Westmeath Road Championships 2025 (30th Apr)
This year, the Westmeath Road Championships were staged on the Greenway, utilising the Park Run route. In splendid sunshine on Wednesday evening 30th April, 60 athletes took part. The organisers, led by Philip Burke and Joanna Tyrrell, made excellent provision for the warm conditions, with plenty of water stations throughout the course and at the finish area. All the runners remarked afterwards on the intensity of the heat, so plenty of water was taken on board during the race and again at the finish.
In the race itself, Kevin Moore stamped his authority on proceedings from the early stages and coming around to the finish area for the first time he had opened a gap of more than 30 seconds on the chasing pack. Heading out on the longer 5k loop, he continued to increase his lead. Just Eoin Clarke and Alan Crowley from the chasing pack could keep him in their sights. Kevin came home in a fine time of 27:25 to take the gold medal in the senior men race. Eoin got the better of Alan in a tight finish securing silver in 28:58, with Alan taking the bronze in 29:03. The ladies race saw Orlaith Flanagan continue her impressive season taking the ladies’ title. Criona Reid took silver, and the bronze medal went to Aisling Corcoran.
In the master categories, there were many intriguing battles for Championship honours. In the M35 category, Stephen Underwood took gold, James Keegan, who held back a little given the Leinster Championship’s in Gowran were a priority, still had enough to pick up silver. Leona Behan won the F35 category, finishing strongly and very satisfied with a best for the 8k distance. In the F40 category, Fiona Fagan held off the strong finish of Laura Fitzpatrick to take top spot with Kate Plunkett delighted to be heading home with the bronze medal. The M40 category saw gold going to Enda Seery, recording a best for the distance. Darren Carroll picked up the silver medal with Thomas Gilligan taking bronze. Orla Gillespie took gold in the F45 event, where in a great battle for the second spot, Linda Cunningham held off Aine O’Reilly for the silver medal. Kieran Nolan was a clear winner of the M45 race followed home by Brian Collentine with Mark Dunne picking up his first Westmeath Championship medal with bronze. Mary Goldsberry (Coralstown Kinnegad AC) pushed the pace strongly and was rewarded with gold in the F50 category, and in the men’s equivalent, Gerard Gavin was an impressive winner, followed home by James Cribben with Mick Fagan picking up bronze. Emer O’Hanlon took gold in the F55 category with Caroline Mullen picking up silver. In the men’s equivalent, Mel Carty (Coralstown Kinnegad AC) showed well throughout the race to take gold, it was silver for Michael Purdue and Mark Cunningham (Lakeside Wheelers) was delighted to take home the bronze medal. We had a strong field in the M60 race, where Eddie Lynch took gold from Jim Whelehan (Coralstown Kinnegad AC) in second and Paul Ginnell came through for bronze. John Bannon in M65 and the timeless Sean McMullin in the M70 category won gold in their respective categories, both adding to a long list of Westmeath Championship medals over the years.
The full results are available HERE, where athletes can compare times, especially between training partners, given the large number of masters who took part and who on most Wednesday evenings are training together at the Club grounds. A special word for Kieran Dodrill, who swapped his runners for a role as timekeeper and results co-ordinator on the evening. With Kieran’s work, we were able to quickly compile results at the end to allow delighted winners head home with their medals.
Westmeath Civil Defence provided very valuable assistance and while their expertise was not called into action on the evening, they are always available to Mullingar Harriers when we stage events, and are ever helpful to athletes, stewards and spectators in ensuring a safe event [MO’S].
