Helping Alopecia Trust, Greyabbey 5K and 10K Races

On Friday 7^thJuly the Helping Alopecia Trust (HAT) held its 2017 “Round the Springs” 5 km and 10 km road race, fun run and walk. The charity raises funds to support families affected by Alopecia and increases awareness about the condition among the general public. The course through the town and surrounding countryside provided some great views of Strangford Lough and the weather was very kind to the runners too.

We had 37 athletes enter. In the 10K event the first club member across the line was Jonny Kinney in under 42 minutes and for the ladies Lynn Sheldon in just over 50 minutes; fantastic times. Next in was Jonathan Wray, Paul Sheldon, Russ Armour, Manny Farrelly, Connor McNamara, Thomas Kirk, Colin Harper, Ian Frazer and Alan Steen all in under 50 minute times.

Completing the course in under an hour were Lesley Semple, Mervyn Kinney, Gary Clarke, David Turton, Caroline Dwyer, Charles Allen, George McGonigal, Ronnie Geddis, Sheena Crone, Caroline Smyth, Lyndsey Lappin, Dawn Ross, Abrar Hossain, Deborah Erskine, Tracy-Anne Kirk, Graeme McGowan and Nicola McNamara. Very well done.

Then came Wendy Thompson, Noel Angus, Emma Geddis, Lindsey Allen, Catherine Lavery, Karen Farrelly, Sharon Redmond, Karen Clarke and Steven Craythorne. The 5K race was completed by Nicola Irvine, Kathleen Henderson and Joanne Wray in some great times.

The committee would like to thank the Helping Alopecia Trust for giving us the opportunity to do what we love to do, run, as well as help raise money for a great cause. A big thanks to the Police and Marshals for keeping things under control and to a field packed full of sheep that were extremely vocal on the second lap!

Even with all this running activity the purple shirts still put on a good show atthe Saturday Parkruns. At Ward Park in Bangor on Saturday 8^th July the club had 10 entrants with Lynn Sheldon first home for the ladies and Jared Martin for the gents on his first run at Bangor. The came Paul Sheldon (new PB), David Turton, Oliver Seeger (new PB), Mervyn Kinney, Carol Bailie, Andrea Wilson, Wendy Thompson and Catherine Lavery.

Comber Parkrun saw 7 Striders romp home, namely first gent Curtis McCaw and Kathy Henderson for the ladies, followed by Katie Hanna, Julie Hanna (new PB), Antoaneta Kisimova, Joanne Wray and Hannah Robinson.

At Stormont Jonny Fitzsimmins recorded at new personal best under 25 minutes followed by fellow Scrabo Strider Lorraine Adams. In Antrim Jonny Kinney recorded new personal best at a whisker over 20 minutes and Susan Kinney ran the venue for the first time. At Portrush Mark Leathem was the sole Scrabo shirt and he achieved a new PB. Finally at the Victoria Parkrun in east Belfast Mark Halus and Matthew Halus both ran the event for the first time. A big well done to all our Parkrunners.

This week we celebrate our first birthday. We have been granted privileged access to the Mount Stewart Estate for a special 4 mile race for club members only, by way of celebration. From humble beginnings our Club now boasts over 180 members! #excited