Springwell Running Club - Press Release 8th October 2017

NI & Ulster Road Relay Championships

Newcastle AC and Queen’s University AC were crowned NI & Ulster Senior Champions, and Acorns AC and City of Lisburn AC retained their Northern Ireland Masters Athletic Association (NIMAA) titles as record numbers took on the NI & Ulster Road Relay Championships at Victoria Park in Belfast on Saturday 7th October.

In a top quality field of athletes, NI 10,000m and 5,000m Champion Emma Mitchell inspired her QUB AC team to victory in the Senior Ladies 3 x 3,380m contest.

Yasmin Wilson and Sinead Sweeney opened well for the university trio, with Emma taking over in the final leg, with the girls in third place behind leaders Letterkenny AC and Newcastle AC, who had led early on following a strong performance by Olympian Kerry O’Flaherty. Emma clocked the fastest 3,380m leg of the race (10.31) as she powered through to break the tape to win in 34.37. Letterkenny AC, which consisted of Nakita Burke, Maria Ni Mhaoilagh and Noeleen Scanlon, claimed second place in 35.15, while the Jodi Smith put in an excellent final leg for North Down AC to finish third in 36.38.

Springwell RC’s Jonathan McKee and Luke Dinsmore at the NI & Ulster Relay Championships

Springwell Running Club dominated the Senior Men’s 4 x 3,380m until the latter stages following a blistering opening leg from Neil Johnston. Patrick McNiff put Newcastle AC in control during the penultimate leg, leaving Northern Ireland and Ireland Mountain running international Zak Hanna in the lead going into the final 3,380m. Matt Doherty (City of Derry AC) and Mark McKinstry (North Belfast Harriers) pushed all the way, but Zak sealed the title for the County Down men in 39.46; NI & Ulster 10,000m Champion Eoghan Totten and silver medallist David O’Flaherty had opened for the Newcastle AC team. An exceptional finish from Mark McKinstry helped North Belfast Harriers secure 2nd place in 39.49, while City of Derry AC completed the top three in 40.04.

Springwell RC’s Senior Men Neil Johnston, Jonathan McKee, John Gordon and Luke Dinsmore.

Springwell RC Senior Mens team narrowly missed out on a podium place as Neil Johnston (9.29), Jonathan McKee (10.02), John Gordon (10.32) and Luke Dinsmore (10.08) finished fourth in a time of 40.10.

Springwell RC’s Alistair Bratten at the NI & Ulster Relay Championships

In the Masters race Jimmy Stewart (11.35), Alister Bratten (14.03), Nigel Armstrong (12.46) and Gerry O'Doherty (12.40) finished 28th in a time of 51.13.

Run Galway Bay

Saturday 7th October saw over 4,000 runners descend on Galway for the annual Run Galway Bay 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon. The spectacular course straddles the quaint Latin Quarter of Galway City, the famous Claddagh Quay and the majestic coast road with its panoramic views of the Burren in County Clare across the Atlantic waters of Galway Bay.

Congratulations to Karen McLaughlin who finished 19th overall and 4th lady, with a personal best while running sub 3.20 for the first time.

Marathon - 19th Karen McLaughlin 3.19.55 PB, 44th Michael Johnson 3.35.12, 95th Helena Dornan 3.53.09

Half Marathon - 209th Gary Kendall 1.43.51, 635th Kay Hack 2.03.47, 708th Bob McLaughlin 2.08.52, 767th Judith McLaughlin 2.12.17

10k - 519th Andrew Wilmot 58.21

Springwell RC’s Karen McLaughlin, David Gault, Helena Dornan and Michael Johnson at the Run Galway Bay Festival

Cultra Challenge

On Sunday 8th October over 750 runners took part in the Born 2 Run Cultra Challenge in support of MacMillan Cancer. Set in the scenic grounds of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum the runners had a challenging course on the hills and country lanes around Cultra.

Springwell RC Results

10k - 81st Noel McAllister 51.58, 94th Lorraine Mullan 53.15, 139th Janet Patrick 56.41, 189th Andrew Kincaid 58.55

5k - 236th Stacey Montgomery 42.59

Parkruns

This week Springwell RC had 43 members out parkrunning at 7 venues with six year old Adam Kincaid, a stalwart of the Limavady Parkrun organisation, know to many runners as a marshal, course builder, finish token assistant, tail runner and occasional contributor to the pre-race briefing, receiving his 25th volunteer milestone t-shirt.

Adam Kincaid, Stacey Montgomery, Julie Corbett and Lorraine Mullan at Saturdays Limavady Parkrun.

Results

Waterworks - Alistair Shaw 18.23

Derry City - Ali McAllister 24.16, Debbie Tutty 27.02, Catherine Byers 28.03, Rebecca Clarke 29.07, Kenneth Bacon 33.23

Ecos - Raymond McCann 20.30

Portrush - Meabh Close 24.37, Mervyn Thompson 24.58, Pamela Howe 26.26, Noel McAllister 26.53, Patricia Craig 27.11, Andrew Wilson 28.33, Sharon Bingham 29.06, Donna Costello 29.06, Colin Connolly 29.46, Jim Blee 29.51, Jack Blee 30.08, Rachel Blee 30.34, Sylvia Pollock 30.39, Fergal Mackle 31.05, Emma Birrell 31.45, Caitriona Mackle 32.34, Roisin Walker 33.01, Deborah Purdy 34.16, Pauline Duke 34.37, Jean-Claude Bourgeois 35.18, Fiona Walls 51.10

Ormeau - Simon Stewart 16.52, America Aznar 20.34

Bangor - Brenda McGilligan 32.03

Limavady - David McCool 23.06, Neil McIvor 23.07, Roy Buchanan 23.56, Janet Patrick 24.27, Andrew Kincaid 24.42, Steven Miles 27.39, Will Colvin 28.40, Gary Moore 29.01, Catherine Pinkerton 29.01, Jeff Young 29.01, Martin Smith 29.02, Jonathan Lynch 31.27