When the going got tough in yesterday's Loughrea road race, Peter Mathews made one decisive surge to the front. With some 800 metres of the five-mile race left to run, Mathews couldn't afford to look back. And he didn't, powering his way to the finish to take the win in 23 minutes and 14 seconds. Even in his fiery form that was a blistering time.

It was some 40 seconds quicker than last year's winning effort of England's John Mayock, who had to settle for fourth this time round. Still, there were just strides separating the runners-up, with another Englishman Ben Noad second (23:20) and Seamus Power third (23:25).

With Cormac Smith coming home in eighth despite an early stumble, that Irish trio comfortably took the team race, imaginatively composed of the Six Nations more associated with the oval ball. They outscored the English (again) 12 points to 16.

Wales took third (38 points), with Italy and France tied on 53 points and then Scotland on 56. Martin Fagan of Mullingar was first of the juniors with a very creditable 13th place (24:14).

Rosemary Ryan had an easy afternoon in winning the women's race, coming home in 26:25, well clear of Tullamore's Pauline Curley (27:30).

Elsewhere, James Nolan put his fast finish to good use to win the Gerry Farnan Cross Country in Dublin's Phoenix Park. The UCD athletes clawed back the early leader Alan Merriman in the final strides, while Dundrum's Maria Lynch won the women's race.