Races Galore for the Scrabo Striders this week

By Aimee Braniff

Scrabo Striders have been busy this week with a variety of races.  First up was the Ardglass 5/10k on Wednesday which saw 2 Podium finishes from the Striders. In the 5K Race Max Burton came in at a speedy time of 19:38, placing 2nd.  In the 10K Matt Bell was placed 3rd with a fast time of 37:57.  Following Matt was Philip Adams 56:09 and David Morton 1:07:25. Amazing results, well done.

Georgia McGonigal and Naomi Magowan completed the Stanley Reid Memorial 5 mile in Cookstown on Friday night, with Naomi coming in at 41:31 (PB) followed by Georgia at 52:50.

The Road Runner 3,5,10k also took place on Friday night with 6 striders participating. First up was the 3k race which saw junior strider Jodi Morton competing alongside her dad David, both completing in 21.50.  The 5k race was next which saw Trevor Woodside completing in a fantastic time (18:38) followed by mum and daughter Maxine and Maddie Dynes (30.22).  Hector Adair was the sole strider in the 10K race (49:19).

The Celtic Warrior saw lone strider Colin Campbell complete the Early Marathon on Saturday in picturesque County Westmeath, in a time of 5:40:32, placing 10th overall. Well Done Colin!

The Scrabo Striders annual Run The Trails event was on Saturday night and whilst the weather was very warm, cloudy and humid that didn’t stop  400 runners from various clubs competing in the 2K, 5K and 10K. First up was the Juniors who completed the 2k race. With 64 children running, our very own Junior Strider Harry McCready came 2nd (08:21) with an intense neck and neck finish with a North Down Junior! He was followed by fellow striders Hamish Orr-Stewart (09:05), Joshua Bingham (09:19), Kristyn Edwards who was 2nd Female! (09:25), Harry Monaghan (09:26), Rory Braniff (09:28), Keara Simpson who was 3rd Female! (09:30), Heath Farrington (09:38), Elijah Ferguson & Angus Orr-Stewart (10:10), Sophie Maginnes (10:12), Iona Chanas (10:15), Joe Brown (10:30), Toby Heywood (10:36), Struan Orr-Stewart (10:42), Alana Edwards (10:45), Caleb Edwards (11:16),Penelope Davies (11.20), Callum McCready (11:30), Michael Bingham and Olly Simpson (11:37), Lyla McNamara (11:48), James Stevenson (12:06), Nathaniel Frazer (12:42), Joel Boyd (13:02), Lydia Blair (13:09), Zac Stewart (14:03), Katie Roulston (14:07), Coby Kennedy (16:23), Michael Kearns (16:33), Peter Kearns (16:34), Harriet Frazer (16:41), Jodi Morton (16:43) and Max Kennedy (18:46).

Next Up was our 5K Race.  First Strider home was Dave Stevenson (20.46) who placed 2nd, followed by Gareth Davies (22.08), Matthew Stevenson (22.29), Willow Farrington who was 1st female (23.20), Jordan McWilliams (24.13), Gus Forster (24.19), Louise Bingham (26.53), Darren Johnston (27.21), Steven Hanna who achieved a CPB (27.38), Michael Brown (27.46), Amanda Martin (28.09), Andrew Scase (29.15), Emma Stewart (29.50) ,Caroline Dwyer (30.16), Karen Heaney (31.01), Eden Dinsmore (31.01), Katy Lyttle (31.19), Dee Patterson (31.22), Curtis Adams (31.22), Catherine Lavery (31.56), Zara Johnston and Faye Alexander (31.56), Lyndsey Blair (32.03) close behind was Paul Blair (32.04), Sarah McCready (32.15), Sarah Johnston (32.23), Sophia Kathryn Rea (32.36), Michele Ennis (35.08), David Morton (35.13), Karen Warnock, Rachel Brown  and Kerrie Fox (35.36), Lisa Boal (35.59),  Ellen Ross (37.27) Angie Crone (37.53), Cheryl Alexander (38.14),Elaine McGonigal (38.15) ,Rosemary Harper (38.27) ,Graeme Hawkins (39.08), Janet Mowat (40.10), Kim Cochrane (41.51), Jennifer McAteer (42.27), Mairead Curran (43.59), Jacqueline Williamson (47.27), Donna Dugan (47.28) and Sharon Gamble (53.24).

Last but not least was the 10K race.  First strider home was Abrar Hossain (44.31), followed by Matthew Halus (46.56), next was Matthew’s father Mark (48.29), Jenny Taylor claimed 2nd Female and course PB (49.28), Michael Williams (49.44) with a new CPB, Simon Ferguson (50.29), Martin Oakman (51.16), Karen Collins (53.39), Gary Barritt with a PB (55.45), Judith Boyd (1.00.13), Kris Williams (1.04.15), Naomi Magowan (1.04.25), Janice McCartney (1.06.02) with a course PB ,Beverley McKee (1.12.39) and Emma Ruddock in (1.12.41).

Amazing running and results from everyone!  Special mention to all marshals, organisers and helpers who made this event possible, THANK YOU!!

On Sunday, the Belfast Feile 5 & 10K saw 3 Striders racing. Lyndsey Blair tackled the 5K race (27.49), Well Done Lyndsey!  Next up was the 10K with Trevor Woodside(40.34) and Clare Mcllveen (1.08:29), well Done Trevor and Clare!

Sunday also saw the EAMS Pride with 4 striders tackling a variety of distances with Jennifer McAteer (57.24) (1 loop) , Michele Ennis and Dee Patterson (1.11.12) 10K, Maxine Dynes (Marathon) (4 hours 15 minutes).

What wouldn’t round off a Strider Week without a parkrun or two? Saturday Parkrun saw 50 striders running at 7 venues.  The most popular venue was Comber.  Special mention to Junior Strider Jodi Morton who completed her first ever 5K parkrun in Comber, topping this on Sunday in achieving her 21st (Marathon) junior parkrun at Comber also.  What a rewarding weekend for Jodi.  Comber parkrun also saw two other milestones with Gareth Gordon achieved his 50th parkrun and Lexie Brown achieved her 25th parkrun. Great Achievements!

Iona Chanas achieved a 5k PB (25.57) at Bangor (achieving  another PB at Bangor junior parkrun on Sunday).  Norman Mawhinney was a first timer at Armagh Parkrun, achieving 1st place overall in a fast time of 21.08, Well Done Both!

On Sunday, 19 Junior striders attended parkruns at 4 venues.  Comber was the most popular where Harry McCready placed 2nd (08.09).  Next was Heath Farrington in 3rd place (08.42). Keara Simpson was 1st female home (08:52). Joel Boyd also achieved a PB of 11.08.

Well Done All!

Aimee Braniff