Springwell Running Club - Press Release – June 9th 2019
It’s been yet another successful week of competition for Springwell Running Club on the track, road and trail with a host of wins, podium places, club records and personal bests.
NI & Ulster Senior & U18 – U20 Age Group Championships
The NI & Ulster Senior & U18 – U20 Track and Field Age Group Championships took place on Saturday 8th June at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast with Springwell RC represented in four of the track events.
In the Senior Women’s 800m event Niamh Carr, following on from her victory in the Irish Senior 1500m Championship last weekend, produced a commanding performance to add the Ulster 800m title to her growing list of achievements. Niamh took the lead from the start with the rest of the field struggling to match her pace as she dominated the race to win in a time of 2.15.10. Robyn McKee (Dromore AC) was second in 2.15.60 and Zoe Carruthers (City of Lisburn AC) third in 2.16.24.
Robyn McKee, Niamh Carr and Zoe Carruthers
After a slow tactical start in the Senior Mens 5000m Commonwealth Athlete, Adam Kirk – Smith (Derry Track Club) took up the pace only to be matched by Neil Johnston (Springwell RC) who took the lead with 250m to go, using his superior finishing speed to secure first place in a time of 14.50.67. Conor Duffy (Glaslough Harriers) took second place in 14.53.80 with Adam finishing third in 14.56.94.
Conor Duffy, Neil Johnston and Adam Kirk - Smith
In the U19 Girls 800m Hermione Skuce continued her good run of form to secure second place with a time of 2.22.24. In the Senior Mens 1500m Luke Dinsmore ran a time of 4.05.47 to finish 5th.
Fairhill 5 Mile Road Race
Hosted by Ballymena Runners, the Fairhill 5 Mile Road Race took place on Wednesday 5th June in Ballymena and, once again the podium was dominated by North Belfast Harriers with Mark McKinstry and Gladys Ganiel retaining their titles from 2018.
In the mens race it was a clean sweep for North Belfast Harriers as they claimed the top three places with Mark McKinstry first in 24.46, Conor Curran second in 26.26 and Garth Lyons third in 26.36. In the ladies race Gladys Ganiel won with a time of 28.09 with Ciara Toner (Springwell RC) second in 28.14 and Rebekah Hunter (Dromore AC) third in 30.23.
Ciara Toner’s time of 28.14 was a new Springwell Running Club record for the distance and means that in the space of two years Ciara has broken and currently holds all of the ladies records for Springwell RC.
Ciara Toner at the Fairhill 5 Mile Road Race (Photo – Richard McLaughlin)
Springwell RC was well represented in the Age Category competitions with Jim Platt winning the M75’s and Andy Dowey, David Jackson, Maurice Walker, Hugh Boyle and Elizabeth Deighan all placing in their respective age categories.
Springwell RC Results - 15th Ciara Toner 28.14 (2nd Lady) New Club Record, 21st Dale Corbett 29.11, 22nd Aaron Moffatt 29.33 PB, 23rd Andy Dowey 29.37 (2nd M35), 27th Stephen Fillis 30.04, 30th Alister Jamison 30.20, 34th David Jackson 30.35 (2nd M50), 42nd Alan Nevin 30.44 PB, 44th Maurice Walker 31.05 (3rd M50), 55th Hugh Boyle 31.47 (3rd M60), 56th Chris Holmes 31.49, 75th Rodney McPhee 32.26 PB, 105th Terry Glenn 33.36, 153rd Fergus Thompson 35.35, 156th Simon McLean 35.32, 169th Alan McIlfatrick 36.19, 174th Mervyn Thompson 36.48, 184th Carolyn Crawford 37.33 PB, 188th Adele Tomb 37.38, 215th Majella McAteer 38.28, 219th David Campbell 38.39 PB, 224th Claire Ramsey 38.47, 233rd Andrew Wilson 39.24, 242nd Pamela Howe 39.45, 244th Elizabeth Deighan 40.08 (2nd F55), 249th Colin Connolly 40.02, 274th Liz Dowey 41.17, 280th Alan Platt 41.28, 282nd James Platt 41.39 (1st M75), 287th Mariette Mulvenna 41.47, 298th Deborah McPhee 42.27 PB, 316th Kate McNicholl 43.12, 321st Antoinette Conway 43.31, 322nd Ally Kelly 43.30, 360th Elaine Montgomery 45.25, 380th Lorraine Abernethy 46.54 PB, 393rd Emer Thompson 47.31, 394th Roberta McKenzie 47.39, 407th Laura Wilson 48.52, 435th Pauline Duke 52.20, 460th Caroline Owen 58.39
And The Rest
Saturday 8th June saw the off-road, distance enthusiasts travelling to Rostrevor for the 26Extreme Mourne Way Marathon. The first event of the day was the 52 mile Ultra Marathon which saw competitors run from Rostrevor to Newcastle via, Kilbroney Forest, Spelga and Fofanny dams, Tollymore Forest and Donard Quarry before turning and running back to Rostrevor. On a cold, overcast, showery day Springwell RC had three members complete this monster challenge with Dale Corbett 11th with a time of 10h 33m 10s and Richard Ross 12th in 10h 43m 11s. Despite a trip and headlong fall into the undergrowth, Alistair Shaw finished 15th in 11h 19m 31s.
In the Marathon, which started in Newcastle and finished in Rostrevor, Conor Duffy completed the course in 7.15.13 to finish 139th in his first ever attempt at the Marathon distance.
Race 8 of this year’s Hill & Dale Series, hosted by Newcastle Athletics Club took place on Thursday 6th June at Loughshannagh in the Mournes. The three Springwell RC at the event all produced great performances with Oisin Brennan 4th (2nd MJ) in 44.53, Alex Brennan 12th (1st M45) in 48.45 and Colin Brennan 40th (3rd M55) in 53.46.
The South Downs Way 100 mile race on Saturday 8th June saw Peter Cromie finish in 10th in a time of 17h 16m 23s.
Alistair Shaw at the Mourne Way Marathon