Scrabo Striders have achieved great results in recent races in Armagh, Stormont and Florida Manor.

On Thursday evening, Norman Mawhinney competed in the Brooks Armagh International Men’s 3k Road Race.  A finishing time of 10:18 earned him top spot in the M65 category as well as a 3k PB.  A great result for Norman who has been celebrating a number of outstanding achievements since turning 65 just weeks ago.

Stormont Cross Country took place on Saturday, with 7 Junior Striders entered into the Under 13 Boys and Girls 2k race.  Crossing the finish line were Hamish Orr-Stewart (8:17), Adam Haylett (8:22), Eva Coey (9:11), Isabella Haylett (9:31), Joshua Bingham (9:34), Keara Simpson (9:34) and Olly Simpson (10:36).  In the U17 and U15 3k event, Ethan Lappin and Luke Braniff crossed the line together in 11:53.

The Women’s and Men’s Over 60 races were just over 3 miles.  First female Strider to finish was Jenny Taylor (25:13), followed by Amanda Martin (27:58), Beverly McKee (32:02), Jenna Lavery (33:03), Cheryl Alexander (36:16), Helen Potts (36:16), Jennifer McAteer (39:45).  With a time of 20:49, Norman Mawhinney took his second M65 win of the week and 3rd overall in the Men’s O60.

Representing the Men and running just over 4 miles were Thomas Steele (26:34), Andy Haylett (29:01), Graeme Magowan (30:04), Jonathan Bull (31:56), Norman Mawhinney (33:59 & 1st M65 again) and Steven Pearson (38:03).

Atlas Running’s Last One Standing ultramarathon began at midday on Saturday at Florida Manor.  This is known as a “backyard ultra”, in which competitors begin a 4.167 mile loop on the hour every hour.  In order to stay in the race, a runner must complete the loop and be on the start line again by the start of the next hour.  This goes on until there is just one person left.  They must complete one final lap on their own in order to win the race.  Experienced ultra runner Graeme Black from the club completed 12 loops in 12 hours, an impressive total of 50 miles ran!

42 Striders participated in 12 different parkruns in Northern Ireland on Saturday morning.  Matthew Halus finished 1st at Colin Glen with a time of 21:39, a remarkable achievement for his first attempt on a considerably hilly course!  Course PBs were celebrated by Matt Bell, Marty McConnell, Rachel Lyttle, George Johnston (Crawfordsburn Country), John Neill, Gavin McDonnell (Knockbracken Reservoir), Catherine Lavery (Bangor) and Michael Burgess (Belfast Victoria).  Ally Gray (23:35) and Willow Farrington (22:39) set new overall parkrun PBs at Citypark Craigavon and Bangor respectively.  Karl Henderson headed to Garvagh Forest for his 25th parkrun, joined by wife Kathy and Abrar Hossain.  A total of 14 members chose to run at a new location, with Enniskillen, Armagh and Garvagh Forest proving to be the most popular tourist destinations.

Norman Mawhinney came away from Knockbracken parkrun with a trio of achievements, including 3rd overall and a new parkrun PB of 18:03.  Also, for the 2nd week in a row, he set a new course Age Graded League record with 92.89%!

Sisters Faye and Eva Alexander travelled to Belfast Victoria junior parkrun for the first time on Sunday morning.  Willow Farrington was the second female to cross the finish line in Bangor.  Taking part in Stormont XC the day before did not put several junior Striders off running at Comber, with impressive results!  Ethan Lappin took 2nd place and Keara Simpson 3rd female.  Joshua Bingham set a new PB of 9:54, as well as Nathaniel Frazer with 14:44.

January’s male Strider of the Month award was presented to the very deserving Riley Hanna, by captain Paul Blair.  At the beginning of January, Riley competed in Expleo Festival of Running, finishing the 5k race in 22:04.  He has continued to perform exceptionally well in the 5k distance, with a course PB of 22:22 at Comber and an overall PB of 21:45 at Bangor.  This has since been broken again with another PB of 21:41!  Riley was first Foundation Strider across the line at the most recent club 3k time trial, and also finished the 4k under 15 race in 18:57 at Mallusk XC.  He completed 142 junior parkruns, and now volunteers at them instead as he works towards his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award.

Scrabo Striders train at Londonderry Park and around Newtownards 7:15pm Monday to Thursday evenings, with an easy paced 5k social run departing from Conway Square at 6:30pm Friday.  The 9am Sunday morning social run (also from Conway Square) is popular with lots of runners, from those simply wanting a short run and a coffee with friends, to those putting serious training miles in for a big event such as a marathon.  Sunday evening easy trail runs in the woods surrounding Helen’s Tower are a fun way to finish off the week!  Visit  or search on Facebook to find out more.

Michael Burgess