Ledwith lands Meath cross-country title

On a bitterly cold morning when you wouldn't even put an Eskimo out, the Meath AAI Cross-Country Championships survived the severe frost and saw national champion Andrew Ledwith from Fr Murphy AC claim the prize ahead of a strong field at Ardbraccan, Navan. The slight flurry of snow a little over one hour before the race gave the 'White Christmas' look to the testing course laid out by Bohermeen AC, but it did not deter the hardy cross-country athletes. The men's race saw pre-race favourite Ledwith lead an experienced field with last year's bronze medallist Rory McDonnell from Dunboyne and former All-Ireland champion Gerard Heery from St Brigid's leading the charge to deny the favourite an expected victory. The first two laps of the five-lap race over eight kilometres saw Ledwith sit quite comfortably with the leading group of Derek Croal and Richard Byrne from host club Bohermeen along with Daragh Rennicks, McDonnell and Heery. Going out on the second lap Ledwith picked up the pace slightly with Byrne for company. The pursuing group, rather than letting the Athboy man away so early in the race, gave chase and moved back up to the leaders. Just as it was his cue a month ago in the All-Ireland championships at Kilbeggan, when the chasers came back to him, Ledwith stepped on the gas again on the third lap and drew away from the pack. The earlier exertions of trying to claw back the Kildalkey man had taken its toll on Byrne and he fell back with the group now reduced to Heery, McDonnell, Rennicks and Croal. With two laps to go Ledwith was now racing towards the title to add to his All-Ireland crown, but the race for silver and bronze was far from over as the athletes moved onto the fourth lap. With the experienced athletes of Heery, McDonnell and Croal eyeing each other as potential medal winners, Rennicks was matching them stride for stride and was the potential fly in the ointment. The athletes came to the bell with Ledwith holding a good lead over the chasing group that had been whittled down to Rennicks, Heery and McDonnell. The St Brigid's man upped the pace and while he broke McDonnell, Bohermeen teenager Rennicks still stayed with him. With 300 metres to go the wily Heery pushed again, but Rennicks responded to the challenge and moved into second position. With Ledwith safely across the finish line to rapturous applause from the appreciative crowd to take another senior title in a stunning time of 26 minutes, 53 seconds he could look back to see Heery draw level with Rennicks with 100 metres to go. The teenager still had a sprint left in him and he managed to move ahead again and crossed the line for a well-deserved silver medal just 16 seconds behind Ledwith with the veteran Heery taking bronze three seconds further back. The ladies three-kilometre race over almost two laps of the 1600-metre course started proceedings just after 11.0 when starter Kevin McGeough called them to the line. Straight from the gun Fiona Reid (Dunboyne) went to the front followed by Sharon Monaghan (Fr Murphy). These two athletes opened up a lead of 15 metres on the chasing pack headed by Orla Timmons (Star of the Sea) as they cleared the first hill. Reid, who last won the event in 2001, was in determined form and as the ladies came down by the finish area to take the bell before heading out on their final lap she had an unassailable lead. In the battle for the minor places, the tough course suited Timmins as she overtook Monaghan. The fast pace that Monaghan and Reid set in the beginning was now taking its toll on the Athboy girl with Catherine Dunne (Dunboyne) beginning to put her under pressure. As they moved through the final lap Reid consolidated her grip on the gold medal with Timmons stretching away from Monaghan and Dunne, who were now racing for the bronze medal. Reid came home the winner in 11 minutes, seven seconds with Timmons in second, 20 seconds further back. The race for the bronze was still on and as Dunne came over the hill and into view of the finish with 200m left she had the slimmest of leads over Monaghan. As they both sprinted for the line Dunne managed to gain the advantage and earn a deserved bronze medal. Dunshaughlin ladies of Ursula Byrne, Shauna Moore and Linda Fahy finished in fifth, sixth and seventh places respectively and retained the Reagan McEntee Cup for the senior ladies team with a score of 18 points ahead of Dunboyne in second with 20 points and St Brigid's in third with 34 points. Bohermeen retained the men's Larry Daly Cup with a score of 33 points followed by Dunboyne on 39 points with Dunshaughlin third on 48 points. Following the senior men's race the u-10, u-12, u-14 and u-16 juvenile cross-country relays took place. With all the competition safely completed competitors and spectators adjourned to the Bohermeen Community Centre for the refreshments and medal presentations. Meath Athletics president Larry Daly made the presentations while chairman Brendan Meade thanked Bohermeen AC for the quality of their cross-country course and the hospitality to athletes, officials and spectators.