Scrabo Striders tackle Spooktacular Runs, Marathons and Mud

By Chris Edwards

The running week began in festive fashion on Friday evening, as seven Scrabo Striders travelled west for the annual Enniskillen Spooktacular 5K. This much-loved event combines a fast, flat course with Halloween fancy dress, creating a lively and colourful spectacle through the streets of Enniskillen. The Striders embraced the spirit of the occasion with fantastic costumes and great running performances from Mark Arnold, Fiona McAvoy, David Morton, Nicola Forsythe, Richard Murray, Kim Cochrane and Angie Crone. A fun night all round, with plenty of laughter, effort, and creativity on show.

While most of us were wrapping up against the autumn chill, Simon Ferguson and Karen Collins opted for sunnier skies, jetting off to Spain for the Valencia Super Half Marathon. Known for its flat, lightning-fast course and its scenic finish beside the City of Arts and Sciences, this world-class event attracts thousands of international runners each year. Running side by side throughout, Simon and Karen enjoyed the atmosphere, the architecture, and the superb organisation for which Valencia is famous. Their teamwork and pacing were rewarded with a fantastic time of 1:52:50 apiece.

Meanwhile Steven Hanna swapped Strangford Lough for the Atlantic Ocean, taking on the Lisbon Marathon in Portugal. Starting near Cascais, the marathon follows a breathtaking coastal route along the Atlantic shoreline into the heart of Lisbon. Running in pleasantly warm conditions, Steven took full advantage of the views and the enthusiastic support lining the streets. Keeping a steady pace across the 26.2 miles, he crossed the finish line in a commendable 4:42:50 a great performance in one of Europe’s most scenic marathons.

Sunday saw the return of the Irish Life Dublin Marathon, one of the biggest events in the Irish running calendar and the pinnacle of months of training for many Scrabo Striders. The club fielded a strong and enthusiastic team who took full advantage of the cool, calm conditions to produce a series of outstanding performances.

Leading the charge was Matt Bell, who broke the magical three-hour barrier with an exceptional PB of 2:56:47, a superb achievement that reflects dedication and top-class preparation. Hot on his heels was the ever-consistent Norman Mawhinney, who finished in 2:58:07 to claim first place in the M65 age category and clinch the Irish National M65 Championship ahead of his trip to the NYC marathon.

Gary Lyttle wasn’t far behind, clocking 3:01:49 (PB) and narrowly missing a sub-three finish, an excellent display of strength and determination. Niall McIver followed in 3:12:11, chased by Max Burton 3:13:11 (PB), with Peter McGonigal next in 3:38:14, all finishing strongly. In the women’s field, Maxine Dynes led the way in an impressive PB of 3:45:20, closely followed by Rebecca Robinson in 3:48:31, both producing performances to be proud of. Completing the Striders’ efforts were Michael Johnston, Duncan McAllister, James Cole-Boyle, Mark Halus and Judith Boyd each showing determination, spirit and club pride as they made their way through the Dublin crowds. Mark and Judith crossed the line together in 4:25:58, rounding off a tremendous day for the team earning Judith a PB in the process.

Back home at the Stormont Estate again, the first-ever Halloween Blood Run took place in partnership with the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI, aiming to raise awareness of blood cancer and the importance of blood donation. Representing Scrabo Striders in style were Naomi Magowan and Janice McCartney, combining fancy dress, fitness, and a great cause.

As the road running season winds down, attention turns to cross country and this weekend’s Bobby Rea Memorial and NI & Ulster Championships at Billy Neill Country Park saw Striders of all ages don their spikes and embrace the mud. Among the juniors, Toby Heywood competed in the under-10 boys, Callum McCready in the under-12s, and Harry McCready in the under-16 category, all performing strongly over challenging terrain. Keara Simpson also impressed in the under-14 girls’ race, demonstrating grit and composure against a competitive field.

In the senior events, the women’s team of Sonya Summersgill, Alyson Graham, Karen Wilson, Gillian Pearson and Emma McCracken all delivered excellent performances, navigating the churned-up course with determination. Craig Simpson was the club’s sole representative in the men’s race, completing four tough laps of mud and hills in fine style.

This Saturday’s parkruns once again saw strong Scrabo representation across Northern Ireland and beyond. Stormont proved the most popular venue, with a dozen Striders taking on the picturesque Prince of Wales Avenue route. There were plenty of standout runs  Penny Hamilton set a brilliant new PB of 24:10, while Karen Wilson earned a course PB of 28:08, and Lydia Blair achieved a personal best of 30:36.

At Comber parkrun, George Johnston clocked a course PB of 22:27, Maxine Dynes recorded 24:20 despite saving her legs for the Dublin Marathon the following day, and Gareth Gordon earned a new PB of 29:37. Elsewhere, Andy Haylett stormed to first place at Belvoir Forest in a superb 19:36. Meanwhile, Michael Burgess took the Strider vest international once again, claiming first home at Vejen parkrun in Denmark with a strong 22:47. Across the Atlantic, Rachel Bell represented the club in the Brooklyn Bridge parkrun, finishing in 29:51 and no doubt enjoying the stunning New York skyline as her backdrop.

The next generation of Striders were out in force at the Comber junior parkrun, where Joshua Bingham led the field home in a brilliant 7:59, setting a new personal best. He was closely followed by Michael Bingham, Lydia Blair, and Joe Brown, all putting in excellent runs.

At Lough Moss junior parkrun, Nathaniel and Harriet Frazer enjoyed a change of scenery and both ran superbly. Meanwhile, Iona Chanas continued her impressive form, clocking 8:35 to finish first overall and claim yet another PB.

From spooky 5Ks to international marathons, muddy cross-country battles and fast parkruns, it’s been another action-packed week for Scrabo Striders and as autumn gives way to winter, there’s no sign of the purple vests slowing down.