Three runners from Seneschalstown (from left) Avril Redmond, Wendy Byrne and Fiona Monahan who took part in the Simon Cumbers & Paddy Hyland 6k race.

Big turnout for Simon Cumbers/Paddy Hyland Road Race

Published: Fri 17 May 2019, 9:46 PM

Last updated: Fri 17 May 2019, 11:12 PM

In the region of 1,000 runners took part in the 6k Simon Cumbers / Paddy Hyland Road Race in Navan on Friday evening with Kenyan Peter Somba edging out Irish international Mick Clohisey for top spot.

The Simon Cumbers/ Paddy Hyland Road Race got underway on the Commons Road with Somba and Clohisey both setting a red-hot pace with only Sean Doran from Clonliffe Harriers managing to stay with them. Doran eventually secured third place with Clohisey crossing the line in second place close behind Somba.

Somba's winning time was 17 minutes 36 seconds. Richard Bell (Fr Murphy) was the first local runner home in fourth place.

The women's race was claimed by Caitriona Mullen (MSE) in 20 minutes, 23 seconds and she also received the Paddy Hyland Trophy. Becky Woods was second and Dunboyne's Laura Buckley third. Both Buckley and Bell were presented with special prizes to recongnise the fact that they were the top finishers among the runners attached to Meath clubs.

Dunboyne won the men's team competition while the host club - Navan AC - claimed the women's title. Afterwards the victorious Navan team were presented with the Ena Tobin Memorial Trophy. Ena tragically passed away in a road accident last month.

The Navan team also included Ena's sister - Sonya Tobin-Reilly as well as Karen Blaney, Louise Hand and Emer Murphy-Dowling. "It was brilliant to see a Navan team win the Ena Tobin Memorial Trophy especially with Sonya on the team," said Navan AC chairperson Mary Watters. Other members of the Tobin family were in attendance including Meath footballer Sean Tobin and mother Mary.

The runners who took part in the Simon Cumbers/Paddy Hyland Road Race started out on the Commons Road before they embarked on a course that took them past Clougherboy, the Old Athboy Road, Commons Lane with the finish inside Claremont Stadium.

The evening's running got underway at 7pm when the Alanna Russell Memorial underage races were staged inside Claremont Stadium. The races featured runners of various ages and there was a big turnout particularly for the u-8 event.