Springwell Running Club - Press Release – 15th March 2020

The growing threat posed by the Covid – 19 pandemic has reached the point where all sporting bodies have had to consider their role and responsibilities in preventing the spread of the disease. This week, directions from the Irish government saw all - Ireland sporting bodies such as the GAA, the IRFU and Hockey Ireland cancel all their events and advise that training, even in a school context should be suspended. Athletics Ireland issued similar directions, but Athletics NI followed the directions from the Northern Ireland Assembly with organisers being told that there was no need or medical justification for their events to be canceled or postponed.

While the “Keep Calm and Carry On” approach may have its place in some circumstances, the rapidly developing circumstances at the end of the week saw a string of international, national and local events either being cancelled or postponed. The London Marathon has now been postponed until the 4th October and locally the Antrim Coast Half Marathon, The Ballymena Belles 5 Mile Road Race and the Termoneeny 5 & 10k have been postponed and the Bay Road 5k and Springwell RC’s Purple Ladies 5k cancelled. A statement is expected this week from the Belfast City Marathon on whether or not this year’s race will take place on the 3rd May.

Clubs and individuals have already invested a considerable amount of time and money in these events and while there is a lot of disappointment in the disruption, we are all realists and know that public health and safety must come first in this crisis. Public services will be under increased pressure and anything that can be done to ease that, must be done.

Springwell RC, like many other clubs, have reviewed our activities and have made the decision to suspend all the club’s training activities until at least the end of March when we will review the situation.

In the interim, we ask that people exercise common sense and stay safe and healthy.