NI and Ulster Teams Announced for Home Countries XC and Armagh Road Races

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.

Home Countries men.

Armagh 3k women.

Armagh 5k men.