On Sunday 18^th September the Mash Direct Belfast City Half Marathon took place with a huge crowd of some 4000 runners taking part. Starting and finishing in Ormeau Park the 13.1-mile route crossed the city from east to west on a fairly flat course just perfect for a total of 15 new personal best (PB) times. Scrabo Striders also had the largest club representation with 46 members taking part.

First in for Scrabo was Marc Neil in 1 hour 17 minutes, 48 seconds followed by Norman Mawhinney in 1:22:14, Colin Harper in 1:30:07 (PB) and Daniel Clarke in 1:31:46(PB). The club’s first lady finisher was Catherine Cauley in 1:32:29 (PB) followed by Jonny Kinney in 1:32:39, Michael Johnston 1:36:43, Connor McNamara 1:39:34, Peter Stevens 1:41:15, Justin Clegg 1:41:53, Shannon Clegg 1:42:04 with Jenny Taylor 1:44:49 (PB) and Barbara McKechnie(PB) 1:45:39 as the club’s 3^rd and 4th lady finishers.

Michael Burgess was next in 1:47:07 (PB), Jenny Moir 1:46:44, Lesley Semple 1:47:57, Bill McGucken 1:47:51 (PB), Rebecca Jordan 1:47:58, Andrea Thompson 1:49:15, Stephen McConnell 1:50:51, Amanda Martin 1:50:42 (PB), Leanne Campbell 1:53:58 (PB), Marty McConnell 1:55:57 and George McGonigal 1:58:22. Neil Mearns ran as the official two-hour pacer clocking 1:59:30 followed by Andrea Cairns In one hour 59 minutes exactly (PB) and David McMahon 1:59:37.

Heath Graham trundled in 2:02:10 and also completing in under two hours ten minutes were George Johnston, Gareth Robson and Louise Barnes (PB). Sub 2:15 were Beverley McKee, Caroline Smyth, Cathy Dobbin (PB), Claire Briggs (PB), Vanessa Mannis (PB) and Gavin McDonnell. There was phenomenal support all along the route which was particularly welcome in the latter few miles of the course. Finishing in under 2 hours 23 minutes were Linda Ingram, Nicola McNamara, Kathryn Chesney, Liam Rodger, Jenna Lavery (PB) and Gordon McEwan. Graeme McGowan was next as an official pacer followed by Richard Murray, Angie Crone and Kim Cochrane.

Congratulations to all Scrabo runners with a special shout out to Mina Darling 2:06:52 Kim Cochrane, Kathryn Chesney 2:20:17 and Kim Cochrane 2:35:25 who completed their very first half marathon! A day earlier the Dublin Half Marathon took place, with Jonathan winter the sole Scrabo Strider competing, recording a new PB of 1:31:50. Congratulations Jonathan.

Travelling much further afield Graeme Black competed in the Barkley Fall Classic endurance running event in Tennessee, USA. This infamous and incredibly tough race saw Graeme complete the “50k”, one of only 106 runners to do so in a field of 400 competitors. This gives you an idea of just how much of a challenge it is, so huge congratulations are in order.

Scrabo Striders members continue to feature heavily in two popular competitive running series. In the Fibrus Fives, a series of 5km and 5 mile races Norman Mawhinney is currently 3^rd and also 3^rd place in the Cinema Coffee 10k Series with Scrabo’s ten team placed 1^st presently. Well done all.

Saturday morning Parkrun, the weekly timed running events at a park near you proved as popular as ever with 44 Striders taking part across 12 venues. Comber was the most popular where Matthew Halus was the first Strider to finish in a time of 22:01, with Willow Farrington and Karen Farrelly recording new personal best times. Over at Ward Park, Bangor Jenny Taylor grabbed a new PB and 3^rd place in a time of 23:05, while Mick Honeyman secured a new personal best of 32:53 or the Crawfordsburn course.

Junior Parkrun takes place on Sunday mornings and young Striders turned out in force at Comber, with Riley Hanna taking second place in 7 minutes 44 seconds, Ethan Lappin securing a new course  personal best of 7:55 and Adam Haylett grabbing a new PB of 9:41. At Ward Park Bangor Luke Branniff got a new course personal best of 7:56 while Wllow Farrington secured a PB time of 08:33. Well done all.  The kids run a 2km course.

As a club we would like to express our deepest sympathies to King Charles III and the Royal Family on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. An example of a life of selfless service, may she rest in peace. Scrabo Striders are one of the biggest running clubs in Northern Ireland and train all abilities together. More information can be found at www.scrabostriders.com.