The death has taken place in Dublin of Eddie Spillane who, for many years, was one of the outstanding personalities in cross-country running.

His contribution was acknowledged in his election to the IAAF's cross-country and road racing commission in 1976, a position he held for almost 20 years.

It was while attending a meeting of the commission in Tokyo, prior to the World Championships in Tokyo in 1991, that he was struck with an illness from which he never fully recovered.

A native of Galway, he joined Donore Harriers on moving to Dublin in 1970 and went on to win no fewer than eight national titles with the Islandbridge club.