PBs galore as coach Heath Graham inspires his striders

On Friday 5^th September Scrabo Striders hosted the long running Ards 5 mile but the first running of the Heath Graham Ards 5 Mile Challenge named in honour of our late friend and coach with the course taking in his homeland of Loughries. Over 100 Scrabo Striders took part with many more volunteering with run director Hannah Robinson overseeing the event and the medal for this event was themed around the captain’s cup that the late Heath Graham won and it was a very cherished prize that on occasion at training he would wear with ribbon in medal form.

David Spalding won the event in an amazing time of 25.19. First in for the striders was Norman Mawhinney followed closely by Trevor Woodside, Niall McIver, Graeme Black and Gareth Davies all under the 35 minute mark. Michael Burgess, Jonathan Swann, Jonathan Winter, Matthew Halus, Willow Farrington, Martin Oakman, Abrar Hossain, Rebecca Robinson and Karen Collins all completing under 40 minutes . Next in was Penny Hamilton, Steven Hanna, Maxine Dynes, Colin  Verth, Manny Farrelly, Russ Armour,  Gayle Malaugh, Judith Boyd, Naomi Magowan, Gary Barritt, Moses Matovu, Michael Brown, Louise Bingham, Andrew Scase, Michael  Warke, Dean McGhee,  Daniel            Warke, Caroline Dwyer, Paul Blair, Christopher Murdock, Hector     Adair, Rachel Bell, Katy Lyttle, Catherine Lavery and Graeme Farrington all under the 45 minute mark.  All finishing under the 50 minute mark were Charlotte Connolly, Emma Stewart, Gareth Robson, Alyson Graham, Wendy Thompson, Chris Edwards, Karen Wilson, Karen Heaney, Jonathan Keenan, Eden Dinsmore, Faye Alexander, Gillian Pearson, Sharon                Murdoch, Lyndsey Blair, Janice McCartney, Peter Doggart  and Richard Murray.  The next batch of runners between 50 and 55 minute were Beverley                McKee,  Nicola Forsythe, Noel Angus, Karen Clarke, Katie   Irvine, Michelle Ennis, Donna             Johnston, Gareth Gordon, Keara Simpson, Craig Simpson, Claire Briggs, Emma McCracken                , Jenna Lavery, Ian Frazer, Linda Dugan with special mention to Keara completing her first 5 miler. Getting round in under the hour were Angie Crone, Ellen Ross, Lisa Boal, Hugh Lyons, Lexie Brown, Rachel Brown, Lorna Angus, Kim Cochrane, Elaine Johnston, Janet Mowat. Rounding of our amazing list of runners over the hour mark Rosemary Harper, John Potts, Eva Alexander, Georgia McGonigal, Cheryl Alexander, Natasha  Graham, Peter McGonigal, Stephanie Garrett, Elaine McGonigal, Carol Graham, Mariead Curran, Kris Williams, Gillian Bailie, Donna Dugan with Darren Johnston and Graeme McGowan serving as tail runners an amazing sea of purple I think you’d agree.

Also on Friday night Jennifer McAteer took on the Newcastle 5K in warm up for the Great North Run in a time of 37 minutes 46 seconds.

On the Saturday it was the turn of our junior striders to take on the 4K course Luke Braniff first with a time of 16 minutes 39 seconds closely followed by Harry McCready in 16 minutes 48 seconds next in was Rory Braniff in a time of 18 minutes and 49 seconds and rounding of the results was Calum McCready in a time of 22 minutes and 15 seconds fantastic running yound men.

Sunday was the day of the half marathons and 10Ks first up at the waterside half marathon was club captain and former club captain Matt Bell and Andy Haylett with amazing  times of  1 hour 27 minutes and 56 seconds and 1 hour 25 minutes and 4 seconds respectively.

Next up in London was Jonathan Winter at the big half and he completed the course in a time of 1 hour 49 minutes and 9 seconds.

At arguably the biggest half marathon in the world 6 striders flew the flag with our first finisher vice captain George Johnston in a time of 1 hour 53 minutes and 19 seconds for his year trip to the great north Run. Next up was Sarah Luce in a time of 2 hours 11 and 54 seconds followed by Rachel Boyle who was running for diabetes charity in a time of 2 hours 16 minutes and 59 seconds. Next in for her second pb of the weekend was Donna Johnston in a time of 2 hours 34 minutes and 22 seconds and rounding off the results was Stephen Braniff and Jennifer McAteer in times of 3 hours 3 minutes and 3 hours 5 minutes great running by all.

In the final race of a busy weekend was the laganside 10K but before the adults did their thing the kids were super fast in the 1 mile race with Ionas Chanas running 6 minutes and 33 seconds closely followed by Elijah Ferguson with 6 minutes and 35 seconds and Katie Roulston finishing in 7 and 32 seconds great running putting absolutely no pressure on the adults to perform in the imminent 10K race. First in breaking the 40 mins mark and setting a new pb 39 minutes and 32 seconds was Trevor Woodside with Simon Ferguson, Rebecca Robinson and Karen Collins all in under the 50 min mark with Karen achieving a second pb of the weekend. All in under the 55 minute mark was penny Hamilton Sophie Keil and Caroline Dwyer with mention to Sophie who achieved a pb in her first striders race. The next trio under the hour were Catherine Lavery, James Cole-Boyle and Jasmine Holden. Rounding off the results were Nicola Forsythe, Clare McIlveen and David Morton.

It wouldn’t the weekend without our weekly parkrun report were we had 43 striders in 10 different locations with comber where David Morton celebrated his 50^th parkrun.

If you like what you have read and want to give Scrabo Striders a go come along to either our main sessions Monday and Wednesday at 7.15 or our progression group sessions on Tuesday and Thursday 7.15 mainly at Londonderry Park with our social run non coach led runs Friday night 6.30 and Sunday Morning 9am Conway Square come along to our all abilities sessions you’ll and made more than welcome.