Springwell Running Club - Press Release 16th March 2025
It was a busy weekend for Springwell’s runners with the mountain running season now well and truly underway, the cross country season drawing to a close, and a number of road races taking place over the bank holiday weekend. There were standout performances from Fiona Prue in the British Masters Cross Country Championships in Scotland, and from James Weir in the Washingbay Half Marathon along the Loughshore.
Washingbay Half Marathon
James Weir made his way to shores of Lough Neagh for the annual Washingbay Green Run on Saturday, on what was a perfect morning for racing. The Green Run offers 5k, 10k and half marathon race options all starting and finishing in the Washingbay Centre carpark.
The Half Marathon route is a challenging, undulating course with almost 400 feet of climbing, and one that James completed in 1:22:57. This was just over a minute quicker than James’ time at the same race last year, which was his personal best for the half marathon up until today.
James sat in 4th place for most of the race, however reeled the runner in front of him in over the last mile before passing him with 200 metres to go to claim 3rd place and a first ever podium finish for James.
An ideal marker for James as he prepares for Manchester Marathon in 6 weeks’ time.
Washingbay Green Run Half Marathon
James Weir on the podium after a 3rd place finsh
Slieve Gullion Mountain Race
The sun was beaming down on the runners on Saturday morning at The Slieve Gullion race organised by Armagh Athletic Club.
This being the 52nd edition of the Gullion race, it was also the second race in the 2025 NIMRA Championship and the first race in this year's Irish Mountain Running Association Ulster Championship.
The race is a sharp 2 miles uphill straight out of the blocks to the summit of Slieve Gullion with 1,200ft of elevation gain, doing a quick 180 and then a fast and furious 2-mile decent back to the start.
Five club members were in attendance with Shirhaan Hameed first back for the club in 52nd place in 0:39:10. Despite a bad roll of the ankle on the decent, Adele Tomb finished 69th in 0:42:27 and bagged 2nd F50. Carolyn Crawford was not only 3rd back for the club, but she was also 3rd F40 finishing 82nd in 0:46:17. Next was Kate O'Loan, who finished 90th in 0:49:47, and Annita McNicholl finished 102nd in 0:52:02.
The ladies trio of Adele, Carolyn and Kate also claimed the winning ladies team prize for the top performing 3 finishes.
British Master Cross Country Championships
Fiona Prue travelled to Glasgow for the weekend to take part in the British Masters Cross Country Championships. The races were hosted by Scottish Veteran Harriers Club at Tollcross Park on Saturday morning.
The 6km race was 3 laps over an undulating course, and the conditions were perfect – uncharacteristic for this time of the year in Scotland! Fiona continued her fine form in cross country, with a 17th place finish overall in a time of 0:23:57, and fantastic second place in the F55 age category.
British Masters Cross Country Championship
Fiona Prue after picking up a second place in the F55 category
Paula’s 5k
City of Derry Spartans hosted Paula’s 5k on Saturday morning, with race proceeds going to Foyle Hospice. The race started in Gransha and was a flat out and back along the greenway for competitors. In ideal racing conditions, 2 Springwell Runners competed in the race, with David Shiels the first home in 0:19:49 – a time consistent with his recent 5k times in the Run Forst Run series, and next home was Pauline Mullan in 0:25:34 – a time almost identical to her parkrun time in Limavady just an hour earlier.
Jimmy’s 10k
The 25th running of ‘Jimmy’s 10k’ took place on Sunday morning. The race, hosted by East Down AC, seen almost 700 runners take to the streets of Downpatrick. Among the runners was our very own Ali Shaw, who came 498th with a time of 0:57:35!
Buncrana Duathlon
North West Triathlon Club hosted the Buncrana Duathlon at the weekend. The Duathlon consisted of a 2 mile run, 10 mile bike, then finishing with another 2 mile run. Springwell had 2 members competing in the race, with Darren Walsh finishing 17th overall in a total time of 0:54:44, and Fran McFadden finishing 70th overall with a total time of 1:09:42. Darren’s run times were 0:11:43 and 0:12:51, while Fran completed the 2 miles runs in 0:14:26 and 0:14:32.
Parkrun
It was a lovely, bright, cool Saturday morning for Springwell parkrunners this week. An excellent turnout again had 57 club members out and about at 12 parkruns including 23 at Portrush, 9 in Garvagh and 9 in Limavady where Stacey Lyttle hit the 250 volunteering milestone.
There were a number of PBs to note this weekend. Well done to Dara Watterson at Ecos, Alanna Millar at Portrush, Brian Moore in Limavady, Mervyn Adams, Fiona Walker and Leighann Barker in Garvagh, and Rodney & Deborah McPhee at Limepark!
Portrush parkrun
David O'NEILL 00:18:34; Maurice WALKER 00:19:21; Rhys WALKER 00:20:48; Stephen BEGGS 00:21:15; Paul LAVERTY 00:23:18; Alanna MILLAR 00:24:27 PB; Mervyn THOMPSON 00:24:35; Michael ALCORN 00:25:16; Andrew WILMOT 00:25:38; George BRIEN 00:25:54; Patrick MAGEE 00:26:31; Patricia CRAIG 00:26:43; Barry MCBRIDE 00:27:19; Jonathan HUDDLESTON 00:28:10; Colin CONNOLLY 00:29:36; Gemma WRAY 00:31:49; Rhona LAVERTY 00:34:07; Caitriona MACKLE 00:39:32; Fergal MACKLE 00:41:32; Elaine MONTGOMERY 00:44:04; Emer THOMPSON 00:50:00; Alan PLATT 00:53:59; Roisin WALKER 00:54:00
Garvagh Forest parkrun
Reggie COLVILLE 00:21:22; Cathy ADAMS 00:22:31; Mervyn ADAMS 00:22:58 PB; Fiona WALKER 00:25:10 PB; Michael MCKEOWN 00:25:32; Majella MCATEER 00:27:14; Leighann BARKER 00:28:40 PB; Bernie HANNIGAN 00:32:06; Sonya COLVILLE 00:40:06
Limavady parkrun
Ryan KENNEDY 00:19:19; Brian MOORE 00:19:26 PB; John BUTCHER 00:22:09; Adrian FINLAY 00:23:14; Fergus THOMPSON 00:23:16; Pauline MULLAN 00:25:32; Janet PATRICK 00:26:12; Linda MC MICHAEL 00:32:14; Ingrid HAMILTON 00:32:15
Ecos parkrun, Ballymena
Dara WATTERSON 00:22:09 PB; Shaun CARTON 00:23:30; Donna YOUNG 00:34:13; Liz MCLAUGHLIN 00:38:07; Kenneth BACON 00:43:26
Limepark Playing Fields parkrun
Rodney MC PHEE 00:18:42 PB; Deborah MC PHEE 00:23:18 PB
Castlewellan parkrun
Gary KENDALL 00:22:46; Kay HACK 00:33:13
The Fisherman‘s Walk parkrun
Brian HARPER 00:31:21; Heather HARPER 00:33:54
Clonmel parkrun
Catherine BYERS 00:31:45
Holy Cross College parkrun
Chris DENTON 00:19:18
Crawfordsburn Country parkrun
Ali SHAW 00:25:25
Dunleath Playing Fields parkrun
Lorraine ABERNETHY 00:30:40
Morden parkrun
Iris WILSON 00:37:42