Springwell Running Club - Press Release – 25th November 2018

Malcolm Cup XC

The cool, calm autumn weather on Saturday 24th November provided perfect running conditions for this year’s Malcolm Cup Cross Country races, hosted by Annadale Striders in the Sixmilewater Park, Ballyclare. After a very dry summer and autumn the course was in excellent condition with the ground remaining firm even after six races.

Springwell RC was represented in both the youngest and oldest age categories at the event with Adria McAllister in the U11 Girls and Jim Platt in the Veterans M70. In the U11 girls Adria ran 3.56 to finish 3rd in the half mile race while, in the U13 Girls one mile event, older sister, Eobha ran 6.03 to also finish 3rd.

Eobha and Adria McAllister at the Malcolm Cup XC

The Open Ladies, Veteran Ladies and Veteran Mens 3 mile race started at 1.15pm with over 260 runners starting the 3 laps of the park. Gerry O’Doherty had another good performance to finish 44th (2nd M60) in 19.21. Three of Springwell’s ladies took part with America Aznar 63rd 20.18, Claire Ramsey 154th 23.43 and Pauline Mullan 174th 24.24. Jim Platt produced a time of 25.44 to finish 229th (3rd M70).

Simon Stewart, America Aznar, Colin Connolly, Pauline Mullan and Claire Ramsey at the Malcolm Cup

The final event of the day at 3.00pm was the Open Mens, Malcolm Cup 4 mile race with almost 200 runners taking part. From the start Neil McCartan and Conall Kirk (Annadale Striders) and Jonny Whan (City of Lisburn AC) broke away from the field to set the pace. It was a stride for stride contest between the three until the final lap when Neil moved clear to win in 20.32. Conall was 2nd in 20.40 with Jonny just 4 seconds behind, finishing 3rd in 20.44.

The Malcolm Cup was also the third fixture in this season’s Athletics NI Cross Country League and Springwell RC had their largest turnout so far this year with ten members taking part. It was Simon Stewart who led the club home finishing in 13th in 21.53 with the rest finishing as follows; Paul Thompson 24th 22.55, Dale Corbett 47th 23.45 Barry Mullan 57th 24.14, Alister Jamison 74th 24.44, Maurice Walker 93rd 25.44, David McGaffin 108th 26.18, Alistair Bratten 157th 29.17, Paul Dornan 188th 34.49, Colin Connolly 193rd 36.03.

Springwell RC at the Malcolm Cup in Ballyclare.

Irish National Cross Country Championships 2018

Ireland’s best cross country runners descended on the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus in Abbottstown to compete for national glory, and potential European selection at the Irish Life Health National Senior and Juvenile Even Age Championships on Sunday 25th November. Springwell RC had 5 members competing at this prestigious event in three of the age categories. In the U16 Boys Ryan Smith finished 47th while in the Junior Women’s race Niamh Carr produced another excellent performance to finish 5th in a time of 14.26.

The fiercely contested Senior Mens race saw Neil Johnston 56th 33.28, John Gordon 90th 34.39 and Luke Dinsmore 111th 36.00.