National title for Ledwith

It gets better and better for Andrew Ledwith as the Fr Murphy athlete continued his good form of late by winning the National Half Marathon at the St Abban's AC club grounds in Laois last weekend. The previous week Ledwith won the Tara 5km and the Tinryland four mile event and he proved best of an impressive field to win the half-marathon race with a final lap time of 69.10. Ledwith headed to the Laois venue this weekend with a clear race plan. He set pace targets and stuck to them throughout. The early pace was set by Joe McAllister (St Malachy's) and cross-country rival Mick Clohessy (Raheny Shamrock). At the midway point Ledwith was moving comfortably in fourth place. He made the decisive move on the flat section between Newtown Cross and Crettyard. By the time the race went into the 10th mile and began the long steady climb to Tolerton he extended his lead over Clohessy to about 100 metres. At this point in the race McAllister's advantage had been reduced by the climb and he slipped to third. Ledwith kept the pressure on over the finishing stages towards the St Abban's track and added the National Half Marathon to the Inter-County Cross-Country title won at Kilbeggan last winter. He was very pleased to have run an even pace throughout and finished the hilly course in 69 minutes. Four runners from Trim AC took part in the same race with Danny Byrne first home of the foursome in 85 minutes. The other Trim finishers were Don Mahon, Enda Markey and Brian Cully. Meath Athletics Co Board has decided the venues for this year's cross-country championships. The county novice and even ages championships will be hosted by St Brigid's AC over a new course adjacent to the club grounds at Ballinacree on Sunday 3rd October. The board awarded the race to St Brigid's as the county novice cross-country was the first adult championship they ever contested in their year of formation 1970. The intermediate and uneven ages will be hosted by Na Fianna AC at Baconstown on Sunday 10th October. Later in the year on Sunday 19th December the senior titles will be decided at Arbraccan with Bohermeen in charge of proceedings. Clubs from around the county have applied for permits to stage a total of fourteen athletics promotions in 2011. They include cross-country, track and field, road and trail events. The permit applications are now gone to AAI for national approval and a full list will be published in the near future. Bohermeen AC will promote the last road race of the season in Meath on Sunday when the Rennicks Cup and the Fr Delany Cup will be up for grabs. The route of the race will take the athletes through the old village of Ardbraccan on through the parish with the finish at the community centre. It is expected that Andrew Ledwith will take part. Among those who have won the men's title in the past included Ger Heery, David Carey, Declan Byrne, Colm Rennicks and George Hutton to name just a few. Winners of the women's race have included Mary Hanley and Fiona Mahon. The event is open to all levels of runner and all will be treated to quiet country roads. There will be great prizes in all grades from senior to master to junior. There is a special t-shirt for the first 250 to enter. Entries can be submitted online to www.runireland.ie or text to (086) 7260777 info stephenball@iolfree.ie. Entry on the day up to 1.30 at Bohermeen Community Centre. Entry is €15 for adults and €5 for juniors.