The inaugural Nike Irish Milers Club (IMC) versus the British Milers Club (BMC) International Match was held in conjunction with the Nestle Kit Kat Irish Schools Athletics Championships in perfect conditions on June 3rd in Tullamore, Ireland.

The race was established in order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ronnie Delaney's 1,500m victory in the Melbourne Olympics. Unfortunately, Delaney was not present due to prior commitments, but Irish Olympic star Sonia O'Sullivan flew in from her London base for the day on her first return to the Irish Schools Championships since her victory in the Senior Girls competition 19 years ago.

In the Ronnie Delaney Perpetual Cup (Men's race), the pacemaker went through 800m in 1.58 before Mark Kenneally of the IMC team took up the running.

Kenneally led for the next 500m before teammate Mark Christie burst past with 200m remaining. National Cross Country Champion, Gary Murray also went past Kenneally with both athletes closing on Christie over the final 50m but the young Mullingar athlete held on for victory in 3.44.63 followed closely by Murray (3.45.14) and Kenneally's new personal best of 3.45.55.

All three athletes will be competing in the Watford BMC next weekend. The first BMC athlete was Chris Parr who finished 4th in 3.46.53 with Rob Watkinson running 3.50.66 for sixth place. The IMC easily won the match with four athletes in the top five.

The Sonia O'Sullivan Perpetual Cup (Women's race) was a two-horse affair. Aoife Byrne of the IMC and Rachel Ogden of the BMC renewed their rivalry which saw them place second and third in the Loughborough BMC two weeks previously.

Ogden took up the pace 600m into the race going by the pacemaker with Byrne hot on her heels. The pair pulled away from the rest of the field with Ogden continuing to lead.

Byrne bided her time and used her 800m speed to kick past the BMC athlete with 100m to go and held on for a narrow victory and new personal best of 4.15.2 to Ogden's.

In third place was one of Ireland's new talents Orla Drumm who ran most of the race on her own and finished in 4.24 ahead of the BMC's Laura Kenney in 4.31.2 and with Byrne, secured the IMC's match win.

The winning athletes were presented with their trophies by O'Sullivan who has inspired a whole new generation of Irish middle distance athletes and who was inundated with photograph and autograph requests on the day. Over 1000 athletes competed in the 9 hour schedule at the Irish Schools Championships from all over the island. Plans are already in place to make the IMC v BMC race an annual match with next years race to be held in the UK and commemorating Derek Ibbotson's World Mile record in 1957.

Men's Results: 1) Mark Christie, Mullingar, IMC, 3.44.63; 2) Gary Murray, St Malachy's, IMC, 3.45.14; 3) Mark Kenneally, Clonliffe Harriers, IMC, 3.45.55; 4) Chris Parr, Great Britain, BMC, 3.46.53; 5) Brian Farrell, Sli Chulann, IMC, 3.49.51; 6) Rob Watkinson, Great Britain, BMC, 3.50.66; 7) Mark Williams, Great Britain, BMC, 3.53.85; 8) Ben Harding, Great Britain, BMC, 3.55.93 - Pace 5 Gary O'Hanlon Clonliffe Harriers

Women's Results: 1) Aoife Byrne, DSD, IMC, 4.15.2; 2) Rachel Ogden, Great Britain, BMC, 4.15.8; 3) Orla Drumm, UCC, IMC, 4.24.6; 4) Laura Kenney, Great Britain, MBC, 4.31.2; 5) Eimear O'Brien, Sligo AC, 4.38.0; 6) Kerry Harly, Newcastle, 4.43.6; 7) Ellen Disken, DCH, 4.46.6

Thanks to Garrett Coughlan of Sports Management Ireland for this story.