Rennicks prominent at Rás na hEireann

Bohermeen AC's Darragh Rennicks was the first Irish man home at the 50th running of the Ras na hEireann at Oldbridge House outside Drogheda on Sunday afternoon.

Up against a strong field of over 100 runners the Meath senior cross-country champion started well and was in a decent place after the first lap with Matt McClintock from the US and African athlete Hiko Tonsa leading the field in the 6k race.

McClintock held on to take the overall title in a time of 17:52 minutes with Tonsa six seconds further back with Rennicks sixth overall in 19:23.

The day was full of nostalgia with many past Ras champions present including past winners Mick Priest from Fr Murphy AC and Willie Keane from Clare who both competed in the race. 

Priest won the Ras 46 years ago back in 1973 and he proved to have plenty of spring in his step at this years event.

Another Bohermeen AC man Colm Rennicks, who finished second in the u-16 race at the first Ras in 1970, took part in the open 3k along with Kevin McGeough who also competed in the first Ras in January 1970.

Also in attendance were the wife and daughters of the late founder Larry McGuill who passed away in 2011. The Fr Murphy club also had a ladies team in the event.

Bohermeen AC had 60 athletes in action and enjoyed considerable success in the underage races with five athletes making the podium as well as taking home eight team awards.

Dean Ryan was eighth under-15 boys, Cara Brennan eighth under-13 girls, Molly O’Brien fourth under-11 girls, Conn Brennan fifth and Harry Monaghan eighth under-11 boys respectively, Tara Hunt third and Inga McGann fifth in the girls under-9.

The highest juvenile place athlete on the day was Senan Traynor who was second in the boys under-9 race.

The teams who took home Ras medals on the day were girls under-17s, boys under-15s, girls under-13s, boys under-11 and the bronze team winners were the girls under-15, the boys under-13s, girls under-11 and boys under-9s.