Three Scrabo Striders attended the M.B. McGrady & Co Beer and Bubbles 5k on Wednesday evening.  The venue was the beautiful Finnebrogue Woods and Lough, with all proceeds going to PIPS Suicide Prevention Charity.  Heather Baron crossed the line in 27:07, followed by Sarah Luce 30:25 and Karen Wilson 30:26.

The U Hire sponsored Ards Half Marathon took place on Friday evening, organised by Scrabo Striders’ former Chairperson Hannah Robinson and her outstanding team of many volunteers.  This is one of four open races the club hosts each year, with a challenging but scenic and rewarding 13.1 mile route including Ards and Comber towns, as well as the stunning countryside in between.  North Down AC’s Craig McMeechan took victory with an incredible time of 1:12:55, while Pamela Kirk of Roadrunners AC was first female in 1:25:14.

Among the 439 competitors were 76 Scrabo Striders, who all achieved fantastic results as follows: Matt Bell 1:30:05 Course Personal Best, Michael Warke 1:31:48 CPB, Colin Harper 1:32:32 CPB, Ismail Karauzum 1:35:52, Trevor Woodside 1:36:13 CPB, Jonathan Swann 1:37:45, James Cole-Boyle 1:38:41 PB, Graeme Black 1:38:45, Gary Lyttle 1:39:10 PB, Niall McIver 1:41:00 1st M45 and 1st Half Marathon, Norman Mawhinney 1:41:07, Francis Gilmore 1:43:50 1st Half, Michael Burgess 1:48:01, Heather Baron 1:49:47 Pacer, George Johnston 1:49:59 CPB, Dean McGhee 1:50:44 PB, Craig Simpson 1:51:32 1st Half, Jordan McIntyre 1:52:59, Alison Busby 1:53:52, Steven Hanna 1:53:57 CPB, Sarah Johnston 1:56:14, Amanda Martin 1:56:36 CPB, Catherine Karauzum 1:59:05 1st Half, Judith Boyd 1:59:09 PB, Curtis McCosh 1:59:29 PB, Abrar Hossain 1:59:48 Pacer, Dee Patterson 1:59:49 PB, Curtis Adams 2:00:06, Rachel Lyttle 2:00:23, Katy Lyttle 2:00:23 PB, Penny Hamilton 2:00:34, Peter Gray 2:01:13, Sonya Summersgill 2:01:46 PB, Louise Barnes 2:02:08 PB, Gayle Malaugh 2:02:20 CPB, Emma Clements 2:02:36, Jonny Wray 2:02:36, Gary Clarke 2:02:37, Maxine Dynes 2:03:02, Christopher Murdock 2:03:06, Karen Wilson 2:04:32 PB, Fiona McAvoy 2:04:41, Colin Verth 2:04:42, Darren Taylor 2:05:04, Emma Stewart 2:07:37, Jonathan Winter 2:07:35 Pacer, Karen Farrelly 2:08:33, Graeme McGowan 2:08:50 Pacer, Jonathon Tooze 2:08:55, Philip Adams 2:10:34 CPB, Darren Johnston 2:10:36, Kathryn Chesney 2:11:08, Martin Conroy 2:12:38 PB, Naomi Macgowan 2:12:39 PB, Richard Murray 2:13:13, Mark Halus 2:13:15, Beverley McKee 2:17:26, Hector Adair 2:19:39, Clare McIlveen 2:20:12, Liam Rodger 2:21:46, Moses Matovu 2:23:24, Natasha Graham 2:23:25 CPB, Katie Irvine 2:25:08, Martina Finn 2:25:09, Michele Ennis 2:25:23, Karen Clarke 2:25:24, Lorraine Adams 2:26:31 PB, Cathie Lowry 2:29:10 1st Half, Gavin McDonnell 2:29:11, Lyndsey Blair 2:29:15 Pacer, Peter McGonigal 2:29:15 Pacer, Jasmine Holden 2:33:36 CPB, Chris Edwards 2:36:38 1st Half, Naomi Fleming 2:37:05 PB, Nicola Forsythe 2:37:05 CPB, Sheena Crone 3:25:14 Tail.

On Saturday, Ismail Karauzum travelled to Omagh to compete in the NI Mountain Running Association Championship & Ulster Championship Mullaghcarn Giant Race.  Hosted by Carmen Runners, the 12km route included a total ascent of 500m and included the summit of the most southerly peak of the Sperrin Mountains, Mullaghcarn.  Ismail continued his fantastic form with a finish time of 1:13:34.

Also on Saturday, the NI Masters Athletics Association Track & Field Championships were held at Mary Peter’s track in South Belfast.  Norman Mawhinney retained his championship by taking gold in the 1500m and 3000m distances (M65 category) with times of 5:33 and 11:14 respectively.  He also won a silver medal (M65) in the 800m race with 2:47.

On Sunday Linda Dugan competed in the Beyond the Wall Triathlon at Castleward.  This included an 800+ metre swim, a 20k cycle and a 5k run.  Linda completed the event in a brilliant 1:45:47.

In recent months, a potentially life saving defibrillator was donated to the club by Danny Mills Heart Foundation, a charity set up by Danny’s family after his tragic death from SADS.  On Saturday evening, Karen Thompson, Dawn Cudworth, Sharon Gamble and Chris Green organised a quiz at Ards Bowling Club.  The evening was great craic, and a total of £700 was raised for the charity.  Around £1400 has been raised overall so far, and the club will continue to fundraise throughout the year.

With many recovering from Ards Half Marathon (and perhaps the partying after!), numbers were slightly down at parkrun on Saturday- 38 Striders at 6 venues.  The majority headed to Comber, where Frances Wills celebrated her 100th parkrun and Russell Armour (24:09) and Karen Collins (25:22) recorded course PBs.  At Knockbracken Reservoir, Willow Farrington was 3rd female across the line with a course PB of 22:13, and Luke Braniff also ran a course PB of 21:46.  On Sunday, Harriet Frazer was 3rd female across the line at Musgrave junior parkrun, and Willow Farrington 3rd female at Bangor with her brother Heath achieving a course PB of 8:58.  At Comber, Keara Simpson was 2nd female while Hamish Orr-Stewart was 3rd overall.

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Michael Burgess