Springwell Running Club - Press Release – 15th April 2018
GES Purple Ladies 5k
Sponsored by Grant’s Electrical Services and hosted by Springwell RC, the Purple Ladies 5k will take place on Wednesday 25th April 2018. This very popular ‘ladies only’ 5k race starts at the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre in Ballymoney at 7.30pm and on line entries are still available at http://athleticsni.org/Fixtures/Purple-Ladies-5k. This year our sponsors ‘GES’ have generously presented a trophy to be awarded to the race winner.
GES groups Jasmine McIlroy with Race Director Kenneth Bacon
Ballymena Belles 5 mile Road Race
The 5th annual Ballymena Belles 5 mile Road Race, hosted by Ballymena Runners took place on Tuesday 10th April. Almost 400 runners started the race and it was the in-form Gemma McDonald (Ballycastle Runners) who set the early pace. Gemma was joined at the front of the field by Paula Worthington (Ballymena Runners), Tracey Atkinson (Albertville Harriers), Jenny Finlay (Lagan Valley AC) and Leanne Sands (Acorns AC).
As the race progressed Gemma continued to set the pace and the front five were reduced to three as Gemma, Paula and Tracey forged ahead. Gemma’s pace saw establish a short lead which was enough to see her win by 15 seconds as she crossed the line in 32.15. Paula took second place in 32.30 and Tracey third with 32.35. Leanne Sands was fourth in 34.04 with Karen McLaughlin (Springwell RC) finishing strongly to finish fifth overall and first F45 in 34.29.
Springwell RC - 5th Karen McLaughlin 34.29 (1st F45), 11th Caroline Irwin 36.02, 52nd Sarah Dickinson 41.46, 68th Claire Ramsey 42.58, 78th Alanna Millar 43.39, 79th Mary Brogan 43.40, 84th Louise McDonnell 43.52, 95th Carolyn Crawford 44.30, 107th Majella McAteer 45.15, 128th Laura Wilson 46.09, 129th Ally Kelly 46.10, 158th Fiona Walker 47.24, 196th Amanda Scott 48.47, 209th Emer Thompson 49.36, 282nd Amy Dobson 53.39, 286th Pauline Duke 54.06
Springwell RC’s Alison Kelly, Laura Wilson and Fiona Walker at the Ballymena Belles 5 Mile Road Race (Photo Ballymena Runners)
The Glenarm Castle Challenge
The inaugural Glenarm Castle Challenge Half Marathon, 10K & 5K took place on Saturday last April 14th. The race, organised by award winning events company BORN2RUN, attracted over 800 runners to the beautiful coastal village. Runners enjoyed perfect running conditions on one of the first spring days of the year. BORN2RUN‘s motto is Great Races in Great Places and Glenarm Castle certainly didn’t disappoint. Runners came from all over Ireland and beyond with the 10K winner, Julien Cazelles visiting from France. There was a mix of club runners and non-affiliated runners alike taking part and Lord Dunluce, the owner of Glenarm castle accompanied his young daughter around the 5K course. All in all a great day out and a welcome new addition to the running calendar.
The course around the estate encompassed all terrains with competitors running on gravel, road, forest trail and farm track at various stages of their respective races. Springwell RC had representatives in all three races and in the Half Marathon a determined run from David McGaffin saw him finish 9th and 1st M50 in a time of 1.33.46, while in the 10k Dave Sexton ran a 43.23 to finish 10th overall and 1st M55.
Springwell RC’s Deborah Archibald, Catherine Byers, Roisin Walker and David McGaffin at the Glenarm Castle Challenge.
Half Marathon - 9th David McGaffin 1.33.46 (1st M50), 63rd Paul Quinn 1.51.54, 94th Paul Humphreys 1.56.03, 186th Catherine Byers 2.16.36, 196th Deborah Archibald 2.18.57
10k - 10th David Sexton 43.23 (1st M55), 129th Janet Patrick 58.23, 264th Roisin Walker 1.07.08
5k - 147th Stacey Montgomery 43.13
Run the Race Sperrins 10 & 5k
The Run the Race Sperrins 10 & 5k road races took place on Thursday 12th April in Maghera. Springwell RC were well represented in both races with some excellent results that saw wins for Alex Brennan in the 10k and Ciara Toner in the 5k.
10k - 1st Alex Brennan 38.14, 8th Maurice Walker 42.20, 26 Jim Bradley 51.50, 28th Michelle McManus 53.33, 30th James Glasgow 54.30, 37th Kate McNicholl 58.22, 38th Betty Anne O’Kane 58.22
5k - 2nd Barry Mullan 19.16, 3rd Ciara Toner 19.57 (1st lady), 4th James Stewart 20.01, 5th David Jackson 20.31, 6th Alister Jamison 21.02, 35th Emma Elder 31.11, 59th Alan Platt 37.41
Newcastle Athletics Club Hill and Dale Series 2018
The very popular Hill and Dale Series organised by Newcastle AC began on 12th April with almost 300 runners taking on the 5 mile challenge of the McVeigh Classic in Castlewellan. Continuing his excellent form from last year’s series Oisin Brennan ran 39.02 to finish 30th overall and 2nd MJ. Colin Brennan was 55th in 41.30 and Alistair Shaw was 103rd with a time of 44.32.