Scrabo Striders support Jengana Charity 10K Road Race

We had a great turn-out for the fourth annual Jengana 10K charity road race at Shane’s Castle, Antrim on Saturday 13^th May. Partly organised by one of our club members, the event raises funds for Jengana, a Northern Ireland based charity focused on improving the lives of those less fortunate than us, specifically in the slum areas of Nairobi, Kenya. There was also a 5K fun run which was well supported.

Twenty one Striders completed the 10K. The first home was Kieran McNamara with Caroline Smyth first for the ladies. Then followed Nigel Martin, Chris Stevenson, Connor McNamara, Mark Leathem, Ian Frazer, Gary Clarke, Fiona McAvoy, Ronnie Geddis (his first 10K), Mick Honeyman, Justin Clegg, Jenny Fry, Dawn Ross, Lyndsey Lappin, Emma Geddis, Stephen Campbell, Greer Munday, Karen Clarke, Jasmine Geddis and Hannah Robinson. Great to see all those purple shirts on display in Antrim and thankfully the race was a dry if not warm event.

The Les Jones Memorial 10K race took place on Friday 12^th May. The race, in memory of the British team manager, promoter, chairman and athlete who passed away in 1992, starts at the Mary Peters Track onto the Malone Road, then the towpath to Shaws Bridge before returning by Barnetts Park and Queen’s Playing Fields to finish back on the track. We are pleased to say that seven Scrabo Striders took part with Sheena Crone our first lady home, first gent Manuel Farrelly then followed by Garry Cavill, Connor McNamara, Colin Harper, Nicola McNamara and Paige Reilly. Some great times posted, well done all.The Hill and Dale Series continues with Race 5. Kieran McNamara was first home followed by Nigel Martin and Alan Steen. Worthy of special mention is Gary Hunsdale who completed the 3 Lakes Challenge 15 km course in a great time.

Of course no running week is complete without mentioning the Saturday Parkruns. At Ward Park in Bangor the club had ten entrants where husband and wife team Paul and Lynn Sheldon were the first Striders to finish. Lynn recorded a new personal best (PB). Then followed by Ian Frazer (PB), Barbara McKechnie, Sharon Andrews, Mervyn Kinney, Liz Turton, Jimmy Andrews, Stacey Andrews and Karen Montgomery, first timer.

Comber Parkrun saw four Striders romp home, namely Curtis McCaw, Jared Martin (PB), Sara Amanda Martin and Nicola McNamara (PB). Our sole entrant at the Stormont Parkrun was Sharon Graham clocking a new personal best. Well done to all our Parkrunners.