Fisher this year as he is recovering from illness while England based Hamilton is tied up with work commitments. Campbell is currently in top form as shown by his virtually unbeaten record this winter. The exception was his defeat to 1500m star Gareth Turnbull in the Seeley Cup. However Turnbull will be concentrating on the track this year which means that Campbell’s main opposition could be Omagh’s Steven Duncan, North’s David Morwood who won the All-Ireland Masters at the weekend, Willowfield’s Paul Rowan and Letterkenny’s Pauric McKinney. Particular interest here will rest on Duncan following his emphatic victory in the Junior championships a month ago. Once again Willowfield start as firm favourites for the coveted team title. However they came badly unstuck last year when last minute withdrawals meant the title fell to a surprised Annadale Striders. Striders are unlikely to repeat this feat in the absence of Hamilton and an injured Steven Cairns. Willowfield’s Campbell, David Simpson, George McCourt, Rowan, Matt Wilson and Alan McCullough should therefore have enough depth to take what would surprisingly be only their second title. 
Abbey athletes Judi Graham and Gladys Ganiel help the Mayor of Antrim Adrian Watson launch the Senior Cross Country Championships at Antrim. Athletics NI has dedicated a trophy in memory of the late Bobby Rea. The ladies 4K winner will be a much less clear cut affair with a number of contenders in the frame. Last year Lisburn’s AC Kelly Reid was a surprise winner but should she decide to compete this time, victory is far from certain as she has not raced for a number of months. Conversely City of Derry’s Aileen Morrison and North Belfast’s Breege Connolly are in top competitive form, the latter having just returned from the European Clubs with team mates Cathy McCourt and Louise McClean. McClean was also competing at the All-Ireland Masters at the weekend where she finished in third place. Connolly got the better of Morrison in Moira in January but Aileen took the Intermediate title in Derry a week later. Connolly will however be determined to improve on her 4th position from last year and lead north Belfast to an expected team victory. The late Abbey athletics club founder and former Chairman of the NI Athletic Federation Bobby Rea will be honoured with a new trophy that will be awarded to the women’s team champions. Athletics Northern Ireland has established the Bobby Rea Trophy to memorialize Rea’s outstanding contributions to the sport. Rea was secretary of the Northern Ireland Athletic Federation’s (NIAF) cross country committee for two decades and was chairman of the NIAF, 2002-2006. He also helped to organise high profile events such as the 1999 World Cross Country championships in Belfast and the annual Belfast Marathon The main races at Antrim commence at 2pm for Senior women and 2.40pm for Senior Men. Further info from PRO Clare McCoy: 02890 602707/ 07841804032 or Brian Hill: 07815069697
Abbey athletes Judi Graham and Gladys Ganiel help the Mayor of Antrim Adrian Watson launch the Senior Cross Country Championships at Antrim. Athletics NI has dedicated a trophy in memory of the late Bobby Rea. The ladies 4K winner will be a much less clear cut affair with a number of contenders in the frame. Last year Lisburn’s AC Kelly Reid was a surprise winner but should she decide to compete this time, victory is far from certain as she has not raced for a number of months. Conversely City of Derry’s Aileen Morrison and North Belfast’s Breege Connolly are in top competitive form, the latter having just returned from the European Clubs with team mates Cathy McCourt and Louise McClean. McClean was also competing at the All-Ireland Masters at the weekend where she finished in third place. Connolly got the better of Morrison in Moira in January but Aileen took the Intermediate title in Derry a week later. Connolly will however be determined to improve on her 4th position from last year and lead north Belfast to an expected team victory. The late Abbey athletics club founder and former Chairman of the NI Athletic Federation Bobby Rea will be honoured with a new trophy that will be awarded to the women’s team champions. Athletics Northern Ireland has established the Bobby Rea Trophy to memorialize Rea’s outstanding contributions to the sport. Rea was secretary of the Northern Ireland Athletic Federation’s (NIAF) cross country committee for two decades and was chairman of the NIAF, 2002-2006. He also helped to organise high profile events such as the 1999 World Cross Country championships in Belfast and the annual Belfast Marathon The main races at Antrim commence at 2pm for Senior women and 2.40pm for Senior Men. Further info from PRO Clare McCoy: 02890 602707/ 07841804032 or Brian Hill: 07815069697 
