Braveheart report

rim Athletic Club hosted its third Braveheart 5km run over the heritage
trails of the Porchfields on Friday evening. The weather relented for a few
hours on the evening to allow the field of over 500 runners and joggers
assemble in the shadow of the Yellow Steeple to kick off the 40th
anniversary celebration of Trim Athletic Club. The warm up was conducted by
James Gibbons from Bootcamp Meath who headed from historic Trim to historic
Tara to organise the latest edition of the Dawn Run.

The race got underway with a rousing Braveheart oration from a member of the
Wallace Clan who was not attending Euro 2012. William (aka Kevin Shelly) and
his cohorts from Trim Drama Group in full battle dress sent the race on its
way.

 The pattern of the race was set from the outset by David Flynn, Clonliffe
Harriers and his club colleague Gary O Hanlon who took control. They ran
neck and neck for the entire race and approaching the line O Hanlon
sportingly raised his younger  clubmates arm and they finished  in 16.07 and
16.08 respectively. The talented youngster, Flynn is home from Arkansas
State University and is currently preparing for the national steeplechase
championship in August.Second placed  O Hanlon is in flying form at the
moment having won the Dundalk Half Marathon in 69 minutes. In third place
was Kevin Baker from Mullingar.

In the battle for top honours among the women the first three places were
occupied by members of Meath clubs.Their performances are notable in that
all three compete in the masters ranks. The winner was  Emilia Dan from
Dunboyne AC made short work of the course to win in a time of 19.40 ahead of
relative newcomer Imelda Clarke, Na Fianna and Linda Fahy from Dunshaughlin
AC who recently won selection for the World Duathlon age group
championships.

One of Trim Athletic Clubs founding members, Larry Daly presents the first
Meath affiliated athlete with the Larry Daly Cup each year. This year the
strength of masters distance running in the county was emphasised by the
fact that South O Hanlon athlete Paul Gleeson took that honour when coming
home top of the M 45 grade in a time of 16.51.

In the junior men grade, local runner Conor Daniel,20.42  recorded his first
big win ahead of Conor Gleeson son of the aformentioned Paul. The talented
Rachel Neary from Na Fianna won the junior womens grade with at time of
21.18 ahead of Rachel O Brien.

A welcome feature of the race was the number of newcommers taking part. This
increase in particpation is down to the excellent work being done by various
meet and train groups at clubs around the country. The 2012 Braveheart Run
had chosen Cystic Fibrosis Ireland as its charity for this years event and a
contribution will be made towards the improvement of facilities for CF
patients and their families at its new centre  near the Lourdes Hospital in
Drogheda.

Trim Athletic Club are very grateful to the civic authorities, club members,
Athletics Ireland, Meath Athletics Board, Scurlogstown Olympiad, event
sponsors, volunteers, local media and all who got out and took part.