Drogheda & District AC runners joined a huge field of 651 competitors to defy the biting easterly wind on Sunday morning to take on the challenge of the stepped of the Clogherhead Seaside 6th annual 5K Road race in association with the Dreadnots GFC.

The spirits of the participants were high as the tunes belted out the starting line. This wonderful local race is hotly anticipated by our athletes as it takes place the splendid rolling seascape on a lovely out and back course which starts at the super Dreadnots GAA base and takes the runners down into the village and making a sharp left turn at the triangle, then around the cone after half a mile, then back up to the GAA grounds.

Stars of the show at this year’s sell out race were super athlete father and daughter team Ruaidhri and Keeley Nolan. Ruaidhri had the race firmly in his early season sights and he delighted the crowd to take control of the race from the off, and cruising nicely, he led going around the first corner.

Shane Larkin and Fatih Zatouche were in hot pursuit. Ruaidhri was simply unbeatable and clearly relished winding up the pace in the last Kilometre, to take win well ahead of the rest of the field in 16:54, while brilliant Keeley had a massive race and can be very proud of finishing 9th in the girls under 17 in 26:39.

There was great running from Fatih, Shane, Jon Perkins and Derek Hackett to successfully finish in sub 20 times while exciting newcomer Hocine Benyamina clearly has colossal talent as he finished in 22:34 on the back of very little training - we look forward to seeing more from him.

Mary McDonnell had a stellar run, completing the 5K in 25:37, while Aisling Reilly showed that the training is paying off nicely to finish in 26:33. Gavin Bruce and Rory McCullagh ran very well.

Raymond Hoey was very impressive to complete the challenge with a sub 30 time, as did Sofia Smith who with her proud dad Paul is beginning to flourish as a runner. Thomas and Adam Flanagan Kilroy weren't far off the 30 minute mark and show great potential also.

Drogheda & District AC is the place to be if you want to belong and to achieve in a friendly atmosphere. In the next few weeks we have athletes competing in cross country, track and road racing at youth, novice, senior and masters categories so no matter what your running dream is you will find likeminded people right here in Drogheda.