Friday 14^th July saw 12 Striders take on Born to Run Sea to Sky Challenge. The race route starting on the promenade in Newcastle and heads up through the Mournes and includes a mix of road and track. Ten completed the 10K, first in and 18^th overall was Jared Martin followed by Jonny Kinney, Ian Frazer, Olli Seeger followed by first female Sharon Frazer, Amanda Martin, Linda Dugan, Wendy Thompson, Sharon Graham and Carleen Seeger. Completing the 5K was Christine Lougheed and Kim Cochrane.

On Saturday 15^th July we celebrated our first anniversary with a club race at Mount Stewart followed by an awards evening. I would like to thank everyone involved at Mount Stewart that helped organise the event, our four main sponsors:

• Essential Homecare Services
• McAvoys Coach Travel
• Abbey Tiles
• The Key Center

Additionally we would like to thank everyone who generously donated spot prizes, Cafe Nero, Kelly Gazzard, Physio Plus, Ards Leisure Center to name a few.

Thanks to our committee for organising the event and also to our volunteers who made this event possible; Leanne Hanna, Barbara Morrow, Sharon Hunsdale, Janice Irvine, Julie Steen, Loraine McCrum, Suzy Cavill Gill, Joanne Brittain and Rebecca McNamara.

90 members took to the course our first finisher Jared Martin followed by Jonny Kinney and Johnny Wray. First female finisher was Catherine Cauley followed by ladies vice captain Shannon Clegg, and Barbara McKechnie. A huge well done to Jared Martin, Jonny Kinney, Ian Frazer, Olli Seeger, Sharon Frazer, Amanda Martin, Linda Dugan, Carleen Seeger, Christine Lougheed and Kim Cochrane who had all also raced in the Sea to Sky the evening before. The atmosphere was fantastic while we cheered all the Striders across the finish line then our sea of purple changed temporarily to green with our first anniversary finishers T-shirts. Everyone then headed off to get ready for our celebrations with what seemed like a room of different people from just over an hour before. Everyone enjoyed some great food followed by prizes including our most improved member, congratulations Mark Leathem.

A big thank you to Romas and their fantastic staff for hosting the evening. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this event and made it an incredibly special evening to celebrate the first anniversary.