Reilly and Mahon lead Braveheart trail run charge

The second Braveheart 5K trail run took place along the banks of the Boyne at Trim on Friday evening with former Meath and Dunboyne hurler Neville Reilly enhancing his growing reputation by winning the race in a time of 16 minutes, 21 seconds. Reilly held off the strong challenge of South O'Hanlon's Paul Gleeson with Peter Mooney from Clonard in third place. The women's overall title was claimed by Meath and Seneschalstown footballer Fiona Mahon who won her category in a time of 18.25 ahead of her inter-county cross-country team mates Mary Hanley and Lucy Darcy who are regular podium finishers in Ireland's various half marathons and marathons. The race organisers Trim Athletic Club were very relieved when the early rain and wind gave way to clearer conditions during the afternoon. This year the race has been included in the Meath Running League for the first time and there was a continuation in the improved attendances at league events. The 2011 Braveheart race attracted nearly twice as many participants as the inaugural event with 473 recorded finishers making the trek through the Porchfields. The course featured many set locations from Braveheart. The first half took the runners towards the medieval ruins of Newtown, returning along the Boyne past Trim Castle for the finish near St Mary's Abbey. "As the runners assembled on the start line, Trim Drama Group set the scene with an extraordinary rendition of the William Wallace battlefield speech. The tartan and sackcloth battlers encouraged the runners with inspirational roars and a selection of weaponry which included the iconic Wallace broadsword which was used by Mel Gibson," explained Trim AC's Ciaran Tobin. This year the organisers selected Trim Special Olympics swimming club as its charity. The race was started by local girl Eleanor Murray who won a gold medal in the 2010 Downs Syndrome World Swimming Championships in Taiwan. She has also won silver in European competition and won gold, silver and bronze in different swimming disciplines at this year's Irish Special Olympics. When the pageantry was complete the main bunch set out a blistering pace over the fast first kilometre of the race. Some of the region's most experienced distance runners were well to the fore. Last year's winner Mooney battled it out with Reilly, Gleeson, Tommy Maher and Cormac Fitzpatrick for the overall honours. As the race came through the underpass to begin the final two kilometres Reilly pushed for home ahead of Gleeson and last year's winner Mooney and that is how they crossed the line. Reilly knocked one minute, 20 seconds off the time he recorded last year and went from 11th to first, underlining his rate of improvement and progress as a distance runner. In the women's race Mahon held off strong opposition from her inter-county cross-country team mates over the undulatinig Trim course. Competition in the M45 section was very hot with Tommy Maher, Phelim Glynn, Aonghus Burke (North Laois) and Dave O'Connell all crossing the line within a minute of each other. Don Mahon from the host club won the M40 ahead of John Clarke (Na Fianna). In the W45 Dunshaughlin runner Ann Hunter prevailed over Maureen Getty (St Brigid's). The Dunshaughlin duo of Paddy Mangan and Benny Byrne first and second in the M50. One of Mahon's clubmates at Donore Harriers Bernadette Kavanagh was the winner of the W50 ahead of Linda Gunning. The South O'Hanlon club had the top two M55 finishers, Michael O'Brien and Patsy Fitzsimons. Nuala Reilly (Drogheda and District) won the W55 ahead of Trim woman Attracta Doran. In the junior grades the honours went to Lorcan Lambe (Carrick Aces AC) and Eimear Bourke from navan. The race included a group of 52 members of Summerhill GAA club who, under the guidance of Stephen Husband, raised valuable funds for the Ross Nugent Foundation. They will be contributing to the improvement of oncology facilities in Beaumont hospital. The Meath Running League continues with the next two races planned for Dunshaughlin on Saturday 27th June and the South O'Hanlon 5km in Seneschalstown on Wednesday 6th July. RESULTS Men: overall - 1, Neville Reilly (Dunboyne); 2, Paul Gleeson (South O'Hanlon); 3, Peter Mooney (Clonard); M40 - 1, Don Mahon (Trim); 2, John Clarke (Na Fianna). M50 - 1, Paddy Mangan; 2, Benny Byrne (Dunshaughlin); M45 - 1, Tommy Maher (Dunshaughlin); 2, Phelim Glynn (Dunboyne); M55 - 1, Michael O'Brien (South O'Hanlon); 2, Patsy Fitzsimons (South O'Hanlon); junior - 1, Lorcan Lambe (Carrick Aces). Women: overall - 1, Fiona Mahon (Donore Harriers); 2, Mary Hanley (Na Fianna); 3, Lucy Darcy (Sportsworld); W50 - 1, Bernadette Kavanagh (Donore Harriers); 2, Linda Gunning; W40 - 1, Bridget Clarke (Na Fianna); 2, Imelda Clarke (Na Fianna); W45 - 1, Ann Hunter (Dunshaughlin); 2, Maureen Getty (St Brigid's). (Bohermeen). W55 - 1, Nuala Reilly (Drogheda & District); 2, Attracta Doran (Trim); junior - 1, Eimear Bourke.