Somba wins again in Royal County

Peter Somba stormed to another victory in the Royal County when he took the honours in the Cilles AC-promoted third annual Bettystown Five-Mile Road Race last night.

Somba won last week in Oldcasle over 5k, but last night it was 5 miles (8k) and he had 53 seconds to spare at the line ahead of Sean Doran of Clonliffe Harriers.

Two Meath athletes finished in the top 10, Aaron Smith of the host club and David O'Connor (Trim AC).

Niamh Devlin (DSD) took the women's race ahead of Laura McDonnell (Tallaght AC) with Aoife Parrella (Star of the Sea) in third and Karen Blaney (Navan AC) in fourth.

Mary Hanley (Na Fianna) and Mary Watters (Navan) won the F 50 and F 55 categories respectively while John Nugent (Trim AC) won the M55

Some 700 registered for the event with a group of walkers starting the evening and then the main event got under way 
about 10 minutes later.

SOME OF THE NAVAN AC RUNNERS WHO COMPETED LAST NIGHT

Organisation on the night was good and ample stewarding was provided.

It appeared that some motorists were very impatient especially when traffic was held up at the start and the timing mats had to be moved and then set up again on at least one occasion before the race got under way.

There was an exclusive Tshirt and medal for competitors and a lot of cakes, sandwiches and other goodies were handed out after the race. 

Meath clubs supported the raceiwith a number of Moynalty athletes praising the organisational efforts of Cilles AC officials.

MOYNALTY ATHLETES PRAISED THE ORGANISATION OF THE EVENT

Meath clubs included Moynalty, Dunshaughlin, Bohermeen, Navan, Duleek & District, Star of the Sea, Trim, Dunboyne, Na Fianna and a large number of runners from Navan Running Club as well as Drogheda & District AC and Boyne AC.

Dublin clubs included Tallaght AC, DSD, Clonliffe, Balbriggan, Lusk, Raheny Shamrock, Donore Harriers, Garristown while
Sli Cualann (Wicklow) and Kildare and Monaghan clubs were represented.

See next edition of the Meath Chronicle for all the category results and an array of photographs.
TOP 10
MEN
1, Peter SOMBA    25:37, Dunboyne A.C.
2, Sean DORAN    26:30, Clonliffe Harriers
3, David ROONEY    26:45, Raheny Shamrock A.C.
4, Dylan KEEGAN    27:02, Templeouge A.C.
5, Barry MURPHY    27:09, Celbridge A.C.
6, Brian MARTIN    27:37, Drogheda & District A.C.
7, Aaron SMITH    27:41, Cilles A.C.
8, Paul ALLEN    27:45, Sli Cualann A.C.
9, David O'CONNOR 28:20, Trim A.C.
10, Ruaidhri NOLAN 28:23, Drogheda & District A.C.

WOMEN
1, Niamh DEVLIN 29:31, Dundrum South Dublin A.C.
2, Laura MCDONNELL 29:50, Tallaght A.C.
3, Aoife PARRELLA 32:02, Star of the Sea A.C.
4, Karen BLANEY    32:07, Navan A.C.
5, Ciara O'REILLY 32:52, Drogheda & District A.C.
6, Pamela HOWARD 33:02, Drogheda & District A.C.
7, Anne O'BRIEN 33:15, Balbriggan & District A.C.
8, Yasmin CANNING 33:50, Drogheda & District A.C.
9, Mary HANLEY 33:56, Na Fianna A.C.
10, Bridget CLARKE 34:26, Na Fianna A.C.

SEE FACEBOOK LIVE FROM THE FINISH 

(with a few interuptions)