Monaghan Marathon Success for Ricky
It has been a busy week for members of Newtownards based running club, Scrabo Striders. On Saturday the very popular Bangor 10km road race took place organised by North down Athletic club and part of the NI & Ulster Championships. In warm and sunny conditions hundreds of runners set off from Bangor Castle through the town, out to Groomsport and back along the coast, finishing in Ward Park.
Scrabo had 90 athletes enter the race with Curtis McCaw first home for the club in 39 minutes 4 seconds, followed by Jason Lindsay 40:30, Jonny Kinney 41:24, Thomas Steele 41:30, David Parkinson 42:38 and Tim McEwan in 42:53. Sun 45 minutes came Peter Kerr 44:12, Peter Stevens 44:25 and Colin Harper 44:48. Sun46 minutes were Graeme McGowan 45:19, Peter McGonigal 45:30and Johnnie Harvey in 45:54 followed by Paul Donaghy, Simon Gay, Paul Sheldon and Abrar Hossain in 47:22.
Scrabo’s first lady to cross the line was Lesley Semple in 47:26 followed by Tina Boal in 47:38, Cheryl Mulholland 49:22, Barbara McKechnie 49:36, Emma Clements 50:23, Amanda Martin 50:59, Andrea Thompson 51:32, Caroline Dwyer 51:58, Gayle Malaugh 52:05, Lynn Sheldon 52:21, Liz Turton 52:38 and Carol Bailie in 53:54. Well done all.
On Sunday Striders hit the road to several events. In Monaghan town the Phoenix Monaghan Marathon Festival continued with Scrabo Strider Ricky Jordan taking 3rd place, covering the challenging 26.2 mile course in a phenomenal 3 hours 10 minutes. In the half marathon Norman Mawhinney was the first Strider home in 01:33:36 followed by Sheen Crone and Dawn Ross in 02:05:00, George McGonigal 02:06:41, Graeme McGowan 02:15:28 and Gavin McDonnell in 02:17:04, thus completing their Pure Running Half Marathon Series challenge for the year.
Graeme and Norman then made the sort drive to Armagh to compete in the opening race of the cross-country season, the TJ McElmeel Cup. Scrabo Striders has a strong turnout of ladies and mens teams for this event racking up some early points for the club. Well done all.
At the 10th anniversary of the Causeway Coast Marathon Liam Rodger completed the distance in 06:09:08 while Paul Morrow finished the half marathon in 02:18:39 and Dave Stevenson completed the Ultra in 07:05:06.Midweek the Mad for the Road 10K took place, with three Scrabo Striders taking park. Norman Mawhinney completed the distance in one second shy of 42 minutes followed by Mark Arnold in 48:59 and Fiona McAvoy in 49:33.
Also huge congratulations to James Lappin, the Northern Ireland Mountain Running Associate Male V40 Champion 2019, a great result for James as well as putting Scrabo Striders well and truly on the mountain running map.
By George McGonigal, Vice-Chair