Strong Performances at Portadown Running Festival.

Striders members turned out in force in Portadown on Sunday for a packed schedule of events, including the 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon. Runners of all ages and abilities delivering an impressive display of determination, with several athletes celebrating personal bests and first-time achievements.

In the 5k race which started at 9.30am Junior Harry McCready claimed the quickest time, crossing the line in 19:43, setting the tone for the morning. He was followed by Keara Simpson with a time of 22:53 and Calum McCready next with 25:33, both delivering strong performances.  Other finishers included Sarah Luce finishing in 26:04, Olly Simpson who achieve a course personal best in a time of 29:30, Olli & Kerri Seeger finishing together in 30:51, and a PB for Rosemary Harper who completed the race with John Potts in a time of 31:11.

22 Striders completed the 10K race which produced a series of solid times, with Trevor Woodside leading the pack in an impressive 39:43. Close behind came Graeme McGowan in 45:32 and Johnathan Keenan in 52:16.  Personal Bests were achieved for Peter Doggart with a time of 53:40 Alyson Graham with a time of 54:17 and Georgia McGonigal with a PB of 59.45.

Other striders completing the race where Chris Edwards in a time of 54:02, Sonya Summersgill in 55:45, and Karen Wilson and Martin Oakman in a 58:15, Jenna Lavery in 55.46 Clare McIlveen in 59.56 Lorraine Adams in 1.00.37 Emma McCracken in1.06.55 Cheryl Alexander in1.07.27, Elaine McGonigal in 1.10.40, Lisa Boal and Donna Johnston crossed the line with 1 second between them, Lisa in a time of 1.11.36 and Donna in a time of 1.11.37.  Quickly followed by Elaine Johnston in a time of 1.12.01, then Angie Crone and Kim Cochrane in 1.17.21 and 1.17.22 and Jennifer McAteer in 1.19.23,

The Half Marathon had 24 striders taking part.  Gary Lyttle topped the results with a commanding time of 1:25:06, followed closely by Niall McIver in an impressive time of 1:26:03.  Karen Collins completed in an fantastic time of 1:41:28 achieving a PB and Jenny Taylor finished in 1:42:47.  Lynsey Cleland and Eden Floyd completed their first half marathon for striders with fantastic times of 1.49.41 and 2.19.12.

A series of personal bests were recorded, including, Simon Ferguson in1:44:29, Michael Williams in 1.44.09, Catherine Lavery in 1:57:57 and David Morton 2:36:53.  Steven Hanna completed a Course Personal Best with a fantastic time of 1.47.57.

Other Striders completing the 13.1-mile course Rebecca Robinson in 1.48.24, Mark Halus 1.54.32, Penny Hamilton 1.54.34, Naomi Magowan 1.57.43.  Darren Johnston and Craig Simpson crossed the line together in a time of 1.58.06.  Zoe McMaster completed in a time of 2.08.49 quickly followed by Hector Adair, Matthew Halus and Karen Heaney in respective times of 2.13.23, 2.15.41 and 2.16.21.  Beverley McKee completed the course in a time of 2.25.14 and crossing the line together was Richard Murray and Nicola Forsythe in a time of 2.3015.

Saturday morning, sees Striders come out in force to parkruns, both locally and further afield.  The club had 43 participants running in 14 venues.  Most popular location was Comber parkrun with 15 club members.  Other venues were Bangor, Stormont, Victoria Park, Castlewellan Waterworks, Ballymena, Crawfordsburn, Ormeau and Lurgan.  A bit further afield Abrar Hossain travelled to Astervorland Parkrun in Hamburg, Michael Burgess travelled to Deerpark Forest Parkrun in Virginia.

Ben Palyfreyman completed his first ever parkrun in Comber and Alyson Graham took on Orangefield Parkrun for the first time and achieved a PB, no stopping Alyson at the minute!!

Andy Scase reached his 25th milestone at Victoria Park.

Sunday morning its the turn of our Juniors for Parkrun, 7 juniors took on 3 different venues.  Comber saw Joshua Bingham achieve 1st Place, Heath Farrington 2nd place and Michael Bingham a course pb.

In other striders events this weekend, Coach Norman Mawhinney headed to Hyrox Event in London competing in European Middle East and Africa Championships with Hyrox Partner Amanda Perry.  Norman and Amanda not only finished first to become Champions they were also World Record Breakers, in an amazing time of 1.06.49.  Well done Norman and Amanda !!!

Also in other sporting events, The Junction Spring Running Series featured races across NI, taking place in the month of March, with the object being to complete as many of the six events as possible to get the highest accumulative score, seen four of our striders finishing in the top 30 athletes from across the province.

Alyson Graham, Trevor Woodside, Norman Mawhinney and Clare McIlveen, well done folks, fantastic running!

Nicola Forsythe