From Chicago to Comber Cross Country! By Sarah Luce

Murlough AC’s GR8 Run returned for it’s 14th year on Saturday with two distances. The 8.4 mile route is a stunning mix of road, beach and boardwalk incorporating Murlough’s Nature Reserve, while the 3.5 mile route in solely on road.

On the longer distance, Michael Warke was first strider home under the hour in 56.02. Sarah Johnston was the first female strider to finish with a CPB of 1.02.26 closely followed by Dad George Johnston also with a CPB in 1.03.26. Martin Oakman was next in 1.03.27 followed by Michael Wiliams in 1.07.49 (CPB). First timer Karen Collins completed the sub 1hr 10 runners in 1.08 12. Darren Johnston (1.10.35), Naomi Magowan (1.11.27), first timer Judith Boyd (1.13.24) and Mark Halus (1.13.24) were next followed by first timer Sonya Summersgill in 1.13.58. Rounding off our runners were Phil Adams in 1.14, Graeme Farrington in 1.16.33, Jasmine Holden in 1.22.39 and Georgia McGonigal in 1.27.46.

We had two runners in the 3.5 mile distance where Willow Farrington blazed around in 24.37 celebrating 1st female position, super running Willow! Gillian Bailie also completed the run for the first time in 46.54, well done Gillian!

Montalto

The Gaithouse Montalto Moonlight Endurance Challenge took place on Saturday night set against the enchanting backdrop of Montalto Estate. Runners could choose between several distances and time durations. In the 5K, Trevor Woodside won first place in a time of 20.08 and Clare McIlveen also completed the 5K in 32.33.In the 6 hour challenge Jennifer McAteer completed 2 laps in 1.40.30, Jenny Taylor completed 7 laps in 4.13.11 and Colin Campbell completed 9 laps in 5.25, well done all on a tough course!

Chicago

In the windy city, lone Strider Graeme Magowan had a super weekend of running, completing the Abbott Chicago 5K on Saturday in 23.07. On Sunday it was the main event. The Chicago Marathon which is one of the six Abbott World which races through 29 different neighbourhoods. Graeme was one of the 45,000 runners and completed the course in a time of 3.54.57, amazing job Graeme!

Bath and Bristol Railway Marathon

In England, James Cole – Boyle was the sole strider in the Bath & Bristol Railway Races which follow the route of the original train line from Green Park Station in Bath to Bristol Temple Meads. James completed the marathon distance in 3.35.47, well done James it looked like a picturesque one.

Parkrun

Saturday morning saw Striders at ten venues across NI with the largest contingent at Comber where Gareth Gordon and Ellen Ross both celebrated PBs of 29.38 and 31.43 respectively. At a busy Ormeau, Matthew Halus got a CPB of 20.47 with Harry McCready hot on his heels with a Parkrun PB of 20.58. Mark Halus and Judith Boyd both had course PBs at Dunleath. Closer to home, Bangor also saw great results with Iona Chanas hitting her 10th Parkrun milestone and Lyndsey Blair got a CPB of 31.36 as she crossed the finish line with daughter Lydia achieving a PB.

Junior Parkrun

8 juniors ran in two locations for Junior Parkrun on Sunday. In Comber, Joshua Bingham ran to first place in 08.36 followed by Elijah Ferguson and brother Micheal. Lydia Blair was 3rd female followed by Joe and Rachel Brown and Jodi Morton. Sophie Rea was the lone junior at Bangor.

Comber Cup XC

On Sunday it was the return of the Comber Cup hosted by Ballydrain Harriers. The event takes place at Billy Neill Playing Fields and is a regular part of the Northern Ireland Cross Country League run on the Ballydrain course (not the Bobby Rea course). Scrabo Striders had 20 entries across 5 different categories. The conditions were perfect, dry and mild, not very XC like at all! Up first were the P6/P7s completing their 1K course where Heath Farrington flew around in 3.33 followed by Angus Orr – Stewart in 3.48 and Calum McCready in 3.49. The next race saw the U14s and U16s start together to complete the 2.8K course. Hamish Orr -Stewart was our first U14 in 12,29 followed by Keara Simpson in14.44. A neck in neck sprint to the finish saw Gus Forster and club mate Harry McCready finish in 11.55. Willow Farrington completed the juniors in the U16 in 12.07.  The John McKeag Cup (5.5K) incorporating Female Open, Female Under 20, Female Masters & Male Vets 60+ was next.  First home was Norman Mawhinney in 21.04 achieving first M65. Karen Collins first of the ladies with a CPB of 26.10 followed by Faye Alexander and Naomi Magowan in 31.14 and 31.35 respectively. First timer Alyson Graham and Gillian Pearson were next in 32.00 and 32.06 with Janice McCartney just behind in 33.24. Beverley McKee and Karen Wilson were next round in 34.03 and 35.40 and duo Cheryl Alexander and Emma McCracken ran round with a spilt second difference of 37.40 and 37.41. Lone male on the 7.5K Male Team Race incorporating Male Open, Male Under 20 & Male Masters course was Craig Simpson who claimed a CPB of 37.17.