NIURA Opens Selection Process for 2026 Anglo Celtic Plate 100K
11 December 2025
The Northern Ireland Ultra Running Association (NIURA) has officially opened the application process for athletes hoping to represent Northern Ireland at the 2026 Anglo Celtic Plate 100K Home International, set to take place on Saturday 21 March 2026 at the University of Limerick.
NIURA plans to send a self-funded but partially subsidised squad of up to five men and five women to compete in the prestigious ultrarunning event. The team will compete in the senior 100K category, open to athletes aged 18 and over.
Selection Process and Timeline
Athletes wishing to be considered must submit a Statement of Interest to NIURA’s Susan McCartney by Sunday 11 January 2026 at susan.macartney@outlook.com.
Selections will be finalised during the week beginning 13 January 2026.
The selection panel will consist of voting members of the NIURA committee.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for consideration, athletes must:
-
Meet the Northern Ireland or Ulster representative criteria through birth, parental, or 12-month residency qualification.
-
Hold valid membership with Athletics Ireland or Athletics Northern Ireland.
Performance Standards
Applicants must have run:
-
100K in 8 hours 30 minutes (men)
-
100K in 10 hours (women)
These times must have been achieved within the three years prior to the selection date. The panel may also consider athletes who demonstrate capability through strong performances at other distances.
NIURA has confirmed that if fewer athletes meet the criteria than there are available team slots, the remaining places will not be backfilled. The committee emphasised that all decisions will be made fairly and without bias.
The association encourages interested ultra runners to apply early and ensure all eligibility and performance requirements are met ahead of the selection deadline.
The application form is attached below for all interested athletes.