Springwell Running Club - Press Release – 10th March 2019

The 1st March may well be the start of meteorological spring but this week’s races were still dominated by wind, rain and cold temperatures. That said it wasn’t enough to stop Springwell’s members from appearing at races in Portstewart, Glenariff and Antrim.

26 Extreme Firmus Energy Northern Lights 10k

Sponsored by Firmus Energy, the Northern Lights 10k in Portstewart, the latest addition to the Night Edition 10k series of races hosted by events management company 26 Extreme took place on Friday 8th March.

The evening’s events started with a free children’s race, from the Crescent, along the promenade and back. Springwell RC’s Fun 2 Run group were out in force with over 30 children from the club taking part. Thankfully the rain stayed away for this part of the evening, although there was still the risk of spray as the surf hit the rocks below the promenade. After the excitement of the build up to the start it was a very enthusiastic group of youngsters who raced down the promenade at 6.30pm with Springwell RC filling the first six places. Eobha McAllister crossed the line first, closely followed by Ethan Buchanan in second and Adria McAllister in third. Sophie McCormack was fourth, Rebekah McGrath fifth and Brid O’Kane sixth.

The main event started at 7.30pm, by which time darkness had fallen, the wind had increased and the rain had started. With head torches an absolute necessity there was a stream of lights as almost 150 runners completed a lap of the promenade before climbing the harbour hill and racing towards Portrush. As the race reached York Corner Barry Mullan (Springwell RC) had already established a lead with David McGaffin (Springwell RC) second and David Jackson (Springwell RC) third. With the wind and rain to their backs the leaders quickly covered the first 5k along the road before turning onto the coastal path and into the wind, rain and darkness to battle their way back to Portstewart.

Dave King and Catherine Bell-Allen at the Northern Lights 10k

The conditions on the coastal path made the race even more challenging but Barry continued to extend his lead as the two David’s contested second place. By Ballyreagh David Jackson had established himself in second place and that was how the top three positions remained until the finish line at the Crescent in Portstewart. Barry crossed the line in 41.20 followed by David Jackson in 42.40 and David McGaffin in 43.13.

The ladies race was a closely contested affair with Kathleen Hawe (unattached) 50.17.7 winning by one tenth of a second from Leona Spence (unattached) who crossed the line in 50.17.8. Catherine Pinkerton (Springwell RC) completed the podium in 50.27.

Springwell RC Results - 1st Barry Mullan 41.20, 2nd David Jackson 42.40, 3rd David McGaffin 43.13, 21st Catherine Jayne Pinkerton 50.27 (3rd lady), 25th Paul Quinn 52.06, 33rd Mark Neely 52.54, 37th Roy Buchanan 53.34, 38th Alan Platt 53.45, 39th Pam Howe 53.46, 42nd Pauline Mullan 53.54, 45th Sarah Dickinson 54.21, 47th Dave King 54.31, 48th Carolyn Crawford 54.33, 49th Catherine Bell-Allen 54.33, 53rd David Campbell 55.46 PB, 54th Hugh Deighan 55.48, 56th Adele Tomb 55.54 PB, 69th Elizabeth Deighan 58.52, 73rd Victoria Kelly 59.22, 88th Heather Mclaughlin 1.01.15, 95th Andrew Kincaid 1.03.04, 105th Julie Virtue 1.05.58, 111th Jonathan Lynch 1.06.22, 116th Julie Clark 1.09.32

Glenariff Mountain Race

As winter is now over the first race of the Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association Championship, the Glenariff Mountain Race took place in wind and rain with just a hint of snow on Saturday 9th March. Hosted by Glens Runners the race starts in Waterfoot village and takes competitors on a 5.9 mile course covering 1200 feet of climbing on Glenariff Glen.

Springwell RC’s Alex Brennan, the current M45 champion, started 2019 as he finished 2018, finishing 10th overall in a time of 49.28 to win the M45 category. Competing in his second mountain race in a week Springwell RC’s Ryan Galway ran 52.39 to finish 21st.

Alex Brennan at the Glenariff Mountain Race (Photo – John Healy)

Atlas Running Shanes Castle Half Marathon

The Shanes Castle Half Marathon, hosted by Atlas Running too place in the grounds of Shanes Castle on Saturday 9th March. Springwell RC had four members at the event with the following results 36th Ruari P Bradley 1.48.35, 38th Michael Mulvenna 1.48.55, 87th Paul Dornan 2.00.54, and 118th Colin Connolly 2.14.38

Irish Schools Cross Country

Saturday's Irish Schools Cross Country was held at Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare where Springwell RC’s only representative, Hermione Skuce produced an excellent performance to finish 16th in the Senior Girls race.

Roundup

In other events Springwell RC had Stephen McLaughlin running in the Cara Bundoran 10 Mile Challenge where he ran a personal best of 1.08.59 and even further afield Deborah Archibald was in Paris to run the Harmione Mutuelle Semi de Paris. That’s a half marathon which she completed in 2.11.19.