Members of Newtownards based running club Scrabo Striders took podium places at a 10K night run last Friday. Ricky Jordan was second in the men’s race in a time of 41 minutes 20 seconds while Catherine Cauley took 3^rd place in the ladies race in 46:11.

The FEARR the Night race was 10 kilometres through the Clandeboye Estate in the dark, with only headlamps to see where you were going! Organised by Bangor based running company FEARR (Forget Everything and Run Races), the well-attended event saw Jonathan Gibson take first place in 40:29 with Mark walker in third. The ladies race was won by Kerry Speers in 42:05 with Amanda Perry second.

Scrabo Striders recorded some great placements with Simon Hodge 4^th in 41:48, David Stevenson 5^th in 42:01, Norman Mawhinney 7^th in 43:23 and Glen Taylor 9^th in 44:09, while Ian Frazer and Tim McEwan finished in a second under 45 minutes. Next to cross the line, if they could see it, were Kieran McNamara 48:08, Shannon Clegg 49:08 and Thomas Steele in 49:54.

Finishing in under 55 minutes were Gary Hunsdale, Justin Black, Marty Mcconnell, Kerri Anderson and Mark Halus while Patricia Adams, George Cash, Paul Morrow and Tim Mahood all completed in under the hour. Linda Dugan was next for Scrabo, taking 1^st in her category in 17 seconds over the hour followed by Mervyn Kinney, Robert Oliver, Alison Busby, Ronnie Geddis, Caroline Smyth, Amanda Piesse, Jenny Talor, Robin Adams and Stephanie Middleton in under 1 hour 5 minutes.

Also taking on the challenge for Scrabo were Steve McCormick, Sonya Summersgill, Liam Rodger, Kathleen Henderson and Lyndsey Blair finishing in under 1 hour ten, followed by Graeme McGowan, Sam Eccles, Beverley Blaine, Jenny Green, Allie Farley, Susanne McVea, Lynda Croskery and Rachel Murdock. Each finisher received a bespoke and glow in the dark medal for their efforts. Well done all.

In cross country Norman Mawhinney flew the flag for Scrabo, competing in the NI & Ulster Intermediate & Masters on the 26^th and finishing in an impressive time of 26:04. Norman also took overall 2^nd place in the Ulster Cross Country Championships, a great achievement.

Over at Ward Park in Bangor Scrabo Strider Jonathan Keenan completed his 100^th Parkrun in 25:25 for the 5km distance. Congratulations on this milestone Jonathan. At the same event Nicola Forsthe secure a new personal best time of 33:12 while Thomas Steele, Susanne Hart, Linzi Stewart, Elaine McGonigal and John Pugh all travelled to run new Parkrun venues for the first time. Well done all.

By George McGonigal