Updated: Wednesday, 13th January, 2010 4:56pm

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Bohermeen club going strong

by Conall Collier

Hard-working Bohermeen AC official Stephen Ball took time out from his duties to support the Kells Road Races Charity Classic Run in aid if Meath Women's Refuge last year during which he used his father's 1967 Vespa which was purchased from Oliver Gough in Navan two years before the current club was re-formed after a period of inactivity.

Bohermeen AC have just completed their 40th consecutive year in athletics since the club was re-formed back in October 1969 and this Friday night, 8.0, the annual general meeting is expected to attract a good attendance at the local commubnity centre.

Last year proved to be one of the most successful for the club with plenty of success at team events in the county. The victory by the senior men's team at the Meath cross-country championships brought that title to the club for a third successive year. It also represented a fourth AAI crown and a seventh Meath senior title which including three NACAI triumphs in 1971, 1973 and 1999.

The club captured three Meath cross-country titles for each of the last three years, senior, intermediate and novice winning the Larry Daly Cup, the Betty and Frank McDonnell Cup and the Dan Bagnall Cup which the club first won in 1971.

The track season was another very rewarding one as over 70 athletes between senior, junior, masters and juvenile combined to win the Meath Track League for the first time while another fine victory came in the Meath Road Relays.

Throughout 2009 the club had members in action on a weekly basis at cross-country, track and field or road competitions and the annual presentation evening will take place over the next few weeks, with a date likely to be finalised at Friday night's AGM.

Bohermeen also promoted one of the most successful road races in the county when close to 500 competitors took part in the 24th Patrick Bell Memorial race and walk last June and, in the process, raised vital funds for the Navan Arch Club.

Looking forward to 2010 the club will again be active on all fronts and will promote the 25th Patrick Bell Memorial on Saturday, 12th June, 6.30.

The other major event on the club's calendar will be the 38th Rennicks Cup & Fr Delany Cup on Sunday, 12th September.

Meath AAI were forced to postpone last Saturday's Development Squad Day which was scheduled for Claremont Stadium, Navan, due to the adverse weather conditions and Monday night's Competition Committee meeting was also cancelled in the interests of safety. New dates for both will be finalised this week. The Leinster senior and junior cross-country championships which were scheduled for Sunday were also postponed while the eagerly awaited Star Awards ceremony will take place this weekend, Saturday, 16th January.