THE PARADE began early in Dublin yesterday at 10.0 a.m. to be precise when 700 athletes tested the route for the televised festivities which were to follow.

And while the noon parade moved leisurely through Dublin's streets, Nigel Brunton displayed commendable speed for so early in the morning to take the Nike sponsored Street of Dublin 5km for the Bill Coghlan trophy. Peter Matthews was second, just two seconds behind.

Strength is Matthew's greatest asset and he was determined to stamp his stamina trademark on a race which began in Parnell Square and then followed the route of the main parade.

A group of athletes joined Brunton and Matthews at the front in the initial downhill surge, and, as the race crossed O'Connell Bridge for the first time, Eugene O'Neill injected some pace which had the desired effect of dissipating the seven man group.

O'Neill, however, was later to pay for his impetuosity as he suffered on the drag up Dame Street and at the half way point.

At that stage, only three runners harboured real ambitions of winning - Brunton was snapping at the heels of Matthews while Gerry Carr was digging deep to hang on.

And when the leaders re entered O'Connell Street, Brunton was running alongside Matthews.

On the final incline up Parnell Square, the 25 year old masters student at UCD unleashed his finishing kick to take him home ahead of Matthews. Carr was passed in the final kilometre by Eddie McGrath.

The women's race was a virtual procession as Rosie Lambe made her journey from Dundalk worthwhile as she came home with 28 seconds to spare over Annette Kealy. The improved Beth McCloskey was third.

. Britain's selectors have been forced to make a change in the team for Sunday's World Cross Country Championships in Turin: Northern Ireland's Dermot Donnelly has been forced to withdraw with a hamstring injury. Paul Roden moves up into the team; Justin Pugsley, of Birchfield, is the travelling reserve.