Striders Take on Hills, Cities and Continents

By Chris Edwards

This week’s racing calendar got underway on Thursday evening with the first event in the ever-popular 2026 Hill and Dale Series at Castlewellan. Known for testing terrain and spectacular scenery, the series opener did not disappoint, with a newly revamped 4.8-mile course challenging runners from the outset. The route took competitors up to the summit of Slieve na Slat, combining steep climbs with technical descents and rewarding those who could balance strength and control.

Four Scrabo Striders made the journey to Castlewellan to take on the demanding course. Leading the club home was Simon Ferguson, who produced a strong and controlled run to finish in 42:59. He was followed by Karen Collins, who crossed the line in 46:57. Faye Alexander also put in a solid performance, finishing in 51:06, while Rachel Boyle completed the quartet with a time of 55:47.

Vienna Marathon

It was a busy weekend of marathon action for Scrabo Striders, with members travelling across Europe and beyond to take part in some of the world’s most iconic races. In Austria, Matt Bell and Andy Haylett lined up for the 43rd Vienna City Marathon, an event renowned for its flat and fast course which winds its way through the historic streets of the Austrian capital.

Race day conditions were bright and sunny, with a light breeze offering some relief early on. However, as the race progressed, temperatures began to rise, adding an extra layer of difficulty for those tackling the 26.2-mile distance. Despite this, both runners delivered excellent performances. Matt Bell dipped under the three-hour mark with an impressive 2:57:37. Andy Haylett was not far behind, also running a superb race to finish in 3:05:37, rounding off a successful outing for the pair on the international stage.

Boston Marathon

Across the Atlantic, attention turned to one of the most prestigious events in the global running calendar, the Boston Marathon. Now in its 130th year, the race took place on Patriot’s Day and once again attracted a world-class field alongside thousands of amateur runners from across the globe. Boston remains one of the coveted Marathon Majors and a race steeped in history and tradition.

Scrabo Striders were proudly represented by veteran runner Norman Mawhinney, who made the journey to the United States for what was his third appearance at this iconic event. Having previously experienced the unique atmosphere and challenging course, Norman approached the race with confidence and determination. He delivered an excellent performance, crossing the finish line in a fantastic time of 3:15:50.

Remarkably, Norman’s marathon efforts do not end there. Demonstrating incredible resilience and commitment, he is set to line up again this coming weekend at the London Marathon on April 26. As if that were not enough, he will then return home to take part in the Belfast Marathon on May 3, completing an extraordinary trio of marathons within the space of just two weeks, an achievement that highlights both his experience and dedication to the sport.

Parkrun

Closer to home, the weekend parkrun scene saw members turning out in impressive numbers across a wide variety of locations. With a temporary lull in the road racing calendar and improving spring weather, many runners took the opportunity to explore events further afield while others stayed local to enjoy familiar routes and friendly competition.

Among those travelling, Michael Burgess ventured to Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School parkrun in Horncastle, Lincolnshire. The course, consisting of 4.5 laps on grass, provided a different challenge underfoot, and he completed it in a solid 24:42. Lorraine Adams also made the trip to England, where she delivered an excellent run at Leamington parkrun, earning a well-deserved course personal best of 31:04. Scotland also featured on the weekend itinerary, with Jonathan Keenan taking on the scenic but demanding Girvan Sands parkrun. The course includes two significant climbs but rewards runners with stunning views of Ben Cruachan. Jonathan navigated the undulating terrain well to finish in 41:32. In Letterkenny, Michael Warke continued his consistent form with a strong performance, completing the three laps of St Conal’s Campus in an impressive 20:27.

Back in Northern Ireland, several Striders were in action across a range of venues. Amanda Martin made her first visit to Valley parkrun, finishing comfortably in 27:17, while Jennifer McAteer returned to Newry parkrun, completing the out-and-back route along the canal greenway in 39:37.

Victoria parkrun once again proved popular for those chasing fast times, and Abrar Hossain took full advantage of the flat course to record a personal best of 21:08. Kathy Henderson was also among the participants there, enjoying the event in favourable conditions.

Bangor parkrun hosted a strong contingent of Striders, with several notable performances. Joshua Bingham continued his excellent form, securing a new personal best of 23:14. Close behind, Andy Scase also celebrated a PB, finishing in 24:26. Louise Bingham crossed the line in 26:07, while Fiona McAvoy and Martina Finn enjoyed steady runs. Lydia and Paul Blair completed the club’s representation at the event.

Stormont parkrun also saw a strong turnout, with 11 Striders taking part. Among the standout performances were Rory Braniff, who clocked 24:23 for a course PB, Sarah Luce, who finished in 27:33 for her own CPB, and Maddie Dynes in 33:25 CPB.

As always, Comber parkrun attracted the largest number of Scrabo Striders, with 22 members taking part in the four-loop course. Graeme McGowan was the first Strider home in 21:39, followed closely by Michael Williams, whose time of 21:59 saw him break the 22-minute barrier for the first time while also securing a personal best. There was also a notable debut from Steven Tate, who impressed with a time of 26:56 in his first ever parkrun.

Junior Parkrun

The next generation of runners also enjoyed a busy and successful weekend. Comber junior parkrun once again saw the highest turnout among young Striders, with several excellent performances on display.

Harry McCready led the way with a superb run of 7:33, earning first place through consistent pacing and a strong finish. He was followed by Heath Farrington, who completed the course in 8:49, and Joshua Bingham in 9:07. Keara Simpson produced a strong run to finish in 9:12, securing second place among the girls. There were also personal best performances for Callum McCready, who finished in 9:14, and Michael Bingham, who crossed the line in 9:42.

Elsewhere, Nathaniel and Harriet Frazer took part in Victoria junior parkrun, finishing in 12:03 and 12:22 respectively. At Bangor, Lyla McNamara represented the club, completing the course in 11:11.

A special milestone was celebrated by Iona Chanas, who travelled to Woodvale junior parkrun to complete her 50th event, earning her “Ultra” status in junior parkrun. She marked the occasion in style, finishing first with a time of 8:24.

Club News

Finally, for anyone inspired by the club’s recent activity and looking to get involved, Scrabo Striders are delighted to announce the launch of a new Couch to 5K programme. The initiative will begin on Tuesday, May 19 at 7:15pm and is designed to support beginners in building up to running 5 kilometres in a friendly and encouraging environment. New members are always welcome, making it the perfect opportunity to take those first steps into running.