STRIDERS FLYING AT RUN THE RUNWAYS !

Last Friday night saw Scrabo Striders running club host one of their most popular races of the running calendar, Run the Runways.  A 2k race for juniors and options of 5k and 10k for adults a flat and fast race around Newtownards Airport.

The sun was shining on Newtownards Airfield when 30 junior striders started the proceedings off with a 2k race down the main runway.   The kids secured more than 10 Personal Bests.  Junior Keara Simpson was 1st female finisher and also achieved a PB in the race.  PBs were also achieved by Rory Braniff, Jodi Morton, brothers Micah and Joel Boyd, Lydia Blair, Michael Bingham, Elijah Ferguson, and James Stevenson.

Next up was the 5k and 10k race for adults, known for the completely flat and fast course there was no doubt that PB’s would be in abundance.  With over 90 striders doing the 5k route and 8 striders completing the 10k route.   There were several striders completing the race for the first time, David Morton with a fantastic personal best time of 28.15, Donna Johnston with a time of 31.11, Ellen Ross completed the race in 34.33 and Lisa Boal finishing in 33.27.

Personal Bests were achieved by no fewer than 30 runners.  First strider home was past Captain Andy Haylett with an impressive time of 18.50.  Willow Farrington was 3rd female overall finisher at an incredible time of 21.32.  PB’s were achieved by James Cole-Boyle, Sarah Johnston, Sharon Gamble, Jasmine Holden, Sharon Murdoch, Judith Boyd, Niall McIvor, Rosemary Harper, John Potts, Sonya Summersgill, Steven Hanna, Rebecca Robinson, Louise Bingham, Craig Ferguson, Jonathan Winter, Matthew Stevenson, Naomi Magowan, Phil Adams, Martin Conroy and Harry Harper.

8 brave striders took on 2 laps of the flat course for the 10k route and the first strider home was Norman Mawhinney with an impressive time of 40.30.  PB’s on the 10k course were achieved by Mark Halus with a time of 45.36 and Gareth Gordon in 1.04.32.  Well done to all runners on what was a hot night !

Saturday was no let up for the striders as 46 striders got their weekly running fix at 16 different parkrun venues. 24 runners tried a new venue for the first time, there was 1 personal best, 4 course pbs, one first place and one second place.  Most popular was Knockbracken parkrun with 11 members taking on this 3 lap course.

Members also visited Waterworks, Belfast Victoria, Orangefield, Montalto Estate, Castlewellan, Crawfordsburn, Limepark, Bangor, Stormont, Lower Drummans, Derrynoid, Antrim and Sixmilewater.  We also had one member who visited Mensola Parkrun while on holiday in Florence.

A group of 5 female striders made their way to Woodhouse Moor parkrun in Leeds on Saturday morning before taking part in Rob Burrows Marathon on Sunday 12th. Alison Busby was the 1st female strider finished to complete the hilly Leeds Marathon which was set up to raise awareness for MND in memory of late rugby professional Rob Burrows.  Alison completed the route in an impressive 3.47.52.  Next and just over the 4 hour mark was Jenny Taylor with a time of 4.03.56.  With seconds between them was next two striders Amanda Martin in 4.10.03 and Maxine Dynes in 4.10.59.  Fiona McAvoy was next to finish in an impressive time of 4.50.29 and next was Martina Finn in a time of 5.12.42.  Very impressive times ladies especially as both Maxine and Fiona have both completed multiple marathons in the last few weeks.

Sunday morning saw Junior Parkrun take place and 15 junior members headed to Comber with 3 members heading to Bangor.  This week saw 3 PBs, 6 CPBs, one 1st place and two 2nd place and two 50th milestones.

Well done to Toby Heywood and Michael Bingham on their 50th milestone. PB’s were achieved  for Elijah Ferguson, Calum McCready, Jodi Morton. There was course PBs for Willow Farrington, Harry McCready, Heath Farrington, Michael Bingham, Lyla McNamara and Harriet Frazer.

NICOLA FORYSYTHE