In-form Fionnuala heads Irish title charge
FIONNUALA Ross, Ciara Mageean and Kerry O’Flaherty are all expected to mount serious challenges in tomorrow’s Irish Life Health Senior Cross Country Championships at Abbotstown, Dublin.
At stake in the 8K race will be places on the Irish team for the European Championships in Tilburg in less than three weeks’ time.
Armagh AC runner Ross (27), who now lives in Scotland, is currently the woman with serious medal potential following her recent successes. Last month she was an impressive runner-up in an international race on this course won by Shona Heslip, who is not racing this time.
Since then, Scottish half marathon champion Ross again broke her 10K best road time by over 30 seconds when winning in Leeds this month in an impressive 33 minutes 31 seconds. Clearly in the form of her life, Ross is hot favourite to get a rostrum placing this weekend.
Top Irish middle distance star Mageean is something of an unknown quantity as her ventures over the country have been rare. She last competed in the Europeans two years ago where her 31st place helped Ireland to a sixth overall placing.
Mageean’s sights are clearly on next summer’s track action, where she will be aiming to make a mark over 1,500m in preparation for the World Championships in Doha. The Portaferry runner has indicated that racing over the country should further assist in her stamina programme for the track.
Newcastle’s O’Flaherty was only a few seconds behind winner Heslip in this race a year ago and followed this up with a third placing on the Irish team in the Euros in Slovakia.
The Olympic steeplechaser has competed on many occasions in the Euros and will be hoping to make the team again this weekend.
Other northern athletes in action include QUB’s Sinead Sweeney and Rebecca Henderson. Northern Ireland cross country champion Declan Reed races in the men’s 10K event. TAS Racing have named Christian Iddon and Keith Farmer as their 2019 British Superbike lineup.
Iddon returns for a fourth consecutive season with the Hector and Philip Neill team alongside reigning Superstock 1000cc champion Farmer.
Both riders will be on-board the all-new BMW S1000RR, with principal sponsors Tyco backing the Moneymore-based outfit for an eighth season.
Iddon said: “Obviously I’m excited to be back with TAS Racing and the new BMW gives us the fresh start we need. We feel we have unfinished business, so we will be looking to put that right in 2019 and I’m grateful for the team’s continued support.”
Farmer, the current leader of the winter Supermoto championship, said: “After an excellent first year with TAS Racing claiming the Superstock title, I’m thrilled to be given the chance to move into Superbike. It shows that Philip truly believes in me and what better way to switch to BSB — with a greatly improved BMW. I cannot wait to get testing and get things rolling now for 2019.”
Team manager Philip Neill said: “Firstly, I am extremely pleased to confirm Tyco as our title partner for 2019, continuing our association with them in BSB, which is our fourth year as the Official BMW Motorrad Team.
“Christian clearly has the talent to succeed in BSB – so together with the new BMW RR model, I firmly believe 2019 can be his year.
“Keith was asked to do a job for us in Superstock and he delivered the championship, which was fantastic. We know the step up to Superbike is a significant one, however we believe he has the ability to deliver at any level and, after a settling in period, we expect to see him running at the front in 2019.”
Meanwhile, the competitors for the second British Talent Cup series were announced yesterday as Magheramorne rider Scott Swann and Donegal’s Rhys Irwin, returning for a second season alongside Omagh ‘rookie’ Jamie Lyons.