Navy Running - Ireland

💿 3 Hits in the Top 30 for the Navy! 💿

Superb efforts from our triumvirate of Navy athletes at the BHAA MTU 5K this morning.

Toughing it out in wind and rain, all 3 put in stellar performances to place inside the top 30 amongst the 409 who competed.

A notable mention for Darren McCann, who achieved the highest placing for a Navy athlete in several years with his 2nd place podium finish.

Results:

2nd Darren McCann (16:55)
19th Michael Coakley (18:18)
26th Adam Barry (18:49)

📸 credit: Joe Anne Photos

BOB BAGS 1ST PLACE; NORMAN & RYAN RUN & LOOK PRETTY

Wed 17-Jul-2025

Of a sultry summer's evening in magnificent Mahon,
659 smiley souls took on the Cork BHAA Gas Networks Ireland 5k, the athletes traversing a U-shaped route through this residential area onto the nearby greenway, before making a breathless bolt for the finish line in the shadows of the city's historic Blacrock Castle.

He weighs everything he eats, doesn't touch the deoch and his catchphrase is "little pickers, bigger knickers". A mighty run by our bleedin' Jaysus Dub, Ryan O'Driscoll.

1798.
Wexford Bullring.
Meyler's Fishmarket.
Fr Murphy.
The Battle of Enniscorthy.
Republic of Wexford.
Vinegar Hill.
Martin Storey.
Lee Chin.
Tadhg Furlong.
To that illustrious list of Wexford people, places and events you can now add Bobby Anglim's name... 1st place O/65 in yet another tremendous time. Hup outta that, Bobby.

On it like a millennial on free WiFi, Norman Allen needs to tell us what it is he's having for breakfast, as he looks and runs easily a decade younger than his age category - the same one as the above-mentioned Bobby.
That has us wondering who'd win in a cage fight?
Handsome running, Norman.

Full Navy results:

106 Ryan O'Driscoll 18:46
202 Bobby Anglim 20:53 (1st O/65🏅)
325 Norman Allen 23:59

Óglaigh na hÉireann / Irish Defence Forces
Cork BHAA
Irish Naval Service

Cork BHAA John Buckley Sports 5k

Tue 20-May-2025

They're back, baby. Rising from the depths, the Irish Navy's runners took on over 1,200 fellow competitors at this ever-popular annual 5k road race held on a fast, flat course along the rejuvenated City Marina, onto Centre Park Road, then down Monaghan Road and complimented by a lovely straight finish under the shadows of Cork's hallowed Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium.

As wide as the Marina pedestrianized walkway is, there's only so many disgustingly fit and fast athletes that can squeeze across it's width at any one time. When the starter's gun went off, it was like the chaos that ensues at 3 a.m. outside Supermac's when a guy tries to steal your order of chips, cheese and garlic mayo.

Thankfully, our 5 serving and former Navy athletes made it through the carnage and settled in nicely to each eke out superb performances, one and all.

He's the housewife's choice, this fella. He spends 5 hours per day in the gym. And only 4 of them looking in the mirror.
He's Darren McCann and he was the first Navy athlete over the line in a lightning-fast 16:16.

We suspiciously couldn't find a finish line photo of this man, so we had to make do with the attached one around 1km in that looks like something you'd draw with a pen in your mouth.
But how old is he, really? Wow! In dog years, he's... dead.
A pacy 17:45 effort earned Shane Meyler 3rd place in the O/50 category and a few fist pumps all round. Gettin' nifty for 50.

A military man to the core, Cian McParland gave it some serious heave ho as he attacked it from the gun in full battle mode, taking no prisoners as he passed one athlete after the next with blistering pace. Could he hold it?
Cian showed he still has some of that grit, spit and polish in the locker as he cruised home comfortably under the 18 minute mark in an excellent 17:54.

"Bobby Anglim", said Bobby to the poor volunteer at registration handing out the race bibs. "Try Bob Anglim". "No, not Anglin. It's Anglim"."Here, I'll spell it for you... A, N, G, L-". "Navy! Is it under the Navy?" "I'll start again. B, O, B, B-".
And so it was that 'Bob Antlan' was registered as a non-registered athlete (unbeknownst to Bobby Anglim) and was never to be in the reckoning for any prizes, which of course he won, but he didn't win.
A hugely impressive 20:47 should've earned Bobby 2nd place in the crazily-competitive O/65 category, but then sure... he wasn't registered.
Suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, did poor oul Bobby.

The benefits of working in the Navy's Galley, (a.k.a. the kitchen, for the benefit of soft soldiers and other land lubbers): Pat Murphy fuelled up pre-race on 3 dozen leftover Basque Country-style quince, ham and blue cheese pintxos, washed down with a Babycham followed by a red wine chaser.
It seemed to grease his moving parts more than adequately though, with Pat putting in yet another superb run as this O/60 category athlete left many a younger man in his wake, clocking a savage time of 23:12.
He's a great pair of getaway sticks on him too, in fairness to him.

Seriously well done to all 5 athletes and to our brothers and sisters in arms in green from Collins' Barracks, Cork, who all put in first rate performances.

A big bualadh bos to our first three Navy athletes over the line who secured 1st place in the Men's B Team category also.

31 Darren McCann 16:16 (1st Men's B Team)
93 Shane Meyler 17:45 (3rd O/50) (1st Men's B Team)
111 Cian McParland 17:54 (1st Men's B Team)
408 Bobby Anglim 20:47 (2nd 0/65)
504 Pat Murphy 23:12