Athletes at the start of today's race.

Good turnout for robbie byrne memorial

There was a good turnout today for the second annual Robbie Byrne Memorial 6k road race from Navan's Claremont Stadium with some 140 athletes setting off from the starting line at midday.

Star of the Sea athlete Eoin Callaghan (18mins 57 seconds) took the laurels in the men's race ahead of Scott Hazel (Coventry) in 19.05 with Dunboyne's Rory Kavanagh (19.30) in third place.

In the M40 category Ciaran O'Dwyer (Dunshaughlin) was first in a time of 20.02 with Sean Murphy (Trim AC) in second and Gerry O'Reilly (Dunboyne) in third place.

Navan AC's Ciara Rooney maintained her recent good form as the first woman home in 23.04 ahead of Linda Fahy (Dunshaughlin) in 23.39 and Andrea McGuinness (Meath Fitness) in third in a time of 23.46.

More detailed results in next edition of Meath Chronicle out Tuesday evening.

HISTORY OF RACE

Navan Athletic Club staged the second Robbie Byrne Memorial Road Race today sponsored by Robert Byrne Hairdressing.

The late Robbie Byrne had a lifelong involvement in local athletics.
“His first interest in athletics was as an athlete with St Mary’s AC, Navan in the 1940s and 1950s, and then again when the club re-formed after a short break under the auspices of the De La Salle Social Club,” explained Marjan Boers manager of Claremont Stadium.
“As the club grew in numbers independence from the De La Salle was encouraged and in October 1973 he, along with other members set up Navan Athletic Club. Robbie played a crucial role in the development of athletics in Navan, Meath and at national level.
“As well as his involvement in his own club Robbie found time to serve as national registrar of the Juvenile Board of NACAI and over the years held many posts on Meath Athletic Board.”
After the opening of the stadium in 1981, Robbie Byrne remained committed to the management of the venue. He also spearheaded further development.
“Robbie had a vision of an Olympic standard track in the town of Navan and was a very proud man when, with the coming of the new millennium, the new eight-lane tartan track and field facilites came into being.
Meath County Athletics Board decided that it should have an honorary President for a term of one year to recognise a person that had given a lifetime of service to the sport Robbie Byrne was the unanimous choice to hold that inaugural position in 2008.

See video clip of start.

http://youtu.be/n3FnJCoo5fM