Striders Weekly Update 15/01/2025
Members of Scrabo Striders Running Club competed in an array of different events this week, starting off with some of our Junior athletes representing their schools in the North Down Schools Cross Country event on Wednesday. Well done to Year 8 Rory Braniff who completed the 1K event in 4:50, followed by Keara Simpson claiming 4th place in the Year 9 category in 5:34. In the 2K event, Luke Braniff stormed home in 8:34 to claim 1st place in the Year 11 category.
Saturday saw the continuation of Born2Run’s Run Forest Run series, with a 5K and 10K on offer in Loughgall. With over 600 runners competing in the 2 races, the series remains a firm favourite for winter racers. In the 5K, Rory Braniff claimed 5th place in the Male Junior category, finishing in 26:47, followed by Willow Farrington in 28:23, claiming 3rd place Female Junior. Tina Hewitt was next in, crossing the line in 1:03:20.
In the 10K the Striders Juniors continued to shine, with Luke Braniff claiming 2nd place in the Male Junior category in a time of 45:23. Karen Wilson completed the course in 1:03:37.
This weekend Joanne McCandless took on the gruelling Montaine Spine Winter Challenger South – a 108 mile race along the Pennine Way, described by the organisers as one of Britain’s most brutal endurance races. Runners battle through frozen ground, difficult technical sections, 20,000 feet of elevation gain, and whatever the weather decides to throw at them along the way! Joanne completed this incredible challenge in 56 hours 24 minutes and 38 seconds.
Sunday saw more Cross Country action with the Mathieson Cup in Mallusk. First up in the P5-P7 boys’ race, Joshua Bingham crossed the line in 2:41. Next up, Keara Simpson ran in the U13 race, completing it in 10:21.
It was then the turn of the Senior Members, with the combined Senior Women & Male Vets (60+) race being first up. First Strider across the line and claiming 1st Place in the Vets race was Norman Mawhinney 25:42. Karen Collins was the first female Strider to finish in 32:52, followed by Sonya Summersgill (34:14), Rachel Boyle (38:09), Beverley McKee (39:30) and Lyndsey Blair in 40:11.
Finishing the day was the Men’s Senior race, where the first Strider finisher was Coach Ismail in 36:01, followed closely by Gary Lyttle in 36:20 and Johnny Swann in 37:55.
Saturday saw the usual strong showing at parkruns near and far, with the most popular this week being Comber where Craig and Olly Simpson both recorded their 50th parkrun milestone. Among the 20 other members joining them were notable achievements for Andy Haylett who claimed a course PB and 3rd place overall, and overall parkrun PBs from Glenn Campbell and Martin Conroy.
David Morton marked a 25th milestone by running Wallace Park for the first time, while in Ormeau Sara McMaster had a Course PB. Furthest travelled this week was definitely George Johnston who ran at Claisebrook Cove in Perth, Australia!
On Sunday it was the turn of the club’s juniors once again for Junior parkrun which this week saw 10 juniors running in 3 different venues. In Comber, Harry McCready claimed a 1st place finish, followed by Elijah Ferguson, Calum McCready, Charlie Stewart, Lydia Blair and Leo Williams with a Personal Best time. Well done to Lydia for also earning her 25th Volunteer parkrun milestone. Taking to Victoria Park in Belfast were Michael Bingham, Nathaniel Frazer and Harriet Frazer, who finished with a Course PB, while in Bangor it was Lyla McNamara representing the club.
A large group of Striders took time for a moment of reflection on Saturday evening by recreating a tribute paid to Coach Heath Graham, one year on from his passing. With the fog that hung over Scrabo hill lifting with perfect timing, Striders gathered at the top and lit up Scrabo Tower with floodlights as a mark of respect to one of the biggest, brightest personalities the club has known.
Friday 9th May sees the return of Striders’ popular open race Run the Runways at Ards Airfield, this year sponsored by Grant Estate Agents. The flat route around the runways offers perfect PB potential for the 5K and 10K distances on offer, as well as a 2K kids race to ensure there’s something for the whole family. The usual impressive selection of post-race refreshments will also be on offer, and entries are now open!
Scrabo Striders offers sessions up to 4 nights per week where runners of all abilities train together in an encouraging and inclusive atmosphere. Prospective new members are welcome to come along to try out a few sessions before committing to membership and will be made to feel very welcome.
For more information on open races or joining the club, visit scrabostriders.com or search for Scrabo Striders Running Club on Facebook.