At a Gala Function in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Friday 3rd February, one of the Club’s rising stars, Jake Byrne, was presented with the Award he won in November 2011 following his fantastic victory in the AAI Junior Inter County Cross Country in Sligo and his very good showing at the European Junior Cross Country where he was first Irishman to finish. As Jake is in College in the USA, he couldn’t be present to receive his award, but his proud mother Ann was there to receive it on his behalf.

Also presented with an award was Bobbie Begley, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in recognition of his tremendous contribution to sport in Westmeath for over 30 years. We know Bobbie of course as a co-founder of the Club but in his time he was involved with the Westmeath hurling team and of course his sports shop at the Mall in Mullingar was the place to go for all manner of sports gear and equipment and was how he interfaced and kept in touch with so many sportsmen and women of all codes in the County and beyond. Reference was also made to his time as President of BLE, the forerunner to the AAI, his attendance in an official capacity at very many Global athletics events including World Championships and Olympic Games and of course his current place on the Executive of the Olympic Council of Ireland. The standing ovation he received was well deserved and a true testament to the high esteem in which he is held by all lovers of sport in Westmeath.