Nick Griggs And Izzy Fry Excel at NI International Cross Country at Billy Neill MBE Country Park at Dundonald

By Julie-Ann Spence
Published 26th Oct 2022, 14:50 BST
Updated 26th Oct 2022, 14:51 BST
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European champion Nick Griggs (Mid Ulster AC) and GB’s Izzy Fry led the European challenge in the well supported Bobby Rea International Cross Country at the Billy Neill MBE Country Park at Dundonald which was blessed with sunny, warm weather.

The International Cross Country was held in conjunction with the NI & Ulster Even Age Group Championships and the Bobby Rea Cross Country which saw over 1500 athletes take to the start line across all age groups, from U10s through to Masters.

The athletes had to contend with a hilly course, and despite the heavy overnight rain, conditions did not adversely affect the World Class Ethiopian athletes who were always well to the fore in both the Men’s 8K and Women’s 6k events.

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In the Men’s race Ethiopia’s Gizelaw Ayana wasted little time in asserting his authority over the rest of the field. 17 year old Nick Griggs produced an impressive acceleration of pace in the final lap where he made substantial inroads into Ayana’s lead, finishing in second place, also taking the Men’s U20 Championship title in a time of 25:36.

The women's race at the Billy Neill MBE Country Park at DundonaldThe women's race at the Billy Neill MBE Country Park at Dundonald
The women's race at the Billy Neill MBE Country Park at Dundonald
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A champion day for Jenna and Fancy Ferro at Hagan's Croft

In the Women’s event World University Cross Country champion Izzy Fry made valiant efforts to stay in contention with Ethiopian pair Medina EIsa Kumanda and Melknat Wudu Sharew. In a sprint finish to the line Kumanda just got the verdict over Sharew both with the same time of 21 mins and 7 seconds.

Lagan Valley AC’s Rory Armstrong won the U14 Boys race in a time of 8:05.