from Stephen Ball Bohermeen athletic club promoted the 24th Patrick Bell memorial 5k race and charity walk on Friday evening last in Bohermeen village. On a calm but cool june evening 485 entering for the run and walk making it a record turnout for the event . With runners and walkers traveling from as far as Portumna in Galway Nenagh in Tipperary and Belfast. The evening was sheer magic throughout from the sub 5 minute mile athletes on the starting line to the local community walkers and all in aid of the Meath Arch Club who were in out in large numbers.
On the racing the winner for the past two years Rory McDonnell of Dunboyne locked horns with Robbie Matthews of Dunshaughlin and Martin Quinn of Dunleer also tossed the lead . But the young Dunboyne runner McDonnell took his third title in 15-08 on awindy night with Matthews a few secs back 15-12 and Quinn third 15-16 having his best run in years in senior ranks after his comeback, Bohermeen best runner on the night and in previous races was Derek Croal placing 6th in his best run ever on Bohermeen roads and present was his parents Mary and Paddy Croal from Manorhamilton in Co Leitrim. . Dunleer won the Paddy Murtagh cup in the team event from Bohermeen .
The ladies race saw the first ever foreign winner when 23 year old Ezmera Gebrezgi from Eritera in Africa , the very talented DCH runner based in Dublin taking the title in 17-23 and Fiona Mahon from Donore second in 17-40 and last years winner Mary Hanley of Na Fianna third in 17-55 .Eamon Phillips son of the late Nicky Phillips presented the winners cup to the winner of the ladies race .
Na Fianna retained the Mallon cup from Mullingar and Bohermeen third .
Tony Brady chairperson of the Meath Arch Club thanked everyone for their kind support of the event and said it was unique that almost Olympic standard athletes and ordinary members of the public could participate .
Bohermeen AC would like to pay tribute to everyone that supported the event in any way from its main sponsor for the past 23 years John Hogan to all on the supporters board on the night. .On the night again both David Harrison junior and senior entertained everyone throughout the bellowing smoke form the open turf fires. The local order of Malta , Community centre committee and road stewards and the local media all came in for great praise on the night as did the official starter Tommy Neary from Co Louth .
Bohermeen AC chairman would like to thank the committee members of the club and all helpers for the extraordinary work both before during and after the promotion . The event has now been described as the event of the summer not to miss. Roll on for the 25th Anniversary on Friday june 18th 2010 , which promises to go even further .So please plan 2010 well and dont miss the 25th anniversary .It will be a unique weekend .With plans to ask all parishioners to invite family members from abroad for the that weekend to do the Patrick Bell memorial walk and plans for a major Come home festival banquet on the Saturday night .
Thank You one and all
Stephen Ball Bohermeen AC
24th Patrick Bell memorial 5k results
1.Rory McDonnell Dunboyne 15-08
2.Robbie Matthews Dunshaughlin 15-12
3.Martin Quinn Dunleer 15-16
4.Cian O,Raghallaigh Annallee 15-38
5.David Byrne Tallaght 15-45
6.Derek Croal Bohermeen 15-46
Team
1.Dunleer 31pts
2.Bohermene A 65
3.Bohermeen B 126
4.Dunlerer B 134
5.S-O-H 159
0/35 1.David Byrne Tallaght 2.Ciarn Kelly Dunleer 3.Shane Boyle Bohermeen
0/40 1David Carrie Dunleer. 2, Matthew Glennon Mullingar 3.David Carey Dunleer
0/45.Mark Lacey S-0-H 2.David O,Connell Ind 3.Dermot Clarke Bohermeen
0/50 1.Dermot Kerr Armagh 2. Paddy Mangan Dunshaughlin 3. Ben White Mullingar
0/55 1.James Gillespie Armagh 2.Patsy Fitzsimons S-0-H 3.Conor Cooney Drogheda
0/60 1.Matt Cooley Ind 2.Michael Smith Laragh 3.Christy Creagh Mullingar
Junior 1.Cian O,Raghaillaigh Annalee 2.Thomas Cotter Dunleer 3.Donal Hanratty Tara
Novice 1. Colm Walsh Mullingar 2.Bernard Heaney ind 3.Nigel Smith Ind
24th Nicky Phillips memorial 5k
1.Azmera Gebrezgi DCH (Eritera Africa) 17-23
2.Fiona Mahon Donore Harriers 17-40
3.Mary Hanley Na Fianna 17-55
4.Crona Brady Sportsworld 18-30
5.Helen White Sportsworld 18-35
6.Fiona Reid Dunboyne 18-43
Team
1.Na Fianna 60
2.Mullingar 67
3.Bohermeen 107
4.Navan AC 117
035 1.Mary Sully Mullingar 2.Linda Fahy Dunshaughlin 3.Barbra Cleary Ind
040 1.Mary Hanley Na Fianna 2.Helen white Sportsworld 3.Bridget Clarke Na Fianna
0/45 1.Linda Gunning Bohermeen 2.Mary Watters Navan 3.Breda Clifford Navan
0/50 1.Finola McCourt Lagan Valley 2. Karen McLoughlin Donore 3.Marie Navan
0/55 1.Margaret McAuley Drogheda 2.Deidre Dowling Moynaley
0/60 1.Rose Healy Fr Murphys
Junior 1.Clodag Ni ,Raghaillaigh Annallee 2.Edan Ni Raghaillaigh Annallee 3. Leah Renncks Bohermeen
Bohermeen Leinster Golden Wonders
For the second consecutive week Bohermeen athletes raided Leinster gold this time the venue was Tullamore and Darragh Rennicks and Darren Vahey had their own Oasis in Tullamore . Darragh won the 300mts and 1500mts double over the two days and both in personal bests recording 4-13 for the metric mile and 9-12 for the 3k both reflect a vast improved times over both distance for the young athlete .These wins were Darraghs first ever Leinster Individual gold after several seasons at this levelDarren Vahey or Mr Versatile in Bohermeen by his ability to line out in nay position on the road cross country or in the long high or triple jump. In Tullamore he won the High jump in personal bets of 1-75 and gold I the under 19 long jump and will boost his chances in the under multi event later in the summer .Also in Tullamore it was a great day for birthday girl Katie McGowan who also made the podium with a blistering 100mt run in the final to win the bronze.
Another Bohermeen athlete just missed the medals with an outstanding throw in the boys under 14 javelin ,Shane Fox nephew of the late Patrick Bell was simply inspired to throw just over 20mts and missed the bronze by a short distance , But his throw was a personal improvement by over 5 mts .Bohermeen had many more young athletes in action and all gave their all in completion .
The club would like to congratulate all its athletes in action over the weekend in both the Patrick Bell memorial and Leinster championships.
Meath track league after round 2
1.Bohermeen 320 pts
2.Dunboyne 292 pts
3.Navan 280
4.Na Fianna 268
5.Trim 228
6.Fr Murphy 216
Round 3 is on this Wednesday night at Claremont Stadium Navan june 24th at 7pm all Bohermeen athletes are requested to be in attendance at 6-50pm and adults 8pm The final round is on Wednesday july 1st also at Claremont stadium
Stephen Ball