Ten Irish clubs were in action at the European Club Cross Country Championships in albufeira, portugal, delivering a series of strong performances across all age categories.
The day opened with the U20 women’s race, where Lagan Valley AC secured an impressive fifth-place team finish with 77 points.
The result marked a significant improvement on their ninth-place finish last year.
Freya Woodhead led the team home in 15th place, supported by Katie Keown in 27th and Chloe Young in 35th.
Willowfield Harriers also featured strongly, taking 13th place overall, with Emily Morris finishing an excellent 24th.
In the junior men’s race, Donore Harriers came agonisingly close to the podium, finishing fourth, just four points outside the medals.
Rhys Johnson and Charlie Neill packed well to place seventh and ninth.
A podium appeared likely when Callum Twomey was battling inside the top ten with 800 metres to go, but he faded late, leaving Liam Morris as the team’s third scorer in 30th.
Clonliffe Harriers also lined out, finishing 16th, with Matei Ursachi leading their effort in 38th.
Leevale AC produced the top Irish performance in the senior women’s race, finishing eighth in the team standings.
Jessica Coyne was the first Irishwoman across the line, with Sinead O’Connor and Olympian Michelle Finn following in 30th and 37th.
Finn Valley AC placed 13th, led home by Nuala Bose in 26th position.
The senior men’s team event once again showcased the competitiveness of Irish clubs.
After a tight battle between CNDR Track Club and Mullingar Harriers at the National Cross Country Championships in Derry, only six points separated them here, finishing 16th and 17th respectively.
With both teams missing key members, CNDR’s Tony McCambridge delivered a strong run for 33rd in a deep field.
The mixed relay brought the event to a close, with both Irish teams firmly in contention.
Dublin City Harriers missed out on a medal, finishing just four seconds behind France’s DMA.
The quartet of Lucy Holmes, Paul Delahunty, Niamh Carr and Philip Marron improved on last year’s fifth-place finish to secure fourth.
Ennis Track AC followed in fifth, 13 seconds behind their Irish rivals, with their team of Mark Hanrahan, Niamh Markham, Cian O’Boyle and Neasa Ní Ainiféin clocking 18:37.
FULL RESULTS: https://lap2go.com/pt/event/eccc-cross-country-2026/timetable
