Northern_Ireland_International_Cross_Country

Antrim International Cross Country

Antrim International Cross Country

Irish annual cross country event

The Antrim International Cross Country, formerly the Belfast International Cross Country, is an annual cross country running meeting which takes place every January in Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is one of the IAAF's cross country permit meetings, as well as being part of the UK Cross Challenge tour.[1][2] Previous winners include Paula Radcliffe, Paul Tergat and Steve Ovett.[3]

Quick Facts Date, Location ...

History

The meeting began in 1977 and was held in Mallusk, near Belfast, until 1996. At that point, the course moved for a two-year stint in Barnett Demesne before settling in Stormont in 1999. The course was again moved in 2009, when it became known as the Antrim International Cross Country.[4]

The meeting was held near Stormont Castle from 1999 to 2008.

In addition to having been held at numerous venues, the competition has been known under a large variety of names. It was called the Mallusk Crosscountry between 1977 and 1991, except a brief change to the Brooks International Crosscountry in 1989. The meeting was frequently renamed for sponsorship reasons, becoming the Milk International in 1986,[5] the Reebok International Crosscountry in 1992 and 1993, the Ulster Milk Games International in 1994, the Coca-Cola International Crosscountry from 1995 to 1999 and finally the Fila International Crosscountry for 2000–01.[4] During the meeting's time at Stormont it was known as the Belfast International Cross Country and it was in this period that the meeting was elevated to IAAF permit status.[6]

The race course of the meetings at Stormont was on the grounds surrounding Stormont Castle.[7] The current course for the race is on the grassy fields of the Greenmount Campus just outside Antrim town.[8] The races are currently held over 9 km for men and 5.6 km for women. This distance has significantly fluctuated on an annual basis. The men's race was an 8 km from the inaugural edition until 2003. The women's race—introduced in 1986—was previously a 4.8 km race during that period.[4]

Steve Ovett became the first athlete to win the meeting twice, winning in 1978 and 1984. The most successful athlete in the history of the competition is Paula Radcliffe, who has won a record four times (in 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2001). Around 1000 male and female athletes participate in the senior races each year.[4]

Past winners

Steve Ovett took the honours in the second and seventh editions.
Paula Radcliffe is a four-time meet winner.
Uganda's Moses Kipsiro won consecutively in 2007 and 2008.
More information Edition, Year ...

Statistics

More information Country, Men's race ...

References

  1. [1]
    Mary Cullen enters big cross-country race at Greenmount. BBC Sport (19 January 2010). Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  2. [2]
    McCain UK Cross Challenge Antrim. UK Athletics (23 January 2009). Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  3. [3]
    European Champion to race in Antrim Cross Country International Archived 9 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Athletics Ireland (7 January 2010). Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  4. [4]
    McCausland, Malcolm (5 January 2009). Antrim International Crosscountry. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  5. [5]
    Rodda, John (4 January 1986). "England Debt to Lewis". The Guardian. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  6. [6]
    Frank, Bob (12 January 2003). Lebid eyes Lausanne after Belfast win. IAAF. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  7. [7]
    Landells, Steve (9 January 2007). Moses Kipsiro – Uganda’s latest find. IAAF. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  8. [8]
    Antrim International Cross Country Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Athletics Ireland (24 January 2010). Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  9. [9]
    Duffy, Cóilín (23 January 2010). Cullen and Kigen take the spoils in muddy Antrim. IAAF. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  10. [10]
    Duffy, Cóilín (22 January 2011). Kigen repeats in foggy Antrim. IAAF. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  11. [11]
    Duffy, Cóilín (21 January 2012). Kigen makes it a hat-trick; Britton takes women’s race win in Antrim. IAAF. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  12. [12]
    Duffy, Cóilín (12 January 2013). Ayeko and Britton take the honours in Antrim. IAAF. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  13. [13]
    Duffy, Cóilín and Minshull, Phil (4 January 2014). World champion Korir back to form with Antrim win. IAAF. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  14. [14]
    Duffy, Cóilín (15 March 2015). Ayeko and Fente Alemu win in Antrim. IAAF. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  15. [15]
    Aprot and Ayalew victorious in Antrim. IAAF (16 January 2016). Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  16. [16]
    Kipruto and Kipkirui score Kenyan double in Antrim. IAAF (14 January 2017). Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  17. [17]
    Cheruiyot and Kipkemboi take Kenyan double in Antrim. IAAF (9 January 2018). Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  18. [18]
    Balew and Mamo prevail in Dundonald. IAAF (19 January 2019). Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  19. [19]
    Obiri claims cross country win in Dundonald. IAAF (24 January 2022). Retrieved 24 January 2022.
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