Murray the form man

ATHLETICS:It used to be the most important cross-country race in Ireland - by far - the National Inter-club Championships. Traditionally the climax of the season, it always attracted the best runners, not least because it acted as the trial for the world cross-country championships.

But things have changed. The east African dominance of the World Cross Country Championships in recent years has significantly diluted the interest of European countries, including Ireland. Instead, the European Cross Country Championships has become the main target. Catherina McKiernan won the inaugural women's title in 1994 and since then the event has grown.

Which takes us to tomorrow's National Inter-counties Championships in Dungarvan.

The four main races of the day - men's and women's senior and junior - act as the final trial for the 12th edition of the European cross-country, set for the Italian town of San Giorgio su Legnano on December 10th.

Athletics Ireland will be sending full teams to Italy in all races - along with the new under-23 category, introduced this year on a trial basis. This shift in focus is underlined by the fact that only the individual winners of the Inter-club Championships in February will be sent to the world cross-country.

Underlining that shift further is the fact most of the best home runners are making the trip to Dungarvan, including defending champion Gary Murray, inter-club champion Vinny Mulvey, former European junior medallist Mark Christie, nine-time former champion Séamus Power, and Gareth Turnbull - his first competitive appearance since the recent nightmare of clearing his name of a doping charge.

Turnbull didn't stop training throughout his five-month ordeal, which finally ended last month when the Irish Sports Council were forced to drop the doping charge.

"I suppose I could take my frustrations out on my running by pushing myself on the roads and on the fields," he says, "and I was grateful to have it.

"I've run in the Inter-Counties Championship many times in the past and have always enjoyed them and done quite well without ever winning. I have been doing some good training here in Loughborough but you never know for sure until you have a race. That is the test."

Although not exactly regarded as a cross-country specialist, Turnbull has finished second in this race, behind Power. There's nothing wrong with that given the Clareman dominated this event for almost a decade - winning his nine consecutive titles from 1995 to 2003, an extraordinary feat by any standards.

Illness prevented Power from winning number 10 two years ago, and after that it appeared his best days were behind him. The tragic death of his brother Dermot earlier this year - one of Power's original mentors - has inspired him to make another push for that 10th title, and win or lose in Dungarvan tomorrow, the Clare athlete, who is arguably the most popular cross-country runner of his generation, is sure to have given his all.

Murray, however, looks to be the athlete in form, given his second place in the recent Tilburg International in the Netherlands. The relatively flat, fast course should suit the Donegal athlete, although the heavy weather of recent days could play into the hands of Mulvey, who recently won the Dublin title off just three weeks of training after a knee injury.

Wicklow's Fionnuala Britton, one of the elite athletes attending DCU's new sporting academy, is the clear favourite to collect the women's title, with DCU team-mate Linda Byrne likely to be her main rival.

The first three home in each race tomorrow are automatic selections for the European cross-country. US-based athletes Martin Fagan and Mary Cullen have been preselected, and Athletics Ireland are awaiting final word on Alistair Cragg's participation.

Cragg finished third in a high-quality road race in the US on Thursday, and will decide over the weekend whether he'll make the trip to Italy. Tomorrow's races start at noon.