Springwell Running Club - Press Release – 3rd March 2019

WCM 10 Mile Road Race

The mild, calm weather of February changed to windswept with persistent rain on Saturday 2nd March as over 1000 runners converged on the Foyle Arena in Londonderry for this year’s WCM 10 Mile Road Race.

Starting in Ebrington Square the runners made their way along the Limavady Road, under the Foyle Bridge and into the Gransha Estate, before going along the dual carriageway and crossing the Foyle Bridge to run along the Bay and Strand Roads before crossing the Peace Bridge to finish in St Columbs Park.

In a closely contested race it was David Flynn (Clonliffe Harriers) who eventually claimed victory, crossing the line in a time of 52.15. Gary Slevin (unattached) finished second in 53.43 with Craig Simpson (Foyle Valley AC) completing the podium in 54.18.

Ciara Toner on her way to winning the WCM 10 Mile Road Race

(photo courtesy of Richard McLaughlin)

In the ladies race it was the in-form Ciara Toner (Springwell RC) who added the WCM 10 Mile title to her already impressive CV.  Dominating the race from the start Ciara won the race in a new Springwell RC record time of 1.01.00, over two minutes ahead of Catherine Whoriskey (City of Derry Spartans) who crossed the line in 1.03.07.  Gemma McDonald (Ballycastle Runners) claimed third place in 1.03.57.

Springwell RC also enjoyed success in the age categories where Karen McLaughlin finished 159th in a time of 1.12.43 to win the F45 age group and David Jackson finished 41st in 1.03.04 to finish 3rd in the M50.

Karen McLaughlin – winner of the F45 age group at the WCM 10 Mile Road Race

(Photo Courtesy of Richard McLaughlin)

Springwell RC Results - 25th Jason Scott 59.51 PB, 29th Ciara Toner 1.01.00 (1st Lady) New Club Record, 38th James Stewart 1.02.48 PB, 39th Christopher McNickle 1.02.52, 41st David Jackson 1.03.04 (3rd M50), 42nd Stephen Fillis 1.03.32, 67th Colin Loughery 1.05.57,  70th Jeff Young 1.06.12, 72nd Alan Nevin 1.05.36 PB, 89th Fergus Irwin 1.07.47, 119th Ryan Kennedy 1.09.40, 120th James McMullan 1.09.48, 126th Warren McIlmoyle 1.10.02, 140th Gary Moore 1.11.45, 142nd John Butcher 1.11.26 PB, 145th Darren Walsh 1.11.00, 147th Michael Johnson 1.12.31 PB, 148th Paul Campbell 1.12.27, 159th Karen McLaughlin 1.12.43 (1st F45), 194th Ryan Gray 1.14.08, 201st Timothy Bacon 1.14.59, 218th Martin Smith 1.15.36, 266th Kieran Cooke 1.18.57, 320th Catherine Pinkerton 1.19.58, 322nd Lynne Young 1.21.12, 324th Will Colvin 1.21.05, 344th Mervyn Thompson 1.21.13, 366th Ruari Bradley 1.21.37, 371st Michael Mulvenna 1.21.43, 372nd Pauline Mullan 1.22.59, 378th Cathal McFeely 1.23.59, 379th Peter Butcher 1.23.27, 380th Kenny Coulter 1.23.27, 454th Catherine Butcher 1.25.32, 468th Majella McAteer 1.24.48 PB, 480th Lorraine Mullan 1.26.51, 494th Elizabeth Deighan 1.27.24, 500th Pamela Mooney 1.26.03, 512th Paul Dornan 1.27.04, 549th Stephen Cassidy 1.28.48, 595th April Mark 1.31.07, 624th Alison Kelly 1.31.26, 665th Colin Connolly 1.35.34, 746th Andrew Wilmot 1.37.34, 750th Ingrid Hamilton 1.37.03, 785th Andrew Kincaid 1.39.10, 839th Heather McLaughlin 1.41.24, 866th Alison Duncan 1.42.31, 892nd Karen Robinson 1.44.41, 893rd Jonathan Lynch 1.44.42.

Slieve Gullion Mountain Race

The Slieve Gullion Mountain Race on Saturday 2nd March is the first race after the winter break, but Mother Nature was in no mood to facilitate with some pleasant spring weather, instead she greeted the sixty brave souls who gathered on the north side of Gullion with cold temperatures, strong, blustery gales and driving rain.  Taking on the challenge of the cold, wind, rain and mud in his first mountain race was Springwell RC’s Ryan Galway who finished 20th in a time of 42.13

Ryan Galway take on the wintry conditions on Slieve Gullion

Springwell RC’s Primary School Athletes of the Year

Eobha McAllister and Ethan Buchanan win the Primary School Athletes of the year for 2018.

Ethan finished in the top 10 in both Flavahans Cross Country Events and is running impressive 5k Parkrun times.  Eobha won the Flavahans Cross Country for the second year in a row and was 9th at the Ulster final.  She won a bronze medal over 600m at the Ulster track championships and is just seconds off the 2k Parkrun record for her age group in Portrush.

Eobha McAllister and Ethan Buchanan receive their awards from Alistair Bratten