Scrabo Striders complete the Belfast City Half Marathon

On Sunday 17th September over 3000 runners set off on their 13.1 mile journey from Ormeau Park in with the aim of completing the largest Half Marathon event in N Ireland, the 5th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon. The official charity partner was Mencap who help children and young people with learning disabilities get a good start in life and achieve their goals. With kind weather, a great buzz in the air and phenomenal support form spectators a sea of runners set off from Ormea Embankment at 9am.

The route took runners on a circuit outside the park then down Ravehill to the Albertbridge Road and Connswater, making a left turn onto the Newtownards Road and the first short hill at Dee Street bridge. Next along the Sydenham by-pass and into the scenic Victoria Park, exiting over the Sam Thompson Bridge onto Airport Road which marked the half-way point. Runners then pass the SSE Arena over the Queen’s Bridge into the city centre through Cornmarket and passing City Hall, before turning up Castle Street and a gradual climb up Divis street and the Lower Falls road. Starting to think about the end runners enjoyed the downhill of Grosvenor Road, along Great Victoria to Dublin Road and Botanic, turning left onto University Street. Then the final push along lower Ormeau and the embankment before turning back into Ormeau Park and the welcome finish line.

We had 38 entrants. Jonny Kinney, Chris Stevenson and Ricky Jordan finished the half marathon in under 1 hour 40 minutes. Shannon Clegg was the club’s first lady home followed by Johnny Wray, Andy Palmer, Manny Farrelly, David Turton, Graeme McGowan and Colin Harper who all completed in under 1 hour 50. Next came Garry Cavill, Kevin Lewis, Barbara McKechnie, Mervyn Kinney, Kieran McNamara, Nigel Martin, Caroline Dwyer, Andrew Lam, Colin Dunlop, Mark Leathem, Paul Kirkwood and Lorraine McCrum all of whom finished in under two hours.

Crossing the line in under two hours ten minutes were Caroline Smyth, Alison Busby, Abrar Hossain, Maureen Rea, Ronnie Geddis, Amanda Martin, Andrea Cairns, George McGonigal, Dawn Ross, George Cash, Deborah Erskine and Fiona McAvoy. Then came Wendy Thompson, Kathleen Henderson, Karen Farrelly and Christine Kirkwood. The Club would like to thank all those who wore their distinctive purple vests with pride on the day, lets see an even bigger turn out next year!

The Saturday Parkruns remain as popular as ever. At Stormont the Club had 9 entrants. Paul and Lynn Sheldon were first finishers for the gents and ladies respectively, followed closely by Paul Moore, Stephen Campbell, Sheena Crone, Michael Honeyman, Jonathan Keenan, Samantha Bates, Greer Munday and Joanne Brittain. At Comber Jared Martin came in first again followed by Amanda Martin and Michael Brown who both secured new personal bests. Hannah McMorran also ran.

At Ward Park in Bangor Barbara McKechnie was first home for our ladies with a new personal best followed by David Turton, Mervyn Kinney, Carol Bailie, Rachel Boyle, Chris Stevenson, Sharon Graham and Carleen Seeger. At Victoria Park in East Belfast Mark Leathem was first gent Strider across the line followed by Amanda Stewart, Alison James, Leanne Hanna and Steven Craythorne. Mark Halus ran the Portrush Parkrun in under 25 minutes. Well done all.