Metropolitan Harriers & St Brigid’s Athletic Club is delighted to announce that Hibernian Aviva Health will be this year’s sponsor of the 25th Anniversary Gerry Farnan Cross Country Festival, to be held adjacent to the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park on Sunday 18th October, 2009.

The Cross Country Festival will have a series of mixed races for boys and girls from 8 to 12 years old, 13 to 16 years old, the Dublin under 18 Championships for boys and girls. The feature races will be the Gerry Farnan Men’s race over 5 miles and Women’s race over 3 miles, while the Masters events will act as trials for the teams competing in the forthcoming International Cross Country.

Ireland’s leading senior and junior runners are expected to compete. The AAI International selectors will use the races to monitor the progress of our potential team candidates for the European Cross Country Championships to be held in Dublin in December.

As well as generous individual prize money there are also cash awards to the leading club teams. All participants will receive a souvenir tee shirt and goodie bag.

Club President and race director, Eamonn Coghlan extended his appreciation to Hibernian Aviva Health for the sponsorship of this most important cross-country event on the Irish Athletics calendar, this year. Without our sponsor we would not be in a position to host the event and to celebrate the memory of our great coach and mentor, Gerry Farnan.

Vanessa Hartley, Marketing Director of Hibernian Aviva Health said: “Hibernian Aviva Health is delighted to sponsor this year’s Gerry Farnan Cross Country Festival. This event recognises Ireland’s most talented junior and senior runners and celebrates the memory of Gerry Farnan, coach and mentor to many of Ireland’s young and aspiring athletes. Hibernian Aviva Health is committed to looking out for Ireland’s consumers and is proud to endorse any initiative that supports Ireland’s young and aspiring athletes”.

Event: Hibernian Aviva Health Gerry Farnan Cross Country Festival

Date: Sunday 18th October

Venue: Phoenix Park

Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Entry Form & Info: www.msbac.com

Register on Day: Seniors, Masters, Juniors in Donore Harriers, Chapelizod.

Juvenile Entries: Taken at the start line or through your own club in advance

Race Schedule:

1:00pm Boys & Girls 8 to 12 years old Mixed 800m (entry fee €5 at start line)

1:15pm Boys & Girls 13 to 16 years old Mixed 1 mile (entry fee €5 at start line)

1:40pm Boys Under 18 Dublin Championship 5k (enter Dublin Athletic Board)

1:45pm Girls Under 18 Dublin Champions 3k (enter Dublin Athletic Board)

2:15pm Womens Senior Junior & Masters 3 Mile Race (entry fee €15 on day)

Senior Race: individual prizes 1st €300, 2nd €200, 3rd €100

Senior Team: (three to score) 1st €300, 2nd €150

Masters: Individual prizes €1st €50, 2nd €30 over 35/40/45/50/55/60/65/70

Junior Under 20: 1st €100, 2nd €50

3:00pm Mens: Senior, Junior & Masters 5 Mile Race (entry fee on day €15)

Senior Race: Individual prizes 1st €300, 2nd €200, 3rd €100

Senior Team: (four to score) 1st €400, 2nd €200, 3rd €100

Masters: Individual prizes 1st €50, 2nd €30 over 35/40/45/50/55/60/65/70