Press Release – 13th August 2017

The Edwin May Nissan 5 Mile Classic

Wednesday 9th August saw over 350 athletes take to the streets of Coleraine for the Edwin May Nissan 5 Mile Classic hosted by Springwell Running Club in association with Coleraine Leisure Centre and the Causeway Coast and Glens Council.

The dry, bright evening provided perfect running conditions which resulted in some fantastic performances and a host of personal bests. Defending champion Mark McKinstry (North Belfast Harriers) once again led the field home to retain his title with an impressive 24.51. Declan Reed (City of Derry AC), running on his birthday took second place with 25.28 and Eoin Hughes (Acorns AC) continued his recent excellent form with 25.43 for third place.

Springwell RC’s Steven McAlary at the Edwin May Nissan 5 Mile Classic (photo by Alan Hamilton)

In the ladies race Northern Ireland cross country star Amy Bulman recorded a personal best of 29.25 for first place. Ciara Toner (Springwell Running Club) took second place in 30.12 while Jacqueline McMonagle (City of Derry AC) completed the top three in 32.02.

Springwell RC also had a successful night with a six age category wins. Paul Thompson 27.14 (1st M35), Bryan Edgar 30.04 (1st M55), Philip Mullan 30.06 (1st M50), Hugh Boyle 31.54 (1st M65), Alison Rankin 32.47 (1st F45), and Gerry O’Doherty 33.12 (1st M60) all topped their respective age categories.

Springwell RC’s Stephen Fillis closely followed by Willowfield Harriers Amy Bulman (photo by Alan Hamilton)

Springwell RC results - 6th Steven McAlary 25.51 PB, 8th Luke Dinsmore 26.03, 12th Paul Thompson 27.14 (1st M35), 21st Stephen Fillis 29.22 PB, 25th Bryan Edgar 30.04 (1st M55), 26th Philip Mullan 30.06 (1st M50), 27th Ciara Toner 30.12 (2nd lady), 28th Andy Dowey 30.17, 29th James Stewart 30.26, 35th Glenn Millar 31.03, 37th Raymond McCann 31.19, 40th David McAfee 31.23, 41st Jeff Young 31.23, 42nd Eddie Clyde 31.22, 48th Maurice Walker 31.43, 53rd Hugh Boyle 31.54 (1st M65), 54th Thomas Moore 31.54, 57th Dave Sexton 32.09, 60th Alister Jamison 32.18, 61st Mark Allison 32.13, 63rd Alison Rankin 32.47 (1st F45), 65th David McGaffin 33.01, 66th Gerry O'Doherty 33.12 (1st M60), 68th Terry Glenn 33.08, 73rd Timothy Bacon 33.20 PB, 74th Will Colvin 33.31 PB, 81st Ryan Kennedy 33.50, 82nd Kerrie McIlmoyle 34.01, 83rd Fran McFadden 34.07, 84th Alan McIlfatrick 34.07, 91st Simon McLean 34.27, 96th Davy McNicholl 34.46, 97th Paul Irwin 34.39 PB, 100th Meabh Close 35.02, 108th Mervyn Thompson 35.31 PB, 109th Alan McKeeman 35.35, 116th Stephen Smyth 35.41 PB, 120th Paul Quinn 35.52 PB, 121st Lynne Young 35.56 PB, 122nd Catherine Shiels 35.56, 129th Linda Gillen 36.07, 131st Keith Nixon 36.15, 143rd Thomas Close 37.02, 144th Mark Neely 37.08 PB, 155th David Boorman 37.39, 158th Andrew Wilson 37.50, 162nd Maxine McGregor 38.16 PB, 164th Julie Millican 38.19, 169th Ali McAllister 38.30, 170th Pamela Howe 38.31, 174th Mandy Stewart 38.36, 188th Jim Platt 39.32, 189th Patricia Craig 39.37 PB, 191st James Evans 39.50, 208th Janet Patrick 40.38 PB, 209th Carolyn Crawford 40.40 PB, 214th Owen Anderson 40.50, 217th Liz Dowey 40.50, 220th Alanna Millar 40.57, 223rd Louise McDonnell 41.10, 229th Mary Brogan 41.33, 238th Laura Wilson 42.10, 239th Fergal Mackle 42.17, 241st Ally Kelly 42.13, 243rd Melanie Millar 42.21, 245th Andrew Kincaid 42.34 PB, 249th Cathy Barr 43.02, 251st Margaret Edgar 43.24, 259th Hayley Neely 43.57 PB, 261st Brenda Burns 44.04, 274th Catherine Byers 44.40 PB, 275th Ingrid Hamilton 44.52, 278th Deborah Archibald 45.22, 285th Noelle Watterson 46.18, 302nd Amy Dobson 47.25 PB, 304th Kathy Donaghey 48.09, 311th Emer Thompson 49.12, 312th Monica McClenaghan 49.15, 314th Jennifer Moore, 49.30 PB, 315th Amanda Scott 49.44, 316th Elaine Montgomery 49.53, 317th Fiona Walker 49.51, 319th Caoimhe Armstrong 50.20 PB, 326th Lorraine Abernethy 53.10, 328th Bernie Drain 53.04, 335th Davy Patterson 54.50, 336th Jennifer Patterson 54.41 PB, 337th Esther Crawford 55.17, 338th Victoria Smyth 55.24, 338th Megan Timms 56.23 PB, 344th Sandra Williamson 57.08.

Lurig Challenge

On Saturday 12th August nearly four hundred athletes descended on the coastal village of Cushendall for the annual Lurig Challenge Mountain Race, hosted by local club Glens Runners.

The Lurig Challenge is a unique event which covers 3.5 miles in distance and 375 metres of ascent and descent in the ‘to the top and back’ course. With the race featuring on this week’s BBC One Show public interest in the event was greater than ever.

The race started in the centre of Cushendall with runners making their way through the assembled crowds and up a series of steps onto a gradually ascending farm lane and then onto the open mountain. Once onto the grassy slopes, runners climb the steep north face of Lurgethan, before descending from the summit and making their way back to the village finish line. Due to the steepness of the descent the accepted quickest, safest way of descending is by sliding down in a seated position. Wardrobe choice is therefore of paramount importance.

Pre-race favourite Northern Ireland and Ireland international Jonny Steede (Glens Runners) ran a personal best for the course to win in 27.55. Tommy Simmons (North Belfast Harriers) took second place with 29.11. Shane Donnelly (Unattached) completed the podium positions in 31.18.

In the ladies race, Lagan Valley AC athlete and Northern Ireland international Shileen O’Kane claimed first place 34.22. Last year’s winner Gillian Wasson (Ballymena Runners) ran well to take 2nd place in 34.59, before Judith Lonnen (City of Lisburn AC) produced one of the performances of the day with 36.26 for third place.

Springwell RC’s Elaine Montgomery demonstrates the recommended descent method.

Springwell Running Club had two members undertaking the challenge, both for the first time. Elaine Montgomery finished 323rd in a time of 1.07.23 and Catherine Byers 324th in 1.07.24.

Parkruns

This week 54 members of Springwell Running Club took part in Parkruns at Portrush, Limavady, Wyecombe Rye, Ecos, Queens, Stretford and Falcarragh with six personal bests being recorded

Portrush - Bryan Edgar 19.57, Glenn Millar 20.14, Jude Moore 22.11, Ronan Close 22.47, Mervyn Thompson 23.05, Meabh Close 23.20, Joshua Hazlett 24.19, Jonno Johnson 25.01, Patricia Craig 25.22, Andrew Wilson 25.34, Pamela Howe 25.36, Colin Connolly 26.37, Sophie Moore 27.28, Debbie Tutty 28.13, Donna Costello 28.39, Graeme Montgomery 28.39, Margaret Edgar 28.57, Jack Blee 29.07, Lynn Montgomery 29.25, Ali McAllister 29.25, Melanie Millar 29.54, Liadhan McAnena 30.11, Hannah Chambers 31.20, Caoimhe Armstrong 31.32, Rebecca Clarke 31.58, Aislinn Moore 34.54, Paul Moore 34.55, Jean-Claude Bourgeois 35.41, Kenneth Bacon 36.20, Emer Thompson 44.08, Fiona Walls 49.44

Limavady - Chris Denton 17.36 PB, Chris Millar 19.00, David McGaffin 20.27 PB, Will Colvin 20.47, Martin Smith 21.35, Peter Jack 21.36, Fergus Thompson 21.55, Catherine Shiels 23.32, Owen Anderson 24.06, Janet Patrick 24.32, David Gault 24.43, Andrew Kincaid 25.35, Julie Corbett 28.41, Siobhan McIntyre 31.22 PB, John Butcher 32.34, Roisin McAteer 33.46 PB, Heidi Steele 34.56 PB

Wycombe Rye - Gary Kendall 22.52, Kay Hack 27.00

Ecos - Raymond McCann 20.19

Queens - Rosana Jack 25.39

Stretford - Alister Jamison 19.40

Falcarragh - Roisin Walker 29.40 PB

Monaghan 10 Miler Road Race

The popular Monaghan 10 miler hosted by Monaghan Town Runners took place on Sunday 13th August. Springwell RC was represented by Fran McFadden who finished in a time of 1.15.00 and Paul Quinn who finished a couple of minutes later in 1.17.28.

Mallusk Harriers 5 Mile Road Race

The Mallusk Harriers 5 Mile Road Race took place on Friday 11th August with over 300 athletes taking to the road for this event. Springwell RC’s only representative, Kenny Bacon, having successfully been Race Director for the Lacpatrick 5 Mile Road Race and the Edwin May Nissan 5 Mile Classic took the opportunity to have a race himself. Finishing in 301st with a time of 57.03 Kenny is now preparing to once again take on the role of Race Director for the Purple Ladies 5k on Wednesday 16th August.

Purple Ladies 5k

The Purple Ladies 5k takes place this Wednesday 16th August from the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre in Ballymoney. The event is open to any lady at least 12 years of age. Online entries are now closed but entries on the night will be available from 5.00pm until 7.15pm. The race will be starting at 7.30pm and after the run there will be a chance to talk to fellow runners and members of Springwell Running Club whilst enjoying some post-race refreshments.