Road racing west of the Shannon will enjoy one of its biggest boosts in years with the restoration to the calendar of an international five miles race at Loughrea next Saturday.

Sebastian Coe, Britain's double Olympic gold medallist, and Brendan Foster are among those who won the race after it acquired a truly international dimension in the 1970s.

Now the organisers are looking to the charisma of Sonia O'Sullivan to re-establish its high profile and judged on the initial response the appearance of the European 5,000 and 10,000 metres champion looks certain to confirm the success of the event.

Race officials said yesterday that they were delighted with the number of fun-runners who have entered the race and with the closing date still some days away, they anticipate a huge turn-out for the town's biggest sporting event in years.

O'Sullivan, who is due to travel from her home in London tomorrow, said that she had suffered no adverse reaction after her return to competition in the great North Run at Newcastle on Sunday.

After watching the England-Belgium football game at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon she was back in training yesterday, although on her own admission neither her morning nor evening session was strenuous.

"I ran for 20 minutes in the morning and did much the same later in the day, just enough to ensure that I got rid of the after effects of the race in Newcastle.

"Considering that I had been out of competition for so long I was delighted that I felt so good after the race. There were a few aches and pains, but overall the effects were minimal.

"Now I'm looking forward to an even better run in Loughrea. Unlike Newcastle, it's a mixed race with men and women going head to head and that should ensure that the pace is fairly brisk."