Striders Weekly Update – 23 March 2025

Dame Kelly Holmes Joins The Striders !

Saturday 22nd March seen Scrabo Striders takeover Paisley Park Parkrun on West Circular Road in Belfast.  With 23 members taking part and many more on volunteering roles, members where joined by the Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes.  This was first time for 16 of our members and no fewer than 4 Person Bests were achieved.  Hannah Magee celebrated her 100th milestone with a time of 37.44.  First Strider finished was Craig Simpson with a fantastic time of 20.05 securing a PB along with 2nd overall finisher.  Mark Halus, Keara Simpson also achieved PBs with times of 20.54 and 23.31 respectively.  Sharon Gamble achieve a Course PB with a time of 46.52.

A number of other members attended Parkruns across the province, attending at Knockbracken, Stormont, Belfast Victoria, Bangor, Queens, Ormeau and as far as Limepark in Armoy.  In total 27 members tried a new venue for the first time with 6 members gaining PBs and 2 members with CPBs.

On Sunday there was no let up for striders as Portadown Running Festival took place with a Half Marathon, 10k and 5k race.

A total of 53 members travelled to Portadown for a 9am start, with 11 members doing 5k, 13 members doing 10k route and 29 members taking on the Half marathon route.

In the 5k race first strider home with an impressive time of 22.46 and 4th female overall with Junior Keara Simpson and hot on her heels was junior Harry McCready with a time of 22.57, next was Chris Edwards at 28.15 then Sarah Johnston 33.41 following on next was Rosemary Harper with a PB time of 34.31 followed by juniors Maddie Dynes and Olly Simpson who crossed the line together with a time of 34.43 shortly after was Lynn McGonigal with a PB time of 35.29 closely followed by husband George with a time of 35.31, next was Dawn Cudworth with a time of 40.25 and Sharon Gamble at 43.34.

Next up was the 10k race and 13 members took this route on, first strider finished was Trevor Woodside with a fantastic time of 39.58 quickly followed by Ismail with a time of 41.17, next was first female strider finishing with a PB Sonya Summersgill with a great time of 54.31 quickly followed by Karen Farrelly also achieving a PB with a time of 54.45, next was member Clare McIlveen who completed in 1hr and 34 seconds.  After this was David Morton with a PB time of 1.01.24 followed by Emma McCracken 1.05.43 then came Kerrie Fox and Olli Seeger who crossed the line together with a fabulous time of 1.05.54.  Next was Hugh Lyons 1.06.51 quickly followed by Elaine McGonigal at 1.07.17 and Cheryl Alexander with 1.07.31 and Gillian Bailie with a FT time of 1.33.13.

Finally we had an impressive 29 members taking part in the challenging half marathon distance and no fewer than 12 members achieving Personal Bests, first home for striders with a brilliant PB time was Daniel Warke at 1.30.57.  This was followed quickly by Jonathan Winter and Craig Simpson with a matching time of 1.32.47, this was Jonathan’s first time completing this course and Craig achieved a PB, next up was Jordan McIntyre with a time of 1.38.17 then Colin Harper with a time of 1.41.39.  Rebecca Robinson was first female strider home with a PB time of 1.42.27 quickly followed by Simon Ferguson and Peter McGonigal with 1.43.02 and 1.43.28 respectively.  Next came 4 members who all achieved PBs, Maxine Dynes 1.46.01, Mark Halus 1.47.54, Judith Boyd 1.47.55 and Karen Collins 1.48.29.  Next finishing was Alison Busby with a time of 1.48.36 then Duncan Blair 1.50.47.  In quick succession we had Paul Blair completing the course for the first time with a time of 1.52.21 then K Casey 1.52.25 then Penny Hamilton with a PB time of 1.53.42.   Next crossing the line at the same time was George Johnston and Rachel Lyttle with an impressive time of 1.53.43.  After this Naomi Magowan completed the course with a PB of 1.54.12 followed by Amanda Martin at 1.54.34.  Two more PBs came after this with Emma Stewart with an impressive time of 1.57.48 and Jenna Lavery with a fantastic result  of 1.58.47.  Next strider to complete the course within 2hr time frame was Steven Hanna with a time of 2.00.42 followed by Katy Lyttle in 2.04.42 and Darren Johston and Karen Wilson in 2.16.51 and 2.16.52.  Jasmine Holden was next with a PB time of 2.17.22 and followed by Georgia McGonigal with a great time of 2.18.06.

In other parts of NI, Norman Mawhinney completed Armagh Marathon in a staggering time of 3.23m he was 2nd Male and 3rd overall finisher !!! Well done Everyone impressive results all round.

Not to be outdone the junior Striders attending Junior Parkrun on Sunday morning had some impressive results.  We had 11 juniors participating in 3 events.  We had 7 juniors in Comber with Toby Heywood claiming 3rd place with a time of 08.51.  In Bangor we had 3 juniors with Willow Farrington achieving 1st place with a time of 08.31.

Nicola Forsythe