Sara Treacy wins Navan race
There was a quality field for the inaugural Robbie Byrne Memorial Road Race from Claremont Stadium, Navan today with top Meath athlete Sara Treacy taking the ladies title and Raheny Shamrocks runner Simon Ryan first home in the men's event in very blustery conditions.
The 6km road race race honoured the memory of the late Robbie Byrne, a stalwart of Navan AC and the Claremont Stadium Committee with members of his family participating and his wife Nuala performing the ceremonial start followed by the official start that was performed by his son, also Robbie.
OVERALL AND CATEGORY RESULTS
MEN
1, Simon Ryan (Raheny Shamrocks)
2, Thomas Moran (Dunshaughlin)
3, Rory Kavanagh (Dunboyne)
JUNIOR
1, Ahmed Abbi (Dunboyne)
2, Abdullah (Dunboyne)
3, Sean Dalton (Navan)
OVER 40
1, Niall Foley (Dunshaughlin)
2, Chris Curtis (Bohermeen)
3, Alan Corr (Star of the Sea)
OVER-45
1, Phelim Glynn (Dunboyne)
2, Mike Kealy (City of Derry Spartans)
3, Mike Staunton (Drogheda & District)
OVER-50
1, Patrick O'Grady (Drogheda & District)
2, Paddy Mangan (Dunshaughlin)
3, David O'Connell (Bohermeen)
OVER-55
1, Noel Duffy (Dunboyne)
OVER-60
1, Conor Cooney (Drogheda & District)
WOMEN
1, Sara Treacy (Moynalvey)
2, Patricia Payne (Na Fianna)
3, Emilia Dan (Dunboyne)
JUNIOR
1, Ciara Rooney (Navan)
2, Amy Clarke (Na Fianna)
OVER-40
1, Carol van Hinsbergh
OVER-45
1, Imelda Clarke (Na Fianna)
2, Yvonne Collins (non-club)
3, Lisa O'Dowd (Tara)
OVER-50
1, Mary Watters (Navan)
2, Linda Gunning (Bohermeen)
3, Una Crowley (non-club)
OVER-55
1, Nuala Reilly (Drogheda & District)
2, Angela Gallogly (Dunshaughlin)
3, Marie Reilly (Navan)
Presentations took place in the sports hall where there were tributes to the late Robbie Byrne with his son, Liam, making many of the presentations.
All the results, times and photos will be in the next edition of the Meath Chronicle. See also brief interview with Sara Treacy who won the ladies race.
ABOUT THE LATE ROBBIE BYRNE
The late Robbie Byrne, a Navan native, was a member of Navan Athletic Club up to his passing earlier this year.
He had a lifelong involvement in athletics, initially as an athlete with St Mary’s AC, Navan in the 1940s and ’50s and then again when the club reformed after a short break under the auspices of the De La Salle Social Club.
In October 1973 he, along with other members, set up Navan Athletic Club and subsequently 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, the late Mr Byrne found time to serve as National Registrar of the Juvenile Board of NACAI and also held many posts on Meath Athletics Board.
Involved in the set up of Claremont Stadium, after the opening of the Stadium in 1981, he remained committed to the management of the facility and spearheaded further development.
He had a vision of an Olympic standard track in the town of Navan and was a very proud man when the eight-lane tartan track and field event facilities came to fruition. This development opened the doors to a variety of track and field events being held in Navan by schools and clubs in Meath as well as Leinster-based athletics clubs,
Conall Collier