Springwell Running Club - Press Release – May 26th 2019

With the road racing season now in full swing it’s been a very busy, and successful week for Springwell RC with members racing in Maghera, Buncrana, the Mournes, Holywood, Newry, Ballycastle and Edinburgh.

Fureys Insurance 5k

The Fureys Insurance 5k in Buncrana always produces top quality racing and this year’s event on the 22nd May was no exception with 129 runners recording a time of less than 20 minutes. In perfect running conditions on a very fast course Declan Reed (City of Derry Spartans) won with a time of 14.30, Mark McKinstry (North Belfast Harriers) finished second in 14.41 and Kyle Doherty (City of Derry Spartans) completed the podium in a time of 14.56.

Ciara Toner (Springwell RC) produced yet another fantastic performance, dominating the ladies race from start to finish winning in a time of 16.46, breaking her own club record for the distance. Claire McGuigan (Lifford Strabane AC) finished second in 17.00 and Kerry Bamber (Ballymena Runners) took third place in a time of 17.17.

Springwell RC junior, Roan Wilson, at only 14 years of age produced an excellent performance of 18.04 to finish 67th overall and 3rd in the Male Junior age category.

Roan Wilson and Colin Loughery at the Fureys Insurance 5k in Buncrana

Springwell RC results - 31st Ciara Toner 16.46 (1st Lady) New Club Record, 50th Barry Mullan 17.20 PB, 67th Roan Wilson 18.04 (3rd MJ), 69th Maurice Walker 18.12 PB, 71st Colin Loughery 18.16, 73rd David Jackson 18.19

Marconi Run

Hosted by Ballycastle Runners the second annual Marconi Run took place on Sunday 26th May as part of the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival. Due to the restrictions placed on the organisers the race was limited to 170 competitors with the event selling out weeks in advance. Starting on the seafront the course took the runners out of the town and along the Cushendall Road and onto the Carrickmore Road to Marconi’s cottage where they turned to race back into the town.

The overcast morning was interspersed with squally showers but thankfully the race avoided the worst of them with only a couple of short, light showers dampening the runners. With the wind on their backs the outward run was the fastest and it was Robin Claxton (unattached) who quickly established a lead that he was to maintain to win in 27.21. The remaining podium places were closely contested between Barry McAuley (Glenough RC), Barry Mullan (Springwell RC) and Colin Loughery (Springwell RC).

On the return leg Barry Mullan moved into second place, crossing the line in 28.35. Over the final mile Colin and Barry McAuley swapped places a number of times as they battled for third before Barry managed to establish himself in that position and finished in 29.07 with Colin fourth in 29.18.

In the ladies race Caroline Irwin (Springwell RC) ran a 32.36 to win from Niamh Marrs (unattached) who was second in 32.58. Kelly Maybin (unattached) completed the podium in a time of 33.38.

Caroline Irwin – winner of the ladies race at the Marconi Run

Springwell RC Results - 2nd Barry Mullan 28.35, 4th Colin Loughrey 29.18 (1st M50), 8th David McGaffin 31.37 (2nd M50), 13th Caroline Irwin 32.36 (1st Lady), 25th Alan Platt 36.12, 27th Adele Tomb 36.23 (1st F45), 38th David Campbell 37.02, 52nd Jenny Chartres 39.11, 57th Mary Brogan 39.57 (1st F50), 61st Roisin McCurry 40.40, 68th Andrew Wilmot 41.15, 77th Louise McDonnell 42.20, 79th Roisin Walker 43.09, 80th Aisling Hynes 43.16, 82nd Maria Quinn, 92nd Paula Chartres 46.05 (1st F55), 132nd Julie Corbett 52.35

And The Rest

In the Mournes on Thursday 23rd May Alex Brennan ran 43.12 at Race 6 of the Newcastle AC Hill and Dale Series to win the M45 age category and finish 17th overall.

The Maghera 10k on Tuesday 21st May saw a large contingent from Springwell RC take part with a number of personal bests being achieved. Springwell RC Results 16th Alan Nevin 38.35 PB, 21st Warren McIlmoyle 39.43, 22nd Hugh Boyle 40.01, 58th Alison Rankin 43.40, 66th Meabh Close 44.16, 86th Terry Glenn 45.31, 89th Paul Quinn 45.43, 93rd Simon McLean 46.05, 106th Mervyn Thompson 47.30, 111th Paul Humphreys 47.45, 112th Alan McIlfatrick 47.55, 115th Pauline Mullan 48.02, 132nd David Campbell 49.19 PB, 134th Majella McAteer 49.27 PB, 146th Pamela Howe 50.40, 152nd Claire Ramsey 51.02, 161st Richard Pollock 51.36, 164th Alanna Millar 51.55, 175th Jim Platt 52.47, 183rd Colin Connolly 53.16, 187th Sylvia Pollock 53.33, 188th Liz Dowey 53.33, 202nd Nicola Stewart 54.32, 217th Andrew Wilmot 55.53, 224th Andrew Wilson 57.10, 247th Emer Thompson 1.02.04

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival on the 25th & 26th May saw at least one Springwell RC member in each of the four events. The 5 & 10k on Saturday saw Andrew Kincaid finish 401st in the 5k with a time of 30.02 while in the 10k Stacey Montgomery finished 3247th in 1.25.50.

Catherine Byers, Elaine Montgomery, Deborah Archibald, Lorraine Montgomery, Amanda Scott and Bernie Drain

In the Half Marathon on Sunday Springwell RC had six ladies taking part. A short stop with Greyfriar’s Bobby, for luck, on the way to the start produced the following results. 7403rd Lorraine Abernethy 2.16.45 PB, 7967th Catherine Byers 2.20.28, 8252nd Deborah Archibald 2.22.19, 8408th Amanda Scott 2.23.26, 9258th Elaine Montgomery 2.31.23, 9698th Bernie Drain 2.36.44. In the final event of the festival Helena Dornan ran 4.18.09 to finish 3542nd in the marathon.

Also on Sunday the Newry City Half Marathon took place with five Springwell RC members taking part. Alister Jamison was first home for the club in 27th place with 1.25.47. Maurice Walker ran 1.29.14 for 54th and Martin Smith 1.47.47 for 245th. Mervyn Thompson was 266th with a 1.49.26 and Emer Thompson ran a personal best of 2.18.12 to finish 575th.

Springwell RC had just one member at the Hoka One One Runher Coastal Challenge 10k in Holywood on Friday 24th May. Claire Ramsey ran 47.44 to finish 25th.