The local ‘Children in Crossfire’ group have mobilised hundreds of participants for their relay 2,000 event tomorrow in Magherafelt and hope to get into the Guinness Book of Records with a day-long continuous replay on the Co. Derry indoor track.

Double Palalympian sprint gold medallist, Jason Smyth, will be on hand to get the attempt going and a great day is anticipated with athletes, joggers, schools, work groups etc., all involved are wished good luck in their efforts.

Sunday’s Armagh 10 miler should attract some local interest as well, even if the focus is more on the imminent start of the cross-country season and the Dublin Marathon at the end of the month.

Indeed, runners doing Dublin or one of the upcoming marathon events could benefit from a ‘blow out’ over 10 miles, two weeks are so before their big effort. The race gets underway at 12.00 noon from the Navan Centre.

Cross Country Agenda

Serious cross-country action starts with a bang next weekend with races in both Comber, Co. Down and Dublin’s Phoenix Park sure to attract the attentions of local athletes.

Local ‘Masters’ athletes, in particular, will be keen as both races will act as trials for the Home Countries Masters International in Swansea in mid-November.

The N. Ireland squads will be selected after the Comber Cup races - on Saturday, October 18th - while the Irish contingent go through their paces at the Gerry Farnan Race in Dublin the next day.

At last Sunday’s Donegal Masters there was a good showing from City of Derry’s Declan McCarthy, third overall behind Letterkenny’s Jonathan Patton and Paul Ward of Tirconnail. Another Spartan, Gerry Duddy, was 10th and Christy McMonagle also tested himself in advance of the forthcoming trial races.

Due to work commitments, McMonagle may once again have to travel south in search of a green vest in the Over-60 category and could be joined by Colin Roberts who will try for a slot in the very competitive M-55 age grade.

The Donegal Masters will also be out in force in Dublin while the rest of the City of Derry and their Foyle Valley counterparts will look to Comber for their qualification route.

More on this will be published next week.