No place for faint hearts as Anderson wins
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A sizeable contingent of athletes from Navan AC took part in the Braveheart 5K at the Porchfields in Trim on Friday evening including (from left) Sinead Maguire, Alan Nelson, Siobhan Flaherty, Barry Maguire, Una McKeever, Lisa Cromwell, Ida Fitzpatrick, Fidelma McDermott, Sinead Burke and Sandra Smith. PHOTO: DAVID MULLEN/WWW.CYBERIMAGES.NET David MullenImage 2 of 18
Fr Murphy’s athletes who took part in the Braveheart event included (from left) Yvonne Larkin, Richard Bell, Eileen Cunningham, Ann Anderson, Emma Priest, Rosaleen Fagan, Michelle Gerrity with legendary runner Mick Priest, who in recent years has represented Ireland at Masters level, and Sadie the dog ! David MullenImage 3 of 18
All ready to embark on the Braveheart 5k were Dunshaughlin athletes Shirley O’Connor, Heidi Carty, Jessica O’Brien and Helen Mooney. David MullenImage 4 of 18
Edwina Matthews, Therese Cogan and Charlene Daniels were in the Porchfields on Friday evening. David MullenImage 5 of 18
Ukrainian Athlete Maryna Rozumenko pictured before the start of the Braveheart event. David MullenImage 6 of 18
Winner all right. Seamus Anderson from Trim AC on his way to victory the 2023 Braveheart 5k on Friday. David MullenImage 7 of 18
Declan Butler & Jason Manek were representing Dunshaughlin in the Porchfield on Friday. David MullenImage 8 of 18
In the colours of Cilles AC in the Braveheart 5k were Sandra and Abigail Molloy (Cilles AC). PHOTO: DAVID MULLEN/WWW.CYBERIMAGES.NET. David MullenImage 9 of 18
Alex, Carole and Stephen Redmond were among the 500 runners who took part in the Braveheart 5k. David MullenImage 10 of 18
True grit. Dunboyne AC athlete Sean Bailey pushes for the finish line in the M60 age group. David MullenImage 11 of 18
Proudly wearing the colours of Dunboyne AC in the Braveheart run were Dave Humphries and Sam Hamilton. David MullenImage 12 of 18
Trim athletes pictured taking a well-earned breather after the Braveheart run were (from left) James Kelly, Olive McLoughlin & Helen Hartnett. David MullenImage 13 of 18
Maricel Guevara (left) and Cailin McDonagh (Trim AC) were at the Porchfields on Friday. Photo: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net David MullenImage 14 of 18
Great effort. Richard Bell (Fr Murphy AC) recovers after crossing the finish line in third place in the senior men’s event. David MullenImage 15 of 18
Blathnaid Seioge and Craig Regan (Trim) were among those who were at the Porchfields on a lovely summer’s evening. David MullenImage 16 of 18
Blathnaid and Aisling Caffrey (Trim) were out and about at the Braveheart run on Friday evening. PHOTO: DAVID MULLEN/WWW.CYBERIMAGES.NET David MullenImage 17 of 18
Keeping a watch on how events unfolded at the Porchfields on Friday evening were Jackie & Adam Glennon from Dunshaughlin. David MullenImage 18 of 18
Ali Howell from Summerhill and Miriam Dowling Trim were among the big turnout for the Braveheart 5k. David MullenBravehearts all. The the familiar red and white singlet of the host club, Trim AC, was worn by Seamus Anderson as he ran to victory in the Braveheart 5k race at the Porchfields on Friday evening with the course and the warm evening ensuring that conditions were testing. This was not a place for faint hearts.
The Trim AC runner underlined why he is a highly regarded young athlete by finishing best in an event that attracted runners from well beyond the boundaries of the Royal County.
In all 500 runners set off on the course around the Porchfields, a place soaked in history with Anderson negotiating the demanding course in a time of 15.55. Sean Doran from the famous Clonliffe Harriers was second while Fr Murphy AC's Richie Bell put in a storming display to secure third place.
Isabelle Oakes, a renowned mountain runner from Sligo, won the women's race with Susan Glennon (Mullingar Harriers) second while Coilin McDonagh was third. McDonagh, who is from Rath Chairn, also ran in the colours of the host club.
Oisin Maher was representing the Galway City Harriers in the junior men's event and he put in strong display to win. Regarded as one of the finest young athletes in Connacht he has - as Trim AC stalwart Ciaran Tobin pointed out - close Meath connections as his father Declan Maher is originally from Trim. Also in the junior male category Cian McGee from Navan was second with Joe Hegarty (Trim AC) third. As well as promising runner, Hegarty is also a talented footballer.
In the junior female grade Louise Callaghan (unattached) finished first while local athletes Emily Fagan (Dunshaughlin) and Kallie Larkin (Trim) put in big performances to secure second and third places respectively.
Ciaran Tobin pointed out that only for "a massive effort" from Trim AC volunteers the race simply couldn't take place. "You have to build a course, then take the course down when its all over," he said. "We were very grateful to Meath Co Council and the Office of Public Works for allowing use use the facility and to our sponsors.
"Our main sponsor was Pat Corcoran, he owns PC Office Supplies on the Navan Road in Trim. The funny thing is Pat's cousin is Sean Bailey from Rath Chairn who runs for Dunboyne AC and his cousin beat him in the M60 race. They are two great warriors."
The Braveheart event is a significant fundraiser for Trim AC who are looking to construct new facilities in the Maudlins, Trim where they have a five-acre site. The Braveheart 5k however is synonymous with the Porchfields.
On Friday it was a field of dreams for those who took part.