Rennicks scoops cross-country title

Bohermeen's Darragh Rennicks and Dunboyne's Fiona Reid took the plaudits at the Meath Cross-Country Championships at Dunboyne on Sunday. There were not too many people around Dunboyne on Sunday morning, but Meath's top athletes were up and about early. The location was the Cow Park, a community-owned 28 acres on the edge of the village out the Clonee road, just a few free kicks down the road from Sean Boylan's house. The man who oversaw four Meath All-Ireland SFC triumphs would surely have been impressed by the dedication, commitment, desire, hunger, stamina and spirit displayed by the athletes. For many this was the big day when the reservoir of fitness built up over months and months of preparation would be needed to get around the undulating course. Facing the women was a 4,000m run while the men had a distance a 7,500m to cover and while the athletes had to deal with a polar wind, the conditions were at least dry with an unblemished blue sky overhead. Officials had been out on the course since early on Sunday morning ensuring everything was in place for the off. Co Board chairman Brendan Meade and his team had the stage set. And when the adults had run their races it was the turn of the youngsters in the under-age relays to show what they could do. There was certainly much to celebrate for the locals in the senior women's event, comfortably won by Dunboyne athlete Reid in time of 15:52. Her club also claimed the team prize. From very early on it was clear that, barring an accident, Reid would win. That was not the case in the men's event. Right from the start Bohermeen's Rennicks and Star of the Sea's Colin Costello fought out a close, personal duel. While Rennicks appeared to up the pace a few times he found it difficult to shake off Costello's presence at his shoulder - until the closing stages. It was then that Rennicks, no doubt mindful of Costello's ability to put in a strong finish, displayed his rich talent drawing away from his opponent to make it two successive victories in this event. During the course of the last lap and still someway from the finishing line Rennicks moved up a few gears, enough to put considerable daylight between himself and his nearest rival. His time was 26:55. "Well done Darragh, brilliant," said Costello to the victor just after both of them had crossed the finishing line. Neville Reilly was third while former winners Ger Heery, who took the title nine times in the past, and Tommy Maher were others to feature prominently. Ensuring that everyone was up-to-date in what was happening out on the course local man Tommy McDonnell did the commentary. He constantly urged the spectators to keep encouraging the runners to help them along their lonely journey. He also came up with some quotable quips. Half-way through the race he pointed out how former Meath hurler Neville Reilly - a recent convert to athletes - was keeping in contact with the two front-runners. "And third is Neville Reilly who only started running two years ago and hasn't stopped since," he added. Yet for many - in both the men's and women's races - it wasn't about winning. It was more about competing, about attaining a personal goal; that sense of triumph that comes from overcoming a challenge. One of the most intense contests of the day was between Benny Byrne (Dunshaughlin) and Michael Cornyn (Dunboyne). They were still running some time after the front-runners had crossed the line yet they were both clearly determined to finish as high in the placings as possible. Both, from somewhere, found reseves of energy and sprinted for the final 100 metres or so with Byrne just about making across the line ahead of his opponent. Byrne first ran in the race in 1978, didn't take part for 14 years, before returning to the fray in recent times. There were many other heroes who ran on Sunday including Paddy Mangan, as ever competing in his bare feet. Conspicious by their absence were Fr Murphy clubman Andrew Ledwith and Dunboyne's Rory McDonnell, who has finished in the top three a couple of times in recent years and had to sit this one out because of injuries. While athletes like that would have added to the quality of the field nothing should be taken away from the achievement of Rennicks - or any of the other athletes who arrived in Dunboyne early on Sunday morning in pursuit of their pesonal dreams. RESULTS Men: senior - 1, Darragh Rennicks (Bohermeen, 26:55); 2, Colin Costello (Star of the Sea, 27:08); 3, Neville Reilly (Dunboyne, 28:07). Team - 1, Star of the Sea; 2, Bohermeen; 3, Dunboyne. Women's: senior - 1, Fiona Reid (Dunboyne, 15:52); 2, Karen O'Hanlon (Dunboyne, 16:28); 3, Emilia Dan (Dunboyne, 16:41). Team - 1, Dunboyne; 2, Dunshaughlin; 3, St Brigid's.