Harriers out in force in Newtownforbes

The festive season saw no let up for many of our Club members when they took part in the annual 5km road race in Newtownforbes, Co. Longford on St. Stephen"s Day.The event saw a huge turn out of runners, all eager to 'run off' the few extra Christmas pounds. On an ideal day for running with no wind or rain the course record was always under threat.Amongst those on the start line was defending champion, Damien Bateman, home on holiday from University in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and he wasted no time going to the front and winning comfortably in a new course record time of 14 minutes 49 seconds, which was great running on a tough course. Running a fine race in fourth place was another of our US-based athletes, Mike McGovern, having his first race for some time.Ben Vaitkavichius was next home, winning his master age-category, followed by Matt Glennon, also winning his master his age-category. Other prize winners were Pat Muldoon, Sean McMullin and Christy Creagh in the men"s race and Vanessa McGovern (Mike"s wife), Vera McCool, Paula Murray, Maura Dervin, Brigid McCabe and Breda McDonnell in the ladies race. Others in the large Mullingar contingent to run included Martin Lyons, Ciaran Nolan, Adam Daly, Ailish McGovern, Michelle O"Halloran, Aine Devanney, Mairead Devanney, Brendan Marshall, Siobhan Devanney, Mary Dillon and Martha Marshall. Also, it was great to see a large contingent from North Westmeath AC supporting the race, several of whom ran very well.Return to trainingA reminder to all Club members that training has re-commenced and we hope to see everyone back in action again, especially as the next six weeks are going to be quite busy with several competitions, starting this Saturday in Antrim where the big International Cross Country event takes place with all the top Kenyan, Ethiopian and European stars taking part in the senior races, plus the top English, Scottish and Welsh runners in the underage races and it will be interesting to see how they perform. Transport will leave from O"Brien"s Topaz filling station on the Lynn Road, Mullingar at 7am, as the first race is at 11am sharp.Upcoming eventsOther events on the horizon include the Leinster Cross Country Relays and the Leinster Junior and Senior Cross Country on 18th January, the AAI Junior Indoors on 24th January and day 1 of the Leinster Indoors on 1st February. Also, the first round of the Schools Cross Country are scheduled for late January, so everyone really needs to waste no time and get back into training again.January Committee MeetingA reminder to all Committee Members that the January meeting will take place on Tuesday next, January 6 at 8.30pm in the Clubhouse.Fixtures3rd January 2009 (Saturday). Antrim International Cross Country Challenge, CAFRE, Greenmount Campus, Antrim, first race 11am (Note: new venue; not Stormont)11th January. AAI National Masters Indoors, Nenagh18th January 2009. Leinster Cross Country Day 3(Junior and Senior) and Juvenile Cross Country Relays, Tymon Park, Dublin24th January. AAI National Junior Indoors, Nenagh25th January. AAI Indoor Games, Nenagh1st February. Leinster Indoors Day 1, NenaghWebsiteCheck the Club"s website <>at www.mullingarharriers.com for results, news and details of all upcoming fixtures.