Hoey hits the jackpot with big win in half marathon

Star of the Sea athlete Mark Hoey produced one of his best performances of his career so far to win the National Lottery Dublin Half Marathon on Saturday with 40 seconds to spare over his nearest rival Martin Conway from Sligo AC. The race started at a hectic pace with Clare runner Seamus Power, the former nine-time All-Ireland cross-country champions going straight to the front. By the two-mile mark Power had opened up a 100-metre lead on the chasing runners that included Hoey and Barry Minnock (Rathfarnham). With Minnock content to stay behind the leader Hoey also had to contain his challenge. Suddenly, both Minnock and Hoey decided to push on and opened a 50-metre lead on Power. Showing the stamina and determination that made him a nine-time All-Ireland champion Power bounced back to catch up with Hoey and Minnock at the eight-mile mark. It was at this stage, and running well, that Hoey decided to make his move. Over the next two miles he upped the pace and opened a decisive gap on the chasing runners. With 10-miles completed the Julianstown athlete had left the rest of the field behind and over the final three miles Hoey pushed the pace along while both Minnock and Power fell back through the field to finish fourth and sixth respectively. No other athlete challenged the Meath man as he raced to a magnificent victory in a time of 68 minutes 50 seconds. Martin Conway (Sligo AC) came through in 69 minutes 29 seconds for second place with Patrick Cassidy (Glaslough Harriers) third a further seven seconds adrift. Hoey is coached by David Carrie (Dunleer) who won the men's o-45 section in a time of 73 minutes 27 seconds. While Hoey was winning the event other Star of the Sea athletes were also competing and setting new benchmarks. Brian Moore finished in 1:29:28 closely followed by Eamon O'Neill (1:30:20) with Paul Breen (1:45:11) and Rosemary Hutcheson (1:45:55) others to feature. There was also a sizeable contingent of athletes from Dunboyne including senior runners Paul Gannon (1:23), Alan McKernan (1:28), Mick Foy (1:29), Emilia Dan (1:30 fifth in F40), Antoinette Howlin (1:36), John Holian (1:38), Sean McDonnell (1:42), Ray Mitchell (1:44), Aoife Kerrigan (1.44), Tom Muldoon (1:50), Anne Gorman (1:52). Dunboyne Fit4Life runners also took part and first home were Martin Geoghegan and Siobhan Carey (1:47). They were followed closely by Roisin Bell (1:49) and Sinead Thompson (1.56). Other Dunboyne runners to finish were Deirdre Mangan (2.07), Angela Walsh and Roisin Whitty (2.08) and Margaret Leddy (2.13). Star of the Sea AC will host their annual cross-country and fun run at Greenanstown, Stamullen this Sunday, 11.0. This is the 23rd running of the event and the club hope that last year's record attendance of 700 athletes and supporters will be surpassed. "With races for the u-9s to master athletes everyone is welcome to come try their hand at cross country running where you can run in runners, spikes or if you want to go back to nature and feel the grass between your toes you can run in your bare feet. There will be complimentary tea on the brew from early morning for spectators and athletes needing refreshing," explained Star of the Sea official Brendan Meade. Directions to the event will be signposted from Stamullen village and from the Duleek-Julianstown road, contact Brendan Meade at (087) 2533113. St Brigid's AC will host the Geraldine Dolan Memorial Schools Cross-Country in Ballinacree on Tuesday 4th October. The competition in open to all secondary schools in Meath, Westmeath, Louth and Cavan. There will be races for minor, junior, intermediate and senior boys and girls, contact Martin at (086) 8564160 or Gerard at (086) 2499886. Navan AC hosted a sports day at Claremont Stadium last Sunday and the event was well supported in all categories. Mini-marathon Ronan Carley produced an excellent performance to win the first Aisling Group International Charity 10km Mini Marathon in a time of 37 minutes 21 seconds in Navan on Sunday. Percy McKeever was second in 39 minutes 46 seconds while Robert Finnegan finished third in 40 minutes 53 seconds. The first woman home was Laura Flynn who is well known for her connections with Navan O'Mahonys. She recorded a time of 46 minutes 15 seconds. A barbeque followed the race and certificicates were presented to all who took part. Aisling Group International Charity director Marie Byrne thanked all the runners and walkers for taking part and the volunteers who co-ordinated the event. "We are delighted people came along, we lost the Dublin participants due to the All-Ireland final, but the event has run efficiently and everyone is happy with what they got from it so the next event will be aimed at much larger numbers which is good for the town of Navan," she said. "Also we hope businesses will join in promoting the event which we feel will attract more people to Navan to enjoy what it has to offer and the surrounding areas. The charity staff works tirelessly to keep the services in operation but we will need to make some major changes in the coming weeks due to lack of funding," she added. Aisling Group International Charity has sought to promote healthy lifestyle activities. It has raised funds for its services through its sporting events such as the M3 Cycle, various cycling tours, Race Around Ireland, Race Across America and now its 10km mini marathon has been added to that list.