Globe Trotting Striders and the end of an era for Willow! By Sarah Luce

Air Ambulance 5K Runway Run at Belfast City Airport 2025

The races started early this week for Scrabo Striders with the Air Ambulance 5K at Belfast City airport late on Wednesday night. Back for it’s second year, this flat and fast paced 5K takes place on the runway and provides an opportunity for runners of all abilities to achieve new personal bests in an exclusive race venue. Over £60,000 was raised for Air Ambulance NI by 500 runners of which five were Striders. Trevor Woodside was first Strider home in a blistering 19 mins with Gareth Davies right on his heels in 19.09. Chris Edwards was next in 25.54, followed by Karen Wilson in 26.30 and Clare McIlveen in 27.49, well done all you were flying (excuse the pun!)

Co.Down 5K

The Co. Down 5K returned to Downpatrick on Friday night for its 9th year. This flat, fast looped course of 7.5 laps around the town centre attracts runners of all standards- grouped into four staggered start races groups by expected finish times. In Race 1 (30min+) Stephen Braniff crossed the finish line in 33.57, achieving his fastest 5K time this year. Next up in Race 2 (22-30min) Harry McCready was first Strider across the line with a 5K PB of 20.42. Rory Braniff was next in 25.04 also in his fastest 5K of 2025 followed by Sarah Luce in 27.03. Race 4 (18-22 mins) saw Michael Warke cross the line first in 19.15, closely followed by Norman Mawhinney in 20.06 and Luke Braniff in 21.40. Incredible running by all on a warm night!

Parkrun Report

The wet morning did nothing to deter our hardy Striders at Parkruns in venues in NI, England and across the globe in Australia. The most popular location was Stormont and saw Colin Campbell, Karen Wilson and Lynsey McIver all score course PBs. Around the corner in Belfast Victoria, it was a PB morning for Louise Bingham running the three laps in 24.30. Maxine Dynes also had a PB in her first time at Derry City as second female crossing the finish line, well done Maxine!

Course PBs continued for Abrar Hossain in Bangor and Mark Halus in Montalto while son Matthew placed third in his first time here, super Matthew!

Other first timers included trio Simon, Karen and Elijah at Waterworks, Noel Angus in Bangor and Jennifer McAteer visited Newry Greenway.

Andy Haylett came first at Paisley Park with a course PB of 18.49, while in England, Matt Bell ran a course PB of 22.01 at Queen Elizabeth Parkrun

Our furthest Strider this week was George Johnston running Canning River Parkrun in Australia with a course PB of 23 mins!

Enniskillen 10K

Out west on Saturday, this year’s Enniskillen 10K started from Enniskillen Castle and looped its way along picturesque country and town routes including the scenic Castle Coole and Adhowen Hills, finishing in Derrychara Playing Fields. Twelve Striders made the trip down to Co. Fermanagh to take part with Trevor Woodside again coming in as first Strider in 42.08. Next around the course were Peter McGonigal and Mark Arnold in 48.50 and 55.29 respectively. Fiona McAvoy was first lady Strider home in 57.32 with Jenna Lavery just two seconds behind in 57.34. David Morton and Nicola Forsythe were next in 1.03.51 and 1.04. Next up were Elaine McGonigal and Cheryl Alexander coming in together in 1.11.45 with Kim Cochrane and Kathryn Chesney in 1.21.08 and 1.22.07. Mina Darling rounded the Striders up in 1.33,33.

Celtman! Extreme Scottish Triathlon

Saturday also saw Jonathan Bull complete the 13th edition of this event in the rugged Torridon area of Wester Ross, Scotland. This sold-out event saw 200 competitors earning entry spots this year. The extreme event consisted of a 3.4K swim in the cold open Atlantic Waters of Loch Shieldag including navigation around Eagle Island. They then had a 200K bike leg twisting through Highland Passes and coastal roads. The event completed with a 42K run which included 1600m of ascent on a brutal off-road traverse over two munros and back down to Torridon village. Jonathan finished in 14.30.22 in this epic test across swim, bike and run, absolutely incredible going!

Rottnest Running Festival, Perth, Australia

Not to be outdone by his NI counterparts, our very own Vice Chairman George Johnston took part in the Rottnest Running Festival, hosted by the West Australian Marathon Club on Sunday. This community event promotes running while raising funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service which provides vital medical care and emergency services to remote and rural areas of Western Australia. George completed in Half Marathon in the stunning scenery of Rottnest Island in 2.02.42 and it looks like it was much nicer weather than we had at home!

Junior Parkrun

Closer to home, our juniors were out in force as usual on Sunday morning at Junior Parkrun in three locations. In Comber, Harry McCready was first junior Strider finishing in second place in 07.57. Toby Heywood crossed the finish line in third place in 08.53 with Keara Simpson first overall female in 09.08. Joe Brown and Elijah Ferguson were next in 09.43 and 09.50 respectively. Olly Simpson and Joshua Bingham were next in 10.29 and 10.31 and Lydia Blair and Rachel Brown crossed the finish line in 11.37 and 11.40. Across in Lough Moss, Nathaniel and Harriet Frazer both had course PBs in 11.41 and 12.21.

In Bangor it was the end of an era for Willow Farrington who completed her last Junior Parkrun before she turns 15. Willow completed the first ever Bangor Junior Parkrun back in 2016, so after 338 Junior Parkruns to finish with a course PB of 07.45 in Bangor seemed a fitting tribute to this chapter for this talented young athlete, incredible Willow! Also at Bangor were little brother Heath Farrington who got a course PB of 08.37, Rory Braniff also celebrating a course PB in 09.06 and Lyla Rose McNamara in 12.34.