Running is a Breeze for the Scrabo Striders!

By Karen Warnock

Scrabo Striders welcomed over two hundred and fifty runners from near and far, to Newtownards on Friday night for the annual Ards 5 Mile road race.  The club came out in force to volunteer, set up and also take part in one of the most popular road races.  First home was Andy Haylett (31:37), followed by Gareth Davies (33:00) and Colin Harper (33:54). The hills in Ards did not stop Graeme McGowan (34:04, CPB), Jonny Swann (35:02), Jordan McIntyre (35:41, PB) and Jonathan Winter (35:59). The sub 40 times kept coming in with Craig Simpson (37:25, PB), Michael Burgess (37:39) and Chris Burns (38:26, CPB).

Our first female in was Rebecca Robinson (40:31), with Russ Armour (40:25) just in front, Penny Hamilton (41:10), Peter Doggart (41:26) Maxine Dynes (42:08, CPB), Gary Clarke (42:14) and Gayle Malaugh (42:36).  The PBs continued with Karen Collins (43:19) and Sonya Summersgill (43:11).  Followed by Judith Boyd (43:11), Louise Barnes (43:08, CPB), Darren Johnston (43:07), Ben McCracken (44:12), Jenna Lavery (44:18) and Michael Williams (44:27).  More results from Karen Farrelly (45:09, PB), Naomi McGowan (45:37, CPB), Sarah Johnston (45:30).  Many continued to push for the sub fifty minute times with Paul Coulter (45:53), Rachel Bell (46:22), Matt Bell (46:23), Trevor Woodside (46:43), Clare McIlveen (46:44), Karen Wilson (46:56, CPB), Lyndsey Blair (47:25), Paul Blair (47:26), Olli Seegar (47:47), Hector Adair (47:43), Catherine (48:36), Dee Patterson (48:22, CPB), Beverley McKee (48:40, CPB), Michael Brown (48:57), Noel Angus (48:59), Alyson Lee (49:02, PB), Cathy Wilson (49:46), Kathryn Chesney (49:30), Emma Stewart (49:48) and Kathy Lyttle (49:49).

Many more Striders continued going from strength to strength.  Catherine Lavery (50:02), Gordon McEwan (51:00), Michele Ennis (51:16), Karen Clarke (51:43, CPB), Emma McCracken (52:51), Hugh Lyons (53:07), Vanessa Mannis (53:19), Claire Briggs (53:21), Chris Edwards (54:38), Janice McCartney (55:04), Glenn Anderson (56:25), David Morton (57:02) and Janet Mowat (59:06).  Pushing on through the hills was Lexie Brown (1:00:25), Rachel Brown (1:00:27), Sara McMaster (1:01:22), Frances Wills (1:03:15), Cheryl Mccartney (1:03:41), Alison Shanks (1:09:44), Donna Dugan (1:10:05), Gillian Bailie (1:11:51), Nicola and Amy Forsythe (1:20:07, 1:20:09).

Relays at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon saw a strong force of Scrabo Striders in attendance.  The mixed relay team ran a total of 4.1 miles in 31:05 – Karen Collins (8:19), Catherine (7:46), Olli Seegar (7:55) and Paul Blair (7:07).  The Men’s Masters Team 1 ran a total of 8.4 miles in 53:03 - Matt Bell (12:19), Craig Simpson (13:58), Jonathan Swann (13:22) and Graeme McGowan (13:46).  Team 2 took 53:49 – Ismail (13:06), Abrar Hossain (14:02), Simon Ferguson (13:51) and Michael Johnson (12:52).

Sunday afternoon saw many at Portaferry for Abi’s Butterfly Breeze, a great cause to support in the local area hosted by Portaferry GAC. The 10k was the main event with a few taking part for the first time, such as Graeme McGowan (42:31) and Beverley McKee (1:01:05). A few more noteworthy mentions are Chris Burns (47:47, CPB), Sonya Summersgill (54:08, PB/CPB), Naomi McGowan (56:01, PB), Maxine Dynes (56:15, CPB), Louise Barnes (56:33, CPB), Dee Patterson (58:34, CPB) and Karen Wilson (1:00:04, CPB).  The 5K was well attended too with junior Elijah Ferguson (31:17) coming first.  Olli Simpson (47:45) was next in for the Striders with Maddie Dynes (47:45) by his side, with Nicola Graham (47:59), Keara Simpson (56:43) and Lydia Blair (56:43).

The whole weekend was also an event for many who travelled over to Newcastle for the Great North Run, an extremely popular half marathon event.  Alongside the half there was also a 5k completed by solo Strider Jennifer McAteer (39:03, CPB) who was attending the GNR for her tenth time completing the half in 3:03:39.  The first strider in for the half was Trevor Woodside (1:34), then Colin Campbell (1:54:48), Amanda Martin (1:56:06), Martin Conroy (2:01:23) and Sarah Luce (2:08:07, PB). Clare McIlveen (2:17:57, CPB) and Georgia McGonigal (2:17:57, PB) continued to power through with speed. George Johnston (2:18:08) alongside his wife,  and daughter Sarah Johnston (2:18:01) came in strong together.  Fiona McAvoy (2:48:43) ran with her daughter and Martina Finn (2:48:43).  Graeme Farrington (3:04:20) and Stephen Braniff (3:04:20) came in as a duo also, followed by Florence Findlay-White (3:09:21) and Karen Thompson (3:29:39).  Reportedly pints are served at mile ten which may or may not have helped with times!  The juniors made an appearance too for a 4K race – Luke Braniff (17:03), Willow Farrington (17:52), Rory Braniff (20:48) and Calum McCready (23:15).

No weekend would be complete with Parkrun and various venues were travelled to, with Comber being the most popular.  Rebecca Robinson (24:10, CPB) was the third female in Comber. Colin Campbell (26:46) travelled across the water to Gateshead. Olly Simpson (29:17) got a CPB in Stormont alongside Heath Farrington (24:32) and Maxine Dynes (27:04) who got CPBs at Bangor.  Queen’s had Peter Doggart (24:27) and Luke Mars (39:31) there for the first time alongside Hannah Magee (37:44).  Further down the road at Ormeau Richard Bovril (25:02) got a CPB and Cameron McEwan (25:12) celebrated his 50th Parkrun.  Georgia McGonigal (35:56) went to Carlisle parkrun in Morpeth for the first time too the day before the GNR. In junior parkrun at Comber, Keara Simpson (09:55) was the first female in.

Scrabo Striders female of the month was awarded to Alyson Graham who has only started running within the last year but has already surpassed any goals she has set herself in the beginning.  Alsyon is a regular attender at training and has taken part in many races already.  We want to thank Boyd Rice Solicitors for sponsoring this award.

Scrabo Striders is a friendly, welcoming running club with many training nights on offer with a comprehensive training schedule.  Please reach out via social media if you would like to find out more.