Brave hearts weather the conditions at Trim race

The brave hearts who turned out for the Trim AC annual 5km race were lured with a promise that William Wallace might appear, but they may as well have opted for Mick Wallace such was the furore ahead of the start as the 'Wildman from Tara' one more afflicted the enthusiasts. There he was, at the pre-race warm-up wielding his battle axe and making all kinds of threats as the good men and women who had entered massaged his growing ego. Fresh from his appearance in the sunshine at Bohermeen's Patrick Bell Memorial road race the previous Saturday evening, 'Wildman' looked the same, sounded the same and basically was the same although his ferocious-looking war paint was streaked by the rain. The local elected officials were there to lend support with Damien English tackling the conditions around the Porchfields and completing the course in a good time. At the front of the field for the third Braveheart run the serious runners made an impact with Clonliffe Harriers duo David Flynn (16:07) and Gary O'Hanlon (16:08) the first two home for the Dublin club with Kevin Baker of Mullingar Harriers in third place. Dunboyne's Emilia Dan, second at Bohermeen six days earlier, was flying the flag for the Royal County females and was first woman home ahead of Imelda Clarke (Na Fianna) and Linda Fahy (Dunshaughlin). Conor Daniel won the junior men's category ahead of Conor Gleeson and Michael Malone with Rachel Neary taking the women's junior accolade in front of Rachel O'Brien and Hannah Heskin. More than 500 competed in the timed run with many more also taking part, but not availing of the chip timing and instead opting to test their own resolve in what were difficult underfoot conditions. Many sports were represented with a big quota of club hurlers, footballers and camogie players prominent in an event that has grown in stature over the years. Against the backdrop of historic Trim Castle and the Yellow Steeple, there was also a Junior Braveheart as a kind of warm up race for the main event. The event formed part of Trim AC's 40th anniversary celebrations and presentations were made to some of the founder members of the club. It also formed a part of the Scurlogstown Olympiad Haymaking Festival and Trim AC nominated the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland as its sponsored charity this year. Following the race the founding members of Trim AC were honoured with a presentation to mark the 40th anniversary of the club. Club chairman Ciaran Tobin, who attended the first meeting as a child, paid tribute to the efforts of Larry Daly and his colleagues who established the club as Yellow Steeple AC. The first committee was made up of local former athletes and the parents of children who had been introduced to the sport by their involvement in Community Games. Within weeks of the club forming they hosted the county cross-country championships at the Porchfields and one of the club's first champions was Frank Honan who attended with his mother Brenda on Friday evening to accept an award on behalf of his late father and founding member Tom. Also present on Friday night were 1972 Olympian Dessie McGann from Kiltale, Meath Athletics Board president Paddy Reilly and chairman Brendan Meade. The founder members of Trim AC who were presented with mementoes included Larry Daly, Michael Farry, Frank Murray, Willie Doyle, Brenda Honan, representing her late husband, Tom, Olive Moran who accepted on behalf of her uncle John Moran, Nicola Tobin who accepted on behalf of Larry Tobin. Other founding members were, Joe Fitzsimons, Friarspark, Joe Carter, Kilcooly, Mrs Sheila Quinn,Waterford, Supt PJ Keane (RIP), Pat Hayes (RIP) and Vincent C Eivers (RIP).