Striders Storm the Castle!!!!

There was no let up in the running calendar this weekend as Scrabo Striders took on some local events.

On an extremely warm Friday evening saw our very own veteran runner Norman Mawhinney head not too far out of Newtownards towards Darragh Cross for their Community Challenge 10 mile run.  Norman was 2nd male finisher overall in a fantastic time of 1.13.

Next event of the weekend which was on Saturday morning, saw the McCready family head a bit further afield to Co. Tyrone to take on Dromore 5k, which was described as a hilly circular route.    Harry was first home with a fantastic time of 23.45.  Sara and Calum stuck together and came in at 29.43 and 29.41 respectively.

Then it was on to Sunday afternoon and a few striders headed up the coast to Carrickfergus complete their annual race, Storming the Castle.  A 10k run out and back along the coast road.  Carrickfergus seems to always order the sunshine, and it was an extremely warm and challenging afternoon.

The first Strider finished was Simon Ferguson with a time of 47.16.  Next was Graeme McGowan at 48.06.  First female strider home was Karen Collins with a course personal best time of 50.06 quickly followed by Naomi Magowan with a time of 54.39, then Steven Hanna with a time of 1.06.15.

Junior striders Jodi Morton and Eijah Ferguson also completed the kids 1k race.

Also, this weekend seen striders taking on their weekly parkrun fix.  73 Striders took part 14 different locations across Northern Ireland and beyond.

Closest to home was Comber parkrun was the most popular with 34 striders taking part.    3 striders had milestones today, Paul Blair was celebrating his 100th parkrun and he completed this in a time of 31.37, his daughter and also Junior Strider Lydia celebrated her 25th and completed her 5k in a time of 31.36 also Alyson Graham, club member celebrated her 50th parkrun with a time of 28.29.  A beautiful morning with running and cake what’s not to like!!!!

Some striders also took in parkrun while on holiday, Chris Edwards and Karen Wilson headed to Zamek w Malborku in Krakow, Poland for the first time.  Chris completed his run in 28.06 with Karen not too far behind with a time of 31.15.  Also, Coach Chris Burns took on Etna Parkrun in Italy with a great time of 26.43.

Quite a few striders took on other events on holiday, the Alexander family headed to Southwark parkrun while in London.  Faye was first home with a fantastic time of 34.14, quickly followed by Cheryl with a time of 34.24 and Eva with a time of 36.35.

The Dynes family tried out Fethard Parkrun in Co. Tipperary.  Maxine completed her run in 24.16 with Maddie with a time of 37.49.

Donna Johnston completed Victoria parkrun on Saturday with her husband and Vice-Captain George, Donna achieved a personal best with an amazing time of 29.45.

A few striders headed towards Newry Greenway for a relatively new parkrun, first finished was coach Michael Warke and his wife Tina with a time of 27.47, next was Martina Finn with a time of 28.20, then Nicola Forsythe with a time of 29.38, followed by Kathyrn Chesney in a time of 30.25, next was Angie Crone with a time of 33.55, then Kim Cochrane with a time of 35.09, next was Fiona McAvoy with her daughter Chloe with a time of 37.01.

Other striders attended Portrush, Bangor, Stormont, Crawfordsburn, Hillsborough, Antrim, Lurgan Park and Loughmacrory.

Sunday morning saw the turn of the Junior striders and their weekly parkrun.  We had 13 junior striders taking part between Comber and Waterworks.  Comber was the most popular and first strider finished was Harry McCready in 08.15.  At Waterworks Joshua Bingham was first finished with a time of 8.28!

By Nicola Forsythe