Springwell Running Club - Press Release – 29th April 2018

It’s been a busy week for Springwell Running Club with members taking part in events in Ballymoney, the Kingdom of Mourne and a few trips further afield for Marathons in Newport, Wales and Dusseldorf in Germany.

GES Purple Ladies 5k

Wednesday 25th April saw the first of this years races hosted by Springwell RC, with the 6th annual Purple Ladies 5k, sponsored by the Grant’s Electrical Services Group. Starting and finishing at the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre in Ballymoney, this year’s race attracted almost 300 competitors for the ladies only race.

The showers of the afternoon cleared and the race started, albeit in a cool breeze, in bright evening sunshine. The race positions were quickly established, with the in-form Ciara Toner (Springwell RC), establishing a lead that she was to maintain, and increase despite the best efforts of the very talented Gemma McDonald (Ballycastle Runners AC). Ciara crossed the line to win in a time of 18.05 with Gemma second in 18.55. Talented multi-sport athlete Sonia Knox (Riada Triathlon Club) completed the podium with 19.12 for third place while Deborah Gilliland placed fourth in 19.26 and Veronica Nellins (unattached) fifth with a time of 19.51.

Race Director Kenneth Bacon would like to thank everyone who assisted in making the event the success that it was.

Ciara Toner leads the GES Purple Ladies 5k from Gemma McDonald, Sonia Knox and Deborah Gilliland.

Race Director Kenny Bacon presents the GES Purple Ladies 5k trophy to Ciara Toner.

Springwell RC Results - 1st Ciara Toner 18.05, 4th Deborah Gilliland 19.27, 7th Karen McLaughlin 20.00, 9th Caroline Irwin 20.43 PB, 10th Kerrie McIlmoyle 20.56, 13th Meabh Close 21.15, 21st Pamela Howe 22:44 PB, 23rd Claire Ramsey 22.50, 25th Mandy Stewart 22.49, 32nd Lisa Jayne Young 23.30, 33rd Gillian Jones 23.41, 35th Julie Millican 23.50, 39th Alanna Millar 24.11, 41st Louise McDonnell 24.14, 43rd Bridgeen Canning 24.27, 45th Sophie Moore 24.31, 47th Mary Brogan 24.40, 48th Phyllis McGraw 24.41, 56th Paula, McNicholl 25.01, 60th Majella McAteer 25.09, 63rd Margaret Kearney 25.22, 69th Jenny Mullan 25.31, 70th Laura Wilson 25.40, 71st Donna Costello 25.36 PB, 72nd Ally Kelly 25.40, 78th Roisin McCurry 25.43, 82nd Carolyn Crawford 25.52, 83rd Liz Dowey 25.53, 84th Grainne Moore 25.53, 87th Betty Anne O'Kane 26.01, 88th Janet Patrick 26.05, 89th Kate McNicholl 26.05, 91st Nicola Stewart 26.13, 95th Martina Wade 26.27, 98th Fiona Walker 26.39 PB, 102nd Janet McNicholl 26.49, 106th Lauren Crawford 27.10, 107th Eimear Quinn 27.16 PB, 113th Rosemary Mellon 27.18, 117th Stephanie Lynch 27.17 PB, 121st Heather McLaughlin 27.21, 132nd Judith McLaughlin 27.50, 135th Caitriona Mackle 28.04, 143rd Jenny Chartres 28.13, 148th Kathy Donaghey 28.31, 151st Sylvia Pollock 28.36, 152nd Elaine Montgomery 28.42, 154th Karen Smith 28.42, 156th Alison Duncan 28.38, 160th Roisin Walker 28.48, 165th Barbara Ferguson 29.03, 168th Denise Mullan 29.06, 173rd Mariette Mulvenna 29.17, 177th Emer Thompson 29.22, 182nd Roberta French 29.32, 207th Pauline Duke 31.07, 209th Karen Armstrong 31.32, 211th Louise Scullion 31.35, 217th Janice Hunter 31.54, 220th Paula Chartres 32.00, 221st Monica McClenaghan 32.01, 223rd Marlyn Munnis 32.01 PB, 225th Rhona Laverty 32.11, 234th Siobhan McIntyre 32.42, 241st Caroline Owens 33.25, 242nd Jennifer Patterson 33.30, 247th Caoimhe Armstrong 33.33, 249th Nicola White 33.46, 256th Lauren Andrews 34.21, 272nd Sandra Williamson 35.20, 273rd Deborah Purdy 35.30

Newcastle AC Hill and Dale Series – Race 3

The third race in the 2018 Hill and Dale series took place in Rostrevor on Thursday 26 April. The changeable weather in the days before the race kept the runners guessing as to what conditions they would be facing in the Mourne Mountains. Thankfully Kilbroney missed the predicted showers, the wind had dropped and the sun was out just in time to provide ideal conditions for the race, as well as the opportunity for some spectacular views.

Springwell RC’s mountain running specialists gave a good account of themselves with Alex Brennan finishing second in the M45 category and Oisin Brennan third in the MJ.

Springwell RC Results - 11th Alex Brennan 36.56 (2nd M45), 20th Oisin Brennan 39.31 (3rd MJ), 23rd Barry Mullan 39.37, 64th Colin Brennan 45.14, 113th Alistair Shaw 49.12

Springwell RC’s Alex Brennan at the Newcastle AC Hill & Dale Series (Photo Robbie Marsh)

Springwell RC’s Barry Mullan at the Newcastle AC Hill & Dale Series.

Newport Marathon

The Newport Marathon took place on 29th April with almost 3400 runners taking on the challenge. Running a marathon for the second consecutive Sunday was Springwell RC’s Andrew Kincaid who completed his second marathon in a four marathon challenge. In cooler conditions than last Sunday’s London Marathon Andrew produced a quicker time of 4.54.11 and is now recovering before his next marathon in Belfast on the 7th May.

Andrew is completing four marathons to raise much needed funds for multiple sclerosis and will, hopefully, finish his challenge at the Edinburgh Marathon on the 27th May.

Dusseldorf Marathon

Running through the city of Dusseldorf and along the banks of the River Rhine the 2018 Dusseldorf Marathon attracted over 3000 competitors to the city on 29th April for this popular event.

Springwell RC was represented at this event by Alistair Shaw who finished 617th in a time of 3.28.28. Alistair will be one of the official pacers at this year’s Belfast Marathon on the 7th May.