Leevale's Fiachra Lombard competing for the Woodford Green club placed second in the first of seven races in the Reebok Cross Challenge held in Liverpool on 19th October.

Lombard, who now resides in Birmingham ran 24.25 on the Sefton Park course in Liverpool.

Matt Smith (Tipton Harriers) won the race a second better than Lombard. Smith, Lombard and third place finisher Spencer Barden (Belgrave Harriers) broke away from the rest of the field with two kilometers remaining in the race with Smith winning the sprint to finish. Lombard's speed was no doubt suspect since he hasn't raced in six months time since the Inter Varsities at CIT in April.

Thanks to Leevale's Der O'Donovan for this report.

The Reebok Cross Country Challenge is comprised of six races and the final. The fixtures are lised below. Entries can via the Internet, click on the Reebok Cross Challenge logo for more information.

19th October - The Reebok Liverpool Cross Challenge staged in cooperation with Liverpool City Council in famous Sefton Park will incorporate the Trials to determine which clubs will represent the UK in the European Cross Country Clubs Cup in February 2003.

2nd November: The Reebok Birmingham Cross Challenge staged in cooperation with Birmingham City Council in Senneleys Park, Birmingham, incorporates all five divisions of the Birmingham & District Invitation League plus the Midland Women's Cross Country League.

17th November: The Reebok Margate International, incorporating the UK Athletics European Championships Trials, staged in cooperation with the South of England AA and Thanet District Council in Hartsdown Park, Margate, includes Kent Youth Athletes League races.

14th December: The Reebok Edinburgh Cross Challenge in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, gives athletes an early look at the venue of the 2003 European Cross Country Championships.

11th January: The Reebok Belfast Cross Challenge staged in cooperation with the Northern Ireland Athletics Federation maintains the highly respected annual meeting in Stormont Estate, Belfast.

19th January: The Reebok Cardiff Cross Challenge in Bute Park, Cardiff, historically includes 4km races for Seniors in addition to the standard set of races for all age groups.

8th February: The Reebok Cross Challenge Finals are included in the Reebok UK Inter-Counties Championships in Wollaton Park, Nottingham and will incorporate the UK Athletics World Trials for the Men's 12km and Women's 8km as well as having a great impact on the selection of squads for the Junior Men's and Junior Women's places in the Norwich Union Great Britain & Northern Ireland Team for the World Championships. The UK 4km Cross Country Championships in Brighton on Saturday 8 March will form part of the selection process for the 4km race at the World Cross Country Championships.