Though told he’d be running as part of an Ireland Schools relay team on Saturday 19th September in a warm-up race the day before the Great North Run in Newcastle, England, it turned out to be straightforward mile race. Luckily nothing seems to faze Shane Fitzsimons and he just got on with the task against some top-class UK opposition and even though running out of his age group, he mixed it well and finished 4th, the first from Ireland to finish. A great performance and we can look forward to seeing Shane in action over the coming cross country season.

Meanwhile on Sunday 20th September in the Great North Run itself it was disappointment for Martin Fagan as he was forced to drop out at the halfway mark. Not sure if it was injury or not, but it will have been a blow to Martin and his preparations for the New York marathon.