Bohermeen event marks a return to action
ATHLETICS First Meath road race since March last year
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Off and running at the start of the Bohermeen Patrick Bell and Nicky Philips Road Race on Sunday morning. Photo: David Mullen / www.quirke.ie David Mullen 087-2229396, David MullenImage 2 of 8
Bohermeen AC ladies Anne Stapleton and Majella Fitzsimons on duty on Sunday. Photo: David Mullen / www.quirke.ie David MullenImage 3 of 8
Moynalty athletes Emer Ward (left), Helen Leddy, Paul Galligan, Angela McGee and Noreen Carwood ready for action. Photo: David Mullen / www.quirke.ie David MullenImage 4 of 8
Kells AC members Joanne Carpenter (left), Anne Marie Gallagher, Christy Gaynor, Bruce O’Brien, Tom Dunne, Paddy McMullan, Alison Clynch, Orla Dunne, Frances Campbell and Sarah Mannix. Photo: David Mullen / www.quirke.ie David MullenImage 5 of 8
Bohermeen’s Donna Evans (left) with Denise Tooner (Clones AC) and Catherina McKiernan (Annalee AC). Photo: David Mullen / www.quirke.ie David MullenImage 6 of 8
Billy McCabe, John Carroll and Shane McCabe at theroad race. David MullenImage 7 of 8
Kells athletes Nessa Smyth and Patrick Matthews. David MullenImage 8 of 8
Navan athletes Paula O’Neill and Karen Mooney. David MullenBohermeen Athletic Club staged the 35th annual Patrick Bell and Nicky Phillips Memorial Road Race on Sunday morning with the Raheny duo of Kevin Dooney and Mick Clohessy the first two home.
The race was the first to take place in Meath since the Bohermeen half marathon on 8th March 2020 before lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some 200 athletes faced the official starter Kevin McGeough who is the Bohermeen AC vice president.
The race covered a distance of five miles instead of the more traditional summer five kilometres and the distance was pleasing to all who ran.
Regardless of the distance, the athletes were delighted to have an opportunity to compete again.
Dooney and Rio marathon Olympian Clohessy made light work of the two rises over the M3 and as the race unfolded.
Dooney prevailed and took the title from Clohessy in a swift 23m:53s to win by three seconds.
Dooney later admitted his last race was in Bohermeen in March 2020 at the half marathon.
The first Bohermeen runner was Ronan Wogan in eighth place and Raheny packed well and won the Paddy Murtagh Cup.
The team placings saw Raheny in first place with host club Bohermeen in second and Drogheda & District completing the top three.
The ladies race also had quality throughout and included former Olympian from Barcelona and Atlanta and Irish marathon record-holder Catherina McKiernan in the colours of Annalee AC.
A the race passed the Community Centre the ladies were quite close in the early stages and on the finish line Sheila O’Byrne from the Parnellclub in Wicklow took the title from Denise Tooner (Clones) with McKiernan third. The first Bohermeen runner was Catriona Ball in sixth while the first three in the team category for the Mallon Cup were Mullingar with Bohermeen in the runner-up position again and Trim in third place.
"The club would like to thank its main sponsors of the race John Hogan of Hogan Kitchens who has been main sponsor since 1986 and to Joe Leahy of Mace Newgate who was main sponsor of the ladies Nicky Phillips race," commented club chairman Stephen Ball.
"We would also like to acknowledge the other sponsors that include New Generation Plastics and JM Foods for their support of the event.
"Thanks is extended to Bohermeen Community Centre and to all the stewards and helpers who make events like this possible," he added.
The race was in aid of the Jack & Jill Foundation.