Week ending Saturday 4th January
Mullingar athletes busy on the roads over the Christmas period
While most of the Club’s underage cross country squads took a well earned break over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, a number of adult members were busy running off any Christmas overindulgence by competing in road races in Longford, Meath, Galway and closer to home in Kilbeggan. Judging by some of the performances though, they must have taken it easy on the turkey and pudding!
Kilbeggan 6k
The Kilbeggan 6k in aid of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin on St. Stephen’s Day attracted a big entry of nearly 400 runners and walkers from far and wide looking to work off the Christmas excesses and support a worthy cause into the bargain. Leading the big Mullingar group home in second place was Euan Lagan (19:58), followed by James Keegan in fourth place (20:25), Matthew Glennon (21:38) first junior man, John Whitelaw (21:48), Kieran Nolan (21:53), Ian McCormack (21:57), Ger Brady (22:25), Barry McDonald (22:59), Paddy Daly (23:01), Enda O’Carolan (24:13), Lorcan Mullen (24:26) third junior man, young Cian Corcoran (24:55) doing a great job pacing his mum Aisling Corcoran (24:57) to first place in her master category, Andrew Glennon (27:05), Caroline Mullen (28:22) third in her master category and Martin Mullen. A local race like this deserves local support and it was good to see Mullingar Harriers out in good numbers.
Shane Brennan 5k
A regular favourite of Mullingar athletes and a great way to run off the Christmas turkey and pudding, the annual “Shane Brennan 5k” in Newtownforbes, Co. Longford on St. Stephen’s Day, a charity event for the Ollie Cox Injury Fund organised by Fr. Kieran McGovern, a long time friend of Mullingar Harriers, attracted a big entry of over 400 runners, joggers and walkers including a small group from the Club, led home by Patrick Muldoon (18:18), followed by Gerard Flynn (21:09), Brigid McCabe (24:17) first in her master category and Nicky McCabe (25:00) first in his master category.
Fields of Athenry 10k
Running his first short race since the summer, Eddie Newman competed in the annual Fields of Athenry 10k on St. Stephen’s Day, which attracted nearly 1,300 entrants and was very satisfied to finish well up in 37:13 to take first prize in his master category.
Rita and Robbie 5k
Continuing to grow year by year, the Navan AC “Rita and Robbie 5k” last Friday attracted a very large crowd of 452 finishers who competed in good running conditions on local roads, starting and finishing in Claremont stadium. Among the big entry was Mullingar’s Enda Seery who finished well up in fifty eighth position in a good 19:49, so was pleased with his final race of the year.
Ardagh Challenge 10 mile and 5k
The well established Ardagh Challenge 10 mile and 5k in Co. Longford last Saturday drew a good entry for both races on a mild dry morning with little wind. Andrew Nevin was the best by far of the 136 finishers in the 5k, winning in 16:24, nearly three minutes ahead of second place and was so far clear that he ran most of the race on his own in what was effectively a time trial. Also running was young Luke Greene, finishing in 20:47. The longer 10 mile race was run over a point-to-point course, the first two miles on a route around Ardagh village before heading up and over the mountain, including a brutal Category 5 hill – a long steady climb to sap the energy from the 229 participants – before heading back down and finishing at the village green. Leading the strong Mullingar contingent home in an excellent twenty fifth place overall was Joan Flynn in 1:08:00, the third woman to finish. Following in behind was Amy Mahony in a new best time for the distance of 1:13:50, then Sean Liston (1:15:00), Michelle Bohan (1:15:24), Emer O’Hanlon (1:20:28) first in her master category, Terri Greene (1:21:39) second in her master category, John Bannon (1:24:04) and Michael O’Sullivan (1:27:39) third in his master category. Well done to them all and after such a tough race they definitely earned the post-race refreshments and chance to recover in the Community Hall.
Indoors Action
At the final NIA Live Indoor Series Meeting of 2019 a week before Christmas, on Tuesday evening 17th December, Colin Smith was Mullingar’s sole representative and competed in the 1,000m where he battled hard to finish second in a very good 2:31.12, as he continues his preparations for the indoor season proper in the New Year.
Annual General Meeting
The Club’s Annual General Meeting will take place in the Annebrook Hotel, Mullingar on Friday 17th January at 8pm. We hope see all our adult members attend and the parents of the very many underage athletes who receive training, coaching and guidance throughout the year. The meeting will take about an hour and a half and we urge everyone to show your appreciation of the work done at the Club by attending the AGM. There will be light refreshments served after the meeting.
Westmeath Juvenile Indoors
Keep Friday evening 24th January free when Athlone IT AC will host the ever-popular Westmeath Juvenile Indoors. There will be events for boys and girls under 9 to under 17 years of age, but this fixture will be of particular interest to our younger members aged 8, 9 and 10 that are too young to compete in the Leinster Indoors. Full details of ages and events and how to enter will be available after Christmas.
For the latest results, news and details of all upcoming fixtures check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com.
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