Celtic Media Group Sheelin Challenge 2016 launched
Paul Fitzpatrick
at Crover House
The preparations for the 2016 edition of the Celtic Media Lough Sheelin Challenge – the third annual 16 mile run/walk around the lake – are in full swing following the official launch which took place at Crover House Hotel last Thursday week.
The event will take place on Saturday April 16 and will this year feature a 10k challenge as well as a 16-mile run.
The Sheelin Challenge is hosted by St Brigid’s AC, who are based in Ballinacree, which is two miles from Westmeath and half a mile from the Cavan border.
“In Cavan, we cover Mountnugent, Castlerahan and Virginia, in Meath we cover Ballinacree, Moylagh, Ballinlough and Oldcastle and in Westmeath we cover Fore up towards Collinstown and around the Castlepollard area,” explained club official Gerard Heery.
The progressive club, founded in 1970, purchased four acres at Ballinacree in 2008 and are currently developing it.
The club hosts four events each year, the Sheelin Challenge, the Oldcastle 5K, the Muneen Hill Run and the Geraldine Dolan Memorial Schools Cross country, the latter of which attracts around 500 secondary school students.
“We cater for athletes from seven to 70, all ages and distances are catered for,” said Gerard.
“For example, Karen Creen was in Italy at the 400m European Masters Indoor Championships. And last weekend two or our members, Laurence Briody and Martin Briody, competed in the Wicklow Way 51k Challenge.
“The rest of us in the club fit into the distances in between!
“We say a big thank you to both Celtic Media Group and Crover House hotel for their generous support,” he added.
Laurence Briody gave some background as to how the Sheelin Challenge came to be.
“The idea of the Challenge came from Frank Smith – he approached the club and we decided to go with it. It takes in a lot of scenery around the lake. We all got together and worked with the sponsors,” he said.
“The idea is to raise funds for the club to help with development. The likes of this event promotes health and fitness.
“The route itself starts here at Crover and heads towards Finea direction, it goes out a long bog road there and back in through Mountnugent and back to Crover. It’s scenic, it’s a nice run and we have water stops on the route.
“This year we decided on a 10k as well to add to the event. It’s a great event, hopefully we can get great numbers and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Laurence wished to thank Celtic Media Group, Jim and Maureen Harten, the Inny Lodge, Finea, Tom O’Dowd Agri Fab, The Bridge Inn and Crover House, who assist with sponsorship and the provision of facilities.
The 10k will finish in Finea and all participants will be transported back to Crover House Hotel by bus, while the 16-mile race will finish back at Crover House Hotel, where hot refreshments will be laid on for all.
Registration for this year’s event is now open at myrunresults.com. Entry for the 16-mile is €23 online and €25 on the day (there are T-shirts for the first 100 online entries).
Entry for the 10k is €14 online for adults and €15 on the day; and €7.50 online for U18s and €8 on the day. There will be a beanie hat for the first 50 online entries in the 10k.
Also in attendance on the night to help launch the event was Irish international athlete Tom McGrath.