BLE's management committee is likely to come under pressure to rescind a decision not to send a women's team to the world cross country championship.

The original ruling was based on the premise that neither Catherina McKiernan nor Sonia O'Sullivan would be available. Since then, however, McKiernan has proved her recovery from injury and, depending on how she runs in Paris this week, O'Sullivan could be ready to run her first big cross country race in five years.

Add in that Valerie Vaughan impressed when running away with the national inter counties title and that the first three home at Whitechurch last Sunday Maureen Harrington, Una English and Pauline Curley prepared in the mud and it adds up to considerable pressure on the committee.

The committee's meeting on Friday will also hear demands to send the first two finishers in the men's senior race, Seamus Power and Tom McGrath, in addition to Gareth Turnbull and Anne Marie Lynch, winners of the two junior titles, to Turin on March 23rd.

It will require a two thirds majority to overturn the original ruling and ensure that Ireland's long tradition of unbroken participation in the world tests will be continued.

Meanwhile, Irish Pride bakeries, are the new sponsors of the National Junior and Under 23 track and field championships, which this year assume added significance because of changes in the international calendar.

A European Cup Under 23 fixture is to be held for the first time in Turku, Finland, while the European Junior tests are also expected to attract a quality entry at Ljubijana in Slovenia.