Springwell Running Club - Press Release – 16th February 2020

It’s been a busy week for Springwell RC, starting with a night of top class international road racing in Armagh and finishing with a stormy, rain lashed weekend of marathons and trail running at Jordanstown, Parkanaur, Castleward, Stranorlar and Stockport.

Armagh International Road Races

The Armagh International Road Races took place on Thursday 13th February in perfect running conditions between Storm Ciara and Dennis. This iconic event continues to grow in stature and is ranked as one of the best road race events in the world. The course is both flat and fast and this year an astonishing 139 competitors in the Men’s 5k recorded a sub 15 minute time, 52 ran sub 10 minutes in the Lady’s 3k and 21 ran sub 9 minutes in the Men’s 3k.

Representing Springwell RC in the Lady’s 3k were Aoife Carr 69th 10:29, Hermione Skuce 86th 11:05 and Niamh McGarry 96th 11:20. In the Men’s 5k Neil Johnston was 69th in 14.30 and Luke Dinsmore 157th in 15:09 while in the Men’s 3k Jonathan McKee was 15th in 8:51, Matthew Beveridge 31st in 9:12, Ryan Smith 32nd in 9:13 and Gerry O’Doherty 178th in 11:22.

The Springwell RC juniors were also out in force with Ethan Buchanan, Adria McAllister, Finlay McCandless, Eobha McAllister and Mairi Clements all in action. Adria was the best placed Springwell runner on the night with a brilliant 10th in the U12 1400m.

Gerry O'Doherty at the Armagh Road Races

East Antrim Marathon Series

The EAMs Marathon on Friday 14th February was the first of the weekends events to feel the effects of the impending Storm Dennis. Running laps on the foreshore of Belfast Lough between Jordanstown and Gideons Green competitors faced torrential, driving rain as they were buffeted by gale force wind. Despite the adverse conditions Springwell RC’s Chris Denton produced an exceptional time of 2.56 while David Campbell, in only his third marathon finished in 5.17.

Chris Denton at the EAMs Valentines Day Marathon

Sperrin Harriers Winter Trails Series

The final event of the 2019/2020 Sperrin Harriers Trail Series was the Parkanaur 10 Mile Trail Race which took place on Saturday 15th February. The overnight weather resulted in an early morning inspection of the trail by the host club who, after a consultation with the Park Rangers, were able to give the go ahead for the race. As if the wind and rain wasn’t bad enough, competitors also found themselves ankle deep in water as many of the forest paths were flooded.

Springwell RC Results - 5th Barry Mullan 1:03:51, 6th Alister Jamison 1:04:14, 9th Bryan Edgar 1:05:13,30th Michael Johnson 1:14:15, 31st Judith Buchanan 1:15:03, 38th Carolyn Crawford 1:16:49, 39th Adele Tomb 1:17:29,40th Roy Buchanan 1:17:49, 58th James Hughes 1:21:46, 75th Andrew Wilmot 1:27:02.

Atlas Running Last One Standing

Taking place on the picturesque Castleward Estate in County Down, the Atlas Running Last One Standing is a challenging enough event before you add in the full force of Storm Dennis. The premise is simple, at 12:00pm on Saturday 15th February the competitors started a 4.2 mile circuit of the Castleward estate which they had to finish in under an hour. At 1:00pm the next lap started, and this continues until, as the name suggest there is just the “Lat One Standing”. Taking on such an event for the first time Springwell RC’s Alan Nevin completed 13 laps (54.6) miles. In an epic battle with Cork’s Eoin Keith Springwell’s Peter Cromie was crowned the “Last One Standing” at 5:00am on Monday morning having completed 41 laps and 172.2 miles.

In Other News

Other Springwell RC members out and about this weekend braving the weather were Maurice Walker, who took part in the Stockport Trail Half Marathon, finishing 41st in a time of 1.34.11, and Rosanna Jack, Alan Platt and Pauline Mullan who took part in the Glenmore 10 Mile Road Race hosted by Finn Valley AC. Rosanna was 243rd with a time of 1.22.00, Pauline finished 249th in 1:23:22 and Alan was 405th in 1:34:00. The Last One Standing also had a 8,4 mile trail race where Conor Duffy finished 43rd in 1.25.47.

Maurice Walker & Martin Lundy at the Stockport Trail Half Marathon