MILES OF SMILES; SCRABO STRIDERS CONQUER BANGOR 10K

With the running calendar still in full swing, it was the turn of our neighbours in Bangor to host the Seaton 10k previously known as the Bangor 10k.  A challenging route which starts at Ward Park and has a great downhill towards McKee clock and scenic run along shoreline and out towards Groomsport and back but a tough finish up Shandon Drive back to Hamilton Road and finishing in Ward Park.   Weather wasn’t kind on Saturday morning which made this 10k challenging to say the least.

Scrabo Striders had 20 members who took on this 10k route.  First home and our infamous over 65 champion in a fabulous time of 39.17 was Norman Mawhinney, quickly followed by Daniel Warke in a time of 40.50.  Next was our youngest member attending Luke Braniff with an impressive course personal best time of 44.10 and less than a minute later was James Coyle-Boyle with a time of 44.54.  Graeme McGowan and Mike Hirst were the next two striders to complete with times 45.25 and 48.56 consecutively.   Next came our first female home Karen Collins with a CPB time of 49.13, quickly followed by Michael Williams in 49.59. Four striders then finished in quick succession, Naomi Magowan, Mark Arnold, Peter Doggart, and Phil Adams in consecutive times of 52.02, 52.05, 52.07 and 54.14 also completing within the hour was Jonathan Keenan in a time of 59.14 and Jasmine Holden in a time of 59.44.

Next up was Janice McCartney in 1.01.15, Kris Williams in 1.03.12, Kerrie Fox in 1.03.30 then Gareth Gordon 1.05.13, Ellen Ross completing the race for the first time with a 10k personal best of 1.08.48 and Lisa Boal also completing the race for the first time in 1.14.41.

Also racing this weekend, Strider Jennifer McAteer headed to Craigavon, Co. Armagh to complete the Annaghmore 5k in a time of 37.27.  Colin Campbell travelled a bit further afield and completed Monaghan Marathon in an impressive time of 5.12.50.

Racing a little bit further away and in sunnier climates were members Clare McIlveen and Trevor Woodside who took part in Lanzarote sun run 5k.  While most of us would be sleeping on a sun lounger Trevor completed the 5k in an impressive time of 20.01 and Clare finished in 31.48.  Well done to them both and hope they enjoy the rest of their holiday.

For other striders, Saturday morning means one thing, Parkrun.  43 striders took part in 11 different venues.  Comber was the most popular with 13 members taking part.  Iona Chanas trying this one for the first time and completed it in a time of 24.14.  Other venues in Northern Ireland were Belfast Victoria, Ormeau, Citypark in Craigavon, Stormont, Orangefield and Paisley Park.  There were a few striders who went slightly further with Catherine Cauley heading to Buncrana and completing this in a time of 38.12.  Three striders headed to Bundoran, the Blair family took on this one for the first time, Paul, Stuart and Lyndsay completed this in times of 26.00, 26.13 and 31.00 consecutively.   Michael Burgess headed to Bushy parkrun in Dublin and completed this in a time of 22.20.

Sunday morning sees the turn of the juniors take on Parkrun, eight juniors took on Comber parkrun and 1st 2nd and 3rd place was awarded to striders, Harry McCready was 1st in a time of 8.02, Keara Simpson was 2nd in a time of 8.36 quickly followed by Heath Farrington a second later in 8.37. Olly Simpson got a Personal Best with a time of 9.09 and Calum McCready achieved his 50th parkrun in a time of 9.36.

Two junior striders headed to Bangor, Iona Chanas was 2nd female in a time of 8.40 and Lyla McNamara completed her parkrun in a time of 11.39.

Written by Nicola Forsythe