Athletics Northern Ireland has announced the 32nd Antrim IAAF International Cross Country Races, the third meeting in this winter’s UK Cross Challenge series, will this year move to the picturesque venue of CAFRE, Greenmount Campus in Antrim.

The event is one of the largest and most popular events in the Northern Ireland athletics sporting calendar with more than 1,000 competitors taking part in 12 races throughout the day for age groups Senior, Veteran, Under 20, Under 17, Under 15 and Under 13.

The event is one of eleven IAAF permitted cross country races in the world and is part of the UK Cross Challenge Series.

The well-established series is the focus of the domestic endurance running scene over the winter months and this year it has been given a huge boost by the support of McCain for the first time ever. The Challenge has a prize fund of £30,000 for the 2008/09 season, more than double the amount from last winter’s series.

The Antrim event is organised by Athletics Northern Ireland and sponsored by sportswear firm Mizuno in association with Antrim Borough Council.

Nick Vermont, Regional CEO of McCain Foods (GB) Ltd, Title Sponsor of the event says:

"We are looking forward to an exciting McCain UK Cross Challenge series. We hope that our support for the series of UK challenges will inspire and encourage young people to take up athletics across the country".

Over the decades, some of the best international cross-country competitors from as far afield as the USA, Uganda and Kenya have made the trip to challenge each other at this acclaimed NI fixture and high profile athletes have competed here such as Paula Radcliffe, Paul Tergat, Steve Cram, Steve Ovett, John Tracey, Khalid Skah, Sergey Lebid, Liz McColgan and Brendan Foster to name a few.

Helping launch the event at the Greenmount Campus was St Malachy’s athlete Michael McKillop - a gold medal medal winner in the 800 metres in Beijing last month - who will compete in the under-20 men’s race.

Deputy Mayor of Antrim, Councillor Adrian Cochrane-Watson commented: “We are delighted that Athletics Northern Ireland has chosen a location in the Borough of Antrim as the new venue for the Antrim IAAF International Cross Country event.

“CAFRE, Greenmount Campus is an excellent venue for this world class competition, particularly for those travelling from overseas.

“There is no doubt that an event this size will contribute significantly to the Borough and provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the top class facilities, visitor attractions and beautiful scenery that Antrim has to offer.

“Antrim Borough Council is proud to support this event and wish Athletics Northern Ireland, CAFRE and the runners every success for January 2009,” the Deputy Mayor added.