Striders turn St Patrick’s weekend purple and green

The weekend started with the weekly parkruns with parkrun milestones a plenty. Jonathan Keenan had his 250th parkrun at Crawfordsburn Chris Hollies had his 100th parkrun at Stormont and he ran his best 5K in 5 years and Karen Collins had her 50th parkrun at her local comber parkrun and achieved a pb well done to all for their great achievements and well done to all of our club parkrunners.

Next up was the annual visit to Downpatrick for the East Down Athletic Club feature race the 25th running of their Jimmy’s 10K which started in 1999 named after founding member Jimmy Murray.

First in was Martin Strachan just over 36 mins followed in by Norman Mawhinney who won 1st place M65 and Gary Lyttle next under the 40 minute mark. Just over 40 minutes was Niall McIver with a pb and next in was Club Captain Michael Burgess and creeping under the 45 minute mark was head coach Chris Burns. First Strider lady home and another pb this weekend was Karen Collins shortly followed by Maxine Dynes with another pb also on the pb train was Naomi Magowan. Next up the foursome all under the 58 minute mark Chris Edwards, Catherine Lavery, Rachel Boyle and Sonya Summersgill. Just over hour mark was Trevor Woodside Clare Mcilveen and Emma Stewart and followed in by Karen Wilson to round of the show.

We also had 2 junior relay teams a mixed team finishing in 6th position and also winning the mixed relay Willow Warrington and Luke Braniff Ginger Ninjas and in 10th place Harry McCready and Rory Braniff Kids of Headers. Great names and great running from all at Jimmy’s.

To finish the weekend of running a massive turnout of striders descended onto city hall for the start of the annual St Patrick’s race Craic 10K starting in front of city hall and heading around the city and ending in ormeau park.

First in was incoming club captain Matt Bell finishing under the 39 minute mark although not a pb it was a course pb and joining him under the same 39 minute mark was Gareth Davies and Daniel Warke coming in shortly after his brother Michael Warke just over the 39 minute mark but all 3 set 10K pbs

Just over the 40 minute mark both securing pbs Jonathan Winter and James Cole Boyle

Next in under the 44 minute mark was Jenny Taylor Luke Braniff and Simon Ferguson. Just over the 45 minute mark was Rebecca Robinson and shortly after her for her 3rd pb in as many days was Karen Collins.

Next in was Gayle Malaugh achieving a pb and Amanda Martin and a report wouldn’t be complete without our member of the month Darren Johnston. Richard Bovill, Naomi Magowan, Phil Adams Karen Farrelly and Colin Harper were next in. Coming in just over the 57 mins was Alyson Lee and Sarah McCready. Next trio just over the hour mark was Jasmine Holden, Noel Angus and Karen Heaney shortly followed by David Morton and Sharon Murdoch with Nicola Forsythe and Eden Dinsmore in hot pursuit all of which achieving pbs. Next set of runners break the 70 minute mark was Jenna Lavery, Emma McCracken, Linda Ingram, Lorna Angus and Ellen Ross who also finished her first ever 10K. Just over the 70mins was Angie Crone and Sara McMaster. Next trio was a family affair with Donna George and Sarah Johnston all finishing under the 75 min mark with Kim Cochrane just creeping over but a great run considering her injuries. Under the 80 min mark was Naomi Fleming. Rounding off the proceedings was Hannah Magee and Luke Mars shortly followed in by Gillian Bailie and Donna Dugan a fantastic sea of purple and green in ormeau park at the end.

The penultimate month has seen 2 very popular and very deserving members of the month sponsored by Boyd Rice solicitors one was former club female captain Judith Boyd who has been excelling recently since she has started embracing the shorter distances as she was always well versed in her ultra pursuits but her parkrun pace and pbs have been stacking up so it’s amazing to see her progress. Our male member of the month has been particularly busy keeping the reporting team on their toes as its a rare occasion to do a result spreadsheet without him being present but also a massive supporter of others as he runs so a massive well done and very deserving recipient Darren Johnston.

4 very willing and able additions to our coaching team with 4 newly qualified lirfs Michael Warke, George Johnston, Paul Magee and Martina Finn so very well done on gaining these qualifications.

Our club races for 2025 are all sorted and our first two are open for registration and the run the runways at the Ards airport is first up Friday 9th May 2025 with 2K for the juniors and choice of 5 or 10K with a single lap or a 2 lap choice. Aswell as this our flagship race the Ards Half Marathon taking in the great scenery of Scrabo road and also through neighbouring comber before head back to Newtownards via another trip round the scenic scrabo route starting and finishing at Ards Blair Mayne Centre. Both races will highlight our welcoming all inclusive nature of our club. You can enter at https://www.scrabostriders.com/open-races

Our club training is Monday and Wednesday evening at 7.15 meeting at Londonderry Park unless otherwise stated on our club socials and our injury and progression group sessions are Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7.15 with all sessions like everything in our club promotes our all abilities ethos. There are also social runs Friday evenings 6.30 and Sunday Morning 9am meeting at Conway Square everyone welcome on these non coach led runs.