The Home Countries and Celtic International XC takes place at Parliament Hill, London, on 7 February, with Northern Ireland and Ulster selecting competitive squads for both the men’s and women’s races on the famously challenging Hampstead Heath course.

The NI & Ulster women’s team includes Emer McKee of CNDR, coached by Mark Kirk, alongside Holly Collins (North Belfast Harriers), coached by Jimmy McGuinness. Ballymena and Antrim’s Aisling Smith, coached by Pauline Thom, and Emma Stewart of Dromore, coached by Michael McGreevy, complete the four-strong lineup.

The NI & Ulster men’s team will be led by Tom Fleming (CNDR), also coached by Mark Kirk. He is joined by Odhran McBrearty of Finn Valley, coached by Dermot McGranaghan, Caolan Gilbride of Tir Chonail, coached by David Doherty, and Noah Harper of Lagan Valley, coached by Jim McKeown.

Attention then shifts to the Armagh Road Races on 12 February, where our NI and Ulster athletes will compete in one of the fastest road running events in the UK and Ireland.

In the women’s 3k, NI & Ulster representation comes from Emily Haggard Kearney (North Belfast Harriers), who is self-coached, Nakita Burke of Letterkenny, Kirsti Foster of Willowfield, coached by Davy Foster, and Emer McKee (CNDR), coached by Mark Kirk.

The NI & Ulster men’s 5k team features a strong CNDR contingent, with Nick Griggs, Callum Morgan, Conall McClean, and Tony McCambridge all selected. Each athlete is coached by Mark Kirk, underlining the club’s continued prominence on the road racing scene.

With international cross country in London followed by elite-level road racing in Armagh, the coming weeks present an important test of form for NI and Ulster athletes as they compete against top-class opposition.

 

Home Countries women.



Emer McKee (CNDR) Mark Kirk


Holly Collins (NBH) Jimmy McGuinness


Aisling Smith (Ballymena and Antrim) Pauline Thom


Emma Stewart (Dromore) Michael McGreevy




 

Home Countries men.



Tom Fleming (CNDR) Mark Kirk


Odhran McBrearty (Finn Valley) Dermot McGranaghan


Caolan Gilbride (Tir Chonail) David Doherty


Noah Harper (Lagan Valley) Jim McKeown




 

Armagh 3k women.



Emily Haggard Kearney (NBH) self-coached


Nakita Burke (Letterkenny)


Kirsti Foster (Willowfield) Davy Foster


Emer McKee (CNDR) Mark Kirk




 

Armagh 5k men.



Nick Griggs (CNDR) Mark Kirk


Callum Morgan (CNDR) Mark Kirk


Conall McClean (CNDR) Mark Kirk


Tony McCambridge (CNDR) Mark Kirk