Springwell Running Club - Press Release 29th December 2017
There’s always an opportunity to work of the excesses of Christmas Day between Boxing Day and the New Year and 2017 has been no exception with the British Association of Rockclimbers and Fellrunners (BARF) Turkey Trot Mountain Race on Boxing Day and the Northern Velocity Muff Glen Trail Race on the 27th December.
BARF Turkey Trot Mountain Race
BARF held their traditional and ever popular ‘Turkey Trot’ Mountain Race on Boxing Day, attracting participants from across the United Kingdom, with several athletes taking advantage of being at home over the holidays to take part.
With the change of the start location to Tollymore Mountain Centre to accommodate increasing numbers of participants the new course was 2 miles longer than in previous years. Starting and finishing at Parnell’s Bridge in Tollymore Forest Park, the 7.4 mile course took runners through the Mourne Mountains between Slieve Bearnagh, Slieve Meelmore and Slieve Meelbeg with a fast, but tricky, descent at Happy Valley. In total the participants would climb and descend over 400 metres throughout the race.
Local man Seamus Lynch (Newcastle AC) once again showed his strength in the mountains, with an excellent win in a time of 55.03. The Northern Ireland international beat Paul Pruzina (Cambridge University Hare & Hounds) by fourteen seconds with Paul crossing the line in 55.17, before Jack Millar (Ambleside AC) and David Hicks (Newcastle AC) battled to the finish line for the remaining podium place. A mere one second split the pair, with Jack edging it in 58.42 and David 4th place in 58.43.
In the ladies race, Bethany Haugh (Mourne Runners) claimed a well-deserved win in 1.11.23. Moire O’Sullivan (Unattached) finished as runner up in 1.16.41, with Mari Troeng (Newcastle AC) completing the podium in 1.19.23.
Springwell RC had two representatives out on Boxing Day with Alex Brennan 7th (2nd M40) 1.05.23 and Barry Mullan, in his first mountain race, 16th (4th M40) 1.09.09.
Springwell RC’s Alex Brennan and Barry Mullan at the BARF ‘Turkey Trot’ Mountain Race
Northern Velocity Muff Glen Trail Race
Tuesday 27th December saw over 100 runners make their way to Muff Glen, outside Eglinton Village for the Northern Velocity Muff Glen Trail Race. While still only in its second year this event has quickly established itself in the calendar as a popular post-Christmas outing. The 4.2 mile course consisted of two laps of the scenic, but challenging paths around the Glen. With perfect running condition of cool, calm, dry weather Luke Dinsmore (Springwell RC) continued his excellent form, winning in a time of 23.44. Ciaran Ferris (Springwell RC) was second in 24.38 with Matthew McLaughlin (Foyle Valley AC) completing the podium in 24.45.
In the ladies race Ciara Toner (Springwell RC) brought her year to a fitting end with another win, retaining her title from last year, in a time of 27.52. Hannah Shields (City of Derry Spartans) was second in 28.56 and Emma Smith (Orangegrove AC) third with a time of 29.56.
Springwell RC’s Luke Dinsmore – winner of the Northern Velocity Trail Race
Springwell RC Results - 1st Luke Dinsmore 23.44, 2nd Ciaran Ferris 24.38, 9th Ciara Toner 27.52 (1st lady), 15th Aaron Craig 29.15, 16th David Shiels 29.18, 18th David Jackson 29.25, 20th Thomas Moore 29.38, 29th David McGaffin 31.25, 30th Veronica Nellins 31.31, 38th Peter Jack 32.36, 44th Will Colvin 33.52, 53rd Charlotte Conerey 33.56, 67th Alastair Craig 37.20, 74th Andrew Kincaid 38.17, 76th Paul Dornan 38.24, 104th Darren Madden 49.34.
Springwell RC’s Ciara Toner winner of the Northern Velocity Trail Race.