BENNY Teer kicked off the new cross country season with an emphatic victory in the Comber Cup hosted by Ballydrain Harriers at Dundonald.
Rachel Gibson was equally impressive in winning the women's race, with record fields for what was the first round of the Athletics NI Winter Cross Country League.
Teer, who represented Northern Ireland at the Home Countries International in March, imposed himself on a strong field to win by over half a minute in 26 minutes and 25 seconds for the eight-kilometre distance.
City of Derry Spartan Allan Bogle was a clear second in 26:02, 13 seconds ahead of third-placer Mark McKinstry who led his North Belfast Harriers to team victory.
North Down athletes Rachel Gibson and Jessica Craig were both prominent in the women's six kilometre race from the gun.
A mere two seconds separated the pair at the tape with Gibson prevailing on the long finish straight. East Down's improving Catherine O'Connor took third. First Over-60 man to finish was North Down's Terry Eakin in 24:02.
Record fields also turned up for the Donegal Novice Cross Country Championships in Castlefinn yesterday.
A heavy and uneven surface did not prevent Letterkenny's Shauna McGeehan from showing a clean pair of heels to her 62 opponents in the women's race.
McGeehan recorded 10:56 for the three kilometres distance to put leave herself 15 seconds ahead of Cranford's Lucy Bakus at the finish line with Inishowen's Evelyn McGinley another ten seconds back in third. Letterkenny took
the team championship by a mere point from Inishowen.
Rosses runner Ciaran McGonagle was pushed all the way in the men's race by Adam Speers and had only five seconds margin at the finish line.
McGonagle made a surge to get clear of the field after only 400 metres but was soon caught by Speers and Finn Valley colleague Shane Gallagher.
As the latter faded out of contention, it was down to just two men with McGonagle's strength from a summer of road racing proving the decisive factor. Tirchonnaill's Mark McGuinness
came through the field well to claim the individual bronze medal. Finn Valley packed well to win the team race.
Paul Barbour was the winner of yesterday's Armagh 10 Miles which attracted over 800 participants.
The Omagh Harrier has been in splendid late summer/autumn form and proved his third place in last month's Laganside 10K was no fluke with another personal best of 53 minutes and 51 seconds.
Leroy Brady from the host club Armagh AC took second spot in 54:59 with Darryl Blair nabbing the final podium place in 55:13.
Blair led North Belfast to a two-point team victory over the host club.
However, the story of the race was Maria McCambridge taking fourth place overall in a course record 55:16. The 39-year-old DSD athlete declined selection for the marathon at the European Championships earlier this year to concentrate on her preparations for the Rio Olympic Games. Armagh's Danielle Fegan grabbed the runner-up prize in 60:30 with Dromore's evergreen Gillian Burns third in 64:22.
* See results P55