Weekly Race Report - 12th October 2025
The club 10km record was threatened in Knutsford a couple of weekends ago, the same weekend when 2 members were runners up in their age categories in the NI & Ulster 10km Road Race Championship.
Meanwhile, Storm Amy hampered the plans of many runners last weekend, with many local races and parkruns cancelled as a result of the storm on the Friday and Saturday. Some Springwell Members were fortunate to make it to Glasgow for the Great Scottish Run on the Sunday morning.
However, normal service resumed this past weekend, with Springwell members participating in several local races, which included some getting their cross country season off to a start and distance running in the Mournes. There were some not so local races as well, with Springwell members travelling to London for the Royal Parks Half Marathon, and to Munich for the marathon.
Marty’s Run
Foyle Valley AC hosted Marty’s Run on Sunday morning just past, a 5k race organised in memory of their former club member Marty Gallagher. The race is a fast one, starting just off Glengalliagh Road and finishing on the track at Templemore Sports Complex.
Springwell had two members competing, with Christine Bonham the first home for the club in 248th position in a time of 0:25:39. Denise McManus had a fantastic run finishing in a time of 0:34:05 for 396th place.
Comber Cup XC
Several Springwell members got their Cross-Country season underway on Sunday at the Billy Neill Playing Fields in the Comber Cup league fixture, hosted by Ballydrain Harriers. Conditions were good for running, a mild Autumn air and the ground relatively firm. This helped produce good times from our 4 ladies in attendance, and also from George Brien who competed in the Male Vets race.
29th Fiona Prue 0:22:44; 92nd Deborah McPhee 0:26:03; 113th Pauline Mullan 0:27:34; 144th Helena Dornan 0:29:44
23rd George Brien 0:27:17 (Male Vets)
Munich Marathon
Also on Sunday morning there was the Munich Marathon, welcoming runners from across the globe to the vibrant Bavarian city. Participants enjoyed cool autumn weather and a lively atmosphere as they made their way through the scenic streets and past the iconic landmarks of Munich.
There was one Springwell Member in attendance, with Hannah Lau having a fantastic run to finish 164th of almost 1200 females, in a time of 3:40:49. This performance comes just 4 weeks after Hannah had a podium finish at the Giants Causeway Coast Marathon.
Royal Parks Half Marathon
Springwell had some members travel to London for the weekend to participate in the Royal Parks Half Marathon, guiding runners through some of London’s most picturesque green spaces and past many of London’s popular landmarks. With crisp autumn weather providing ideal running conditions, participants enjoyed a vibrant atmosphere and enthusiastic support along the route, which takes in four of the eight Royal Parks.
Colin Connolly and Alan Platt were the travellers for this one, with Alan the first home for the club in a time of 1:51:15. Colin finished in a time of 2:23:12.
Gr8 Dundrum Run
The 14th Annual GR8 Dundrum Run took place on Saturday just passed in the picturesque village of Dundrum Co. Down. The race is organised by members of Murlough Athletics Club, in association with the National Trust and is now one of the most popular races on the NI race calendar.
The 8.4 mile route is a stunning mix of road, beach and boardwalk incorporating Murlough’s Nature Reserve, where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
There were 2 Springwell Members in attendance this year with Patricia Craig finishing in 1:11:36 and Karen Garvin in 1:22:03
SkyRun the Mournes
This year, SkyRun the Mournes included not only the 35km Mourne Skyline and the 50km SkyUltra which was introduced last year, but also the inaugural 20km SkyTrail. Conditions on the day were perfect - cool, calm & clear skies with light cloud early morning.
Mourne SkyUltra
First out of Donard Park was the SkyUltra runners @ 07:00 who faced 50km/ 13,000ft elevation. No messing about, it was straight in to the full 850m ascent of Slieve Donard before making their way south to Carrick Little. Slieve Binnian was up next before Slievelamagan, Cove Mountain & Beg.
There was slight relief along the Brandy Pad but not for long as they approached Bearnagh and Meelmore. After the Fofanny checkpoint it was up to Loughshannagh and Meelbeg before a second jaunt up Meelmore and Bearnagh. The final three mountains of Slievenalogh, Corragh and Commedagh were the last test before the long downhill finish.
Shirhaan Hameed took the spot of the injured Nicky Frizelle - even though he was adamant his ultra running year was done and had another unreal ultra performance to finish 32nd overall in 9:45:21.
Mourne Skyline
Leaving Donard Park at 09:00, the Skyline runners were off to tackle 35km / 9,000ft of elevation. The Skyline runners went up the Glen River path to the saddle before a jaunt along the Brandy Pad to the Hare's Gap. The Skyline runners then followed the same course as the SkyUltra from Bearnagh and Meelmore to Fofanny and the same return to Commedagh. But the Skyline runners had Slieve Donard as their final sting in the tail as an out and back before their final long downhill finish.
Despite a fall on the brandy pad which banged up his knee, Peter Tees was first back for the club finishing 32nd in 5:31:33. Completing the Irish Skyrunning Championship which also included the Seven Sisters Skyline, Bernadette Quinn finished 63rd in 6:04:14. More details on this once final standings are confirmed. Having the best day ever was Bernard Mullan who completed his longest and most technical race (to date ) finished 108th in 7:34:53.
While not his longest day in the mountains distance wise, Jonny Rowntree noted the Skyline was easily the most difficult race he's completed and finished 123rd in 7:50:03. Unfortunately due to badly rolling her ankle, Sarah Milligan was forced in to an early retirement on the return leg at Bearnagh.
Mourne SkyTrail
Getting a lie in and kicking off at 10:00 it was then the turn of the SkyTrail runners who had 20km / 4,200ft of elevation ahead of them. Taking the same race route as the Skyline to the Hares Gap, it was then turn right for the SkyTrail runners and up and over Slievenalogh, Corragh, Commedagh and Donard before the 3 mile technical downhill finish.
Billed late on Friday evening as Hughes Vs Tomb, it was Adele Tomb who took the spoils finishing 53rd in 3:09:24 with James Hughes 86th in 3:31:16. The 3 mile downhill from the summit of Donard to the finish line was Duffy Vs Hopkinson. Aidan Hopkinson overtook Conor Duffy in the last stretch in Donard Forest to finish 113th in 3:55:19 with Conor 117th in 3:58:19.SkyRun the Mournes
This year, SkyRun the Mournes included not only the 35km Mourne Skyline and the 50km SkyUltra which was introduced last year, but also the inaugural 20km SkyTrail. Conditions on the day were perfect - cool, calm & clear skies with light cloud early morning.
Great Scottish Run
Last weekend, several Springwell members travelled to Glasgow for the Great Scottish Run, which included both Half Marathon & 10K races. The majority of the crew got there either before or after Storm Amy, but some had a stressful few hours travelling between delays and cancellations.
Adam Henderson had the most stressful journey having flights on Friday and Saturday cancelled before eventually getting an early morning flight on Sunday arriving at the start with minutes to spare. Thankfully the storm had blew over and conditions were good on race day.
All Springwell members in attendance competed in the half marathon, bar Club President Kenny Bacon who completed the 10k in 1:22:37, which was a course PB.
Paul Laverty 1:41:17; Shaun Carton 1:42:57; Mervyn Thompson 1:47:59; Adam Henderson 2:05:35; Emer Thompson 2:09:40 (PB); Julie Corbett 2:13:47; Kathy Donaghey 2:18:14; Pauline Duke 2:26:05; Bernie Drain 2:36:05; Rhona Laverty 2:40:19 (PB); Deborah Purdy 2:58:06 (First HM); Caoime Quinn 2:58:06 (First HM)
Seaton Classic Bangor 10km
The Bangor 10k, renamed the Seaton Classic 10k after North Down AC stalwart David Seaton, took place on what was a wet and breezy Saturday morning 2 weeks ago. The race hosted by North Down AC was also the race chosen for the 2026 NI & Ulster 10k Championship, with over 1300 finishers on the day.
Three Springwell members got on the road early on Saturday morning to make way for Bangor for this one. First home from the club was David Shiels in a fantastic 0:41:48 for 139th position, and second in his age category. Not far behind David came Fiona Prue in 0:42:33 for 154th place, who also got an age category 2nd place. Louise Hanna had a great run to finish in 595th position in a time of 0:52:45.
139th David Shiels 0:41:48 (2nd M60); 154th Fiona Prue 0:42:33 (2nd F55); 595th Louise Hanna 0:52:45
Knutsford 10km
Ciaran Ferris was in racing action on a fine Sunday morning in Knutsford, a small Cheshire market town found to the south-west of Manchester.
Ciaran had a super run, finishing 4th of 2100 runners, in a rapid personal best time of 0:31:10 – just seconds off the club record for the 10k!
Giants Causeway Coast
The last weekend in September seen the return of the 2025 Causeway Coast Races. The event offers four distances of Ultra Marathon, Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10km to anyone willing to take on the undulating coastal path with its extremely varied terrain and the inevitable elements that come with it.
Race headquarters was at the usual spot in the Village Hall in Portballintrae, which was also the finish for all the events from their various start points. There was a strong Springwell turnout this year with members competing in three of the four race distances - Marathon, Half Marathon & 10km.
The Marathon started at 9:00am at race headquarters, sending runners east over the coastal path to Larrybane Quarry where they would turn and head for home. On the day that took the runners straight into a strong headwind for the second half of the race.
All Hannah Lau's training for the Munich Marathon paid off as she put in a strong performance to finish 2nd Female in an impressive 4:16:17. Jonathan Huddlestone had a strong run to finish in 5:22:41, as did Andrew Wilmot finishing in 7:16:26.
There were some great runs from Springwell Members in the Half Marathon, which started in Larrybane and was into a headwind in its entirety to Portballintrae.George Brien finished in 2:25:14, Winston Donnell in 2:55:01, Gemma Wray in 2:59:19 & Pauline Duke in 3:21:59.
In the 10km event from Portmoon to Portballintrae, David McGaffin ran a 55:37 and we had the duo of Angeline Platt & Hannah McCaw who evidently clung to each other for shelter from the elements, as they both finished in 1:24:59.