Springwell Running Club - Press Release – 24th June 2018

Energia24

The Energia24 race took place on the 23rd/24th June at Victoria Park in Belfast. Now in its 9th year the event carries a silver label from the world governing body and once again incorporated the AAI National 24-hr Championships.

Starting at 1pm on Saturday afternoon competitors run on a 1652m circuit around the park with the winner being whoever runs the furthest in 24 hours. Considering the length of the race and the fact that runners are allowed to stop for rest and refreshment, a lot of thought has to go into deciding on race strategy long before the running actually starts.

As one of Springwell RC’s most experienced Ultramarathoners, Helena Dornan started the race with her usual slow and steady pace, placed around 100th in the field, as those with more enthusiasm than experience led the way in the early stages. But, as afternoon turned to evening and midnight got ever closer, Helena began to climb the leader board as the enormity of the challenge became apparent to those ahead of her.

As dawn broke the field had dwindled and Helena had climbed into the top 20 and was keeping a very steady pace as the race progressed towards the finish at 1pm on Sunday. The final hours of the race saw more places gained as Helena eventually finished in 12th place, 5th lady and 1st F45 having completed 184.842 km or, if you prefer 114.855 miles. A tremendous achievement, having completed 5.647 miles more than she did in the 2017 race. In the National Championships Helena was third lady earning her a well deserved bronze medal.

Springwell RC’s Helena Dornan at the Energia24

Lisburn Half Marathon & 10k

Wednesday 20th June saw thousands of runners take to the streets of Lisburn for the annual Coca-Cola Half Marathon and 10k. The half marathon is part of the Pure Running Half Marathon Series, while the 10k is part of the Novosco 10k Grand Prix. 

Keith Shiels (Foyle Valley AC) and collegiate runner, Rachel Mitchell (USA) claimed victory in the Half Marathon while local athlete Christopher Madden (City of Lisburn AC) and NI & Ulster 5,000m champion Jessica Craig (North Down AC) took top honours in the 10k.

Springwell RC’s Ross Armstrong and Paul Quinn at the Lisburn HM

Springwell RC were well represented at the event where Hugh Boyle claimed an age category win in the M65 finishing 57th overall in a time of 1.28.30

Springwell RC’s Stacey Lyttle, Heather McLaughlin, Janet Patrick and Barbara Ferguson

Springwell RC Results

10k - 50th Deborah Gilliland 39.21, 194th Catherine Pinkerton 46.10, 605th Janet Patrick 53.28, 942nd Fiona Walker 58.00 PB, 957th Amanda Scott 58.27 PB, 1252nd Barbara Ferguson 1.02.49, 1255th Heather McLaughlin 1.02.51, 1270th Elaine Montgomery 1.03.27, 1299th Lorraine Abernethy 1.03.59, 1705th Stacey Lyttle 1.27.00

HM - 57th Hugh Boyle 1.28.30 (1st M65), 104th Gary Moore 1.31.55, 177th David McGaffin 1.36.07, 181st Martin Smith 1.36.14 PB, 377th Paul Quinn 1.44.17 PB, 393rd Ross Armstrong 1.45.00 (Pacer), 450th Pauline Mullan 1.46.54, 467th Mervyn Thompson 1.47.34, 722nd Pam Howe 1.56.03, 738th Louise Hanna 1.55.26 PB, 750th Andrew Wilson 1.56.38, 907th Carolyn Crawford 2.00.54, 939th Andrew Kincaid 2.03.49, 1130th Helena Dornan 2.14.09 (Pacer), 1166th Kathy Donaghey 2.17.42, 1263rd Aidan Mooney 2.46.15

South Armagh Twin Peaks Challenge

Following last year’s successful event the 2018 Twin Peaks Challenge took place on Saturday 23rd June from Carrickcruppen GAC. Starting and finishing at the clubhouse the marathon course took competitors on a gruelling multi terrain course across Slievegullion and Camlough mountains with all proceeds from the event going to Special Olympics Ireland and Run for Autism H.A.N.D.

Springwell RC’s Alistair Shaw took on the challenge of the Armagh Mountains and, even after racing the previous evening in the Mourne Mountains produced an excellent time of 4.35.59 to finish 5th in the event.

Springwell RC’s Ali Shaw at the Twin Peaks Challenge (Photo – Robbie Marsh)

Hill and Dale Series 2018

The Hills and Dale Series, organised by Newcastle AC, consists of ten races of varying distances, in the Mourne Mountains. The races are up to five miles long, incorporating 2,000 feet of ascent and are amongst the most challenging events on the calendar.

Springwell RC’s Alex Brennan on Slieve Binnian (Photo – Robbie Marsh)

The scoring system is relatively simple. Competitors have to finish at least six of the races to complete the series with their six best places being used to decide their final position.

Springwell RC’s Barry Mullan and Alex Brennan

Completing nine of the ten races Springwell RC’s Alex Brennan put in a brilliant series of runs, in all weathers to win his age category in seven of the races and place second in the other two. This put him in an unbeatable position with six wins being used to calculate his final place as the winner of the M45 age category. In the overall competition Alex’s performances saw him finish in tenth place out of the 202 runners to complete the series.

Winner of the M45 Hill & Dale Series – Alex Brennan

Also completing nine of the ten races Barry Mullan finished 26th overall in his first year in the Hill and Dale Series. With two seconds, three thirds and a fourth place finish in his age category Barry finished in third place in the M40’s

BMC Grand Prix

Taking part in the BMC Grand Prix Athletics meeting at Loughborough on 23rd June Springwell RC’s Neil Johnston ran a personal best of 14.22 in the 5,000m to set a new club record for the distance.