SUPER TURNOUT FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY ‘FUN RUN’
There was a super turnout for the ‘FUN RUN’ organised by Buccaneers Rugby Football Club on New Year’s Day. Blessed with glorious sunshine on a gorgeous crisp start to 2025, the third staging of this event saw a sizeable increase in participants at the starting line at Athlone’s Regional Sports Centre. With the funds generated being shared equally between the club and St. Hilda’s Services, both organisations were also winners as they received a welcome financial boost from the generosity of all the participants.
Many attended simply to support one or both organisations as they walked, jogged or raced the 5K at the well-presented venue. Tipperary native Kevin Moore, who won the original ‘FUN RUN’ (which circled around Coosan in 2023) set a hot pace from the off that could not be matched as he came home an impressive clear winner.
Promising young teenager Finlay Carthy held off the challenge of veteran Eddie Lynch to take second place in the Mens section. Meanwhile, Anna Marie O’Dowd and Emer Gaffey battled all the way in the Womens section with the former proving that bit stronger than her clubmate.
Buccaneers RFC Senior Vice-President Eoin Reid presented the winners with their prizes. He gratefully acknowledged the bumper number of participants and thanked the Athlone Regional Sports Centre for permission to use their impressive facility. He also acknowledged all the volunteers who helped ensure that the ‘FUN RUN’ was such a success.
It certainly already looks a firmly established event to start the year!
