Weekly Race Report - 18th May 2025
UTS 100 Mile
The Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 100mile (UTS) is the UK's only UTMB world series event, and a grand-tour of the Eryri / Snowdonia rugged mountain trails - the ultimate test of endurance. It features over 10,000 metres of ascent and technical terrain that pushes even seasoned ultra runners to their limits.
Shirhaan Hameed is no stranger to the world of ultra trail running with an already impressive CV - and he's no stranger to the 100mile UTS course. Last year Shirhaan had his first attempt at UTS, but unfortunately it wasn't to be and he had to retire after running almost 80miles. However, history was not to repeat itself this year.
Starting on Friday afternoon at 1pm, there were clear blue skies with blazing sunshine - with the update coming through some 7 hours later that he was cramping up badly. Updates were minimal from Shirhaan, while supporters undertook a serious case of dot watching following his progress on course.
Then on Sunday morning at 09:45 the dot stopped as he crossed the finish line. After 44hours 45minutes and 51 seconds Shirhaan finished in 106th position. An unbelievable feat of ultra trail running, the UTS lived up to the tag line - 'Beautiful beyond belief. Savage beyond reason'.
Strabane-Lifford Half Marathon
The 10th running of the Strabane-Lifford Half Marathon took place last Sunday morning, with a new route planned by the organisers to mark the occasion.
The route took participants from the starting point outside the Alley Theatre in Strabane across the border and into Lifford before turning left at the roundabout and making way towards Castlefin. About two-thirds of the way out the road to Castlefin, runners would turn to go cross the River Finn and got through Clady, and then making way back to Strabane before finishing at the Melvin Sports Centre.
Runners lined up on the start line at 9:30, with blue skies and a high temperature that would continue to rise through the race. Despite the high temperatures there were great performances from all twelve club members, with Rodney McPhee (1:23:05) and Darren Walsh (1:27:57) running PBs.
Well done everyone!!
30th Rodney McPhee 1:23:05 (PB); 57th Darren Walsh 1:27:57 (PB); 112th Ryan Kennedy 1:33:09; 218th Adrian Finlay 1:41:15; 276th Barry McCluskey 1:43:56; 292nd Deborah McPhee 1:44:36; 405th Pauline Mullan 1:51:11; 495th Helena Dornan 1:55:30; 690th Adam Henderson 2:03:34; 756th Christine Bonham 2:09:01; 788th Andrew Wilmot 2:11:10; 794th Ryan Campbell 2:11:32
Hill & Dale - Luke's
Another Thursday, another beautiful evening for a race in the Mournes. It was an all female contingent making the trip to Meelmore Lodge for the race start.
The course starts at Meelmore Lodge on relatively flat ground, from the style at the end of Meelmore Lane, the climb gets gradually steeper, as you go on, any running generally turns to a shuffle and inevitably into a tiring hike to the top of Slievenaglogh. From there it's a fast pathless descent onto Luke's Mountain, then a turn to the west for a tricky directionless downhill over very rough terrain with the setting sun in your face to make things that bit more treacherous.
From reading the Strava reports, it seems there was plenty of skin & blood left behind on Luke's jaggy bushes... Perhaps the reason the Springwell men gave this race a wide berth.
Fair play to the Springwell "Ladies with Altitude" some great performances were put in. Although Mrs Tomb was a bit disappointed to miss out on an age category place for the first time in this years H&D series!
174th Adele Tomb 1:01:14; 208th Kate O'Loan - 1:04:03; 261st Sarah Milligan - 1:09:44
Born 2 Run - Coast Half Marathon
It was the inaugural Coast Half Marathon & 10k in glorious South Down and there were a few purple vests making the long trip. With that weather in that part of the world, it'll always be worth it!!
The course starts in the Main street of the picturesque village of Killough, before turning onto some tight country roads heading for Rossglass - getting some great views of the Mourne Mountains before pushing onto the turning point at the iconic St Johns Lighthouse. The runners then head for Tyrella Beach with a final turn for home.
We had 7 Springers make the trip, and all competed in the Half Marathon race:
17th Mark Gardiner 1:29:19; 59th Reggie Colville 1:36:57; 69th David Shiels 1:39:41; 92nd Shaun Carton 1:41:48; 130th Dara Watterson 1:46:02; 154th Ashley McPhee 1:48:02; 475th Sonya Colville 2:21:44
Seskinore Forest 5K
Nestled away in Co.Tyrone, the Seskinore Forest 5K once again proved why it’s a favorite on the local running calendar as it continues to grow year on year.
Conditions on Saturday were hot for competitors with temperatures in the 20's leaving the forest trails firm underfoot.
The course weaved through the woodland of Seskinore Forest, offering runners a mix of gravel paths, mild undulations and tranquil surroundings. While largely flat, a few steady inclines in the final kilometer tested endurance and pacing.
Cara Patterson was the sole club member in attendance and finished 77th in a time of 23:04.
Cara Patterson after completing the Seskinore Forest 5k
parkrun
It was another busy weekend for the Springwell parkrunners with 53 members out at 12 venues, including a new parkrun in Coleraine called Christie parkrun. A number of the clubs members have been involved in getting it going and 5 club members took part in the inaugural parkrun there, with Rodney McPhee picking up the historic first finisher token.
Elsewhere Catherine Byers was at Osterley parkrun in west London, Colin Connolly in Basingstoke, Ali Shaw down in Co Meath and the best travelled tourist this week was Gillian Rudden way up at Nairns Links near Inverness.
Basingstoke parkrun
Colin CONNOLLY 00:29:21
Belfast Victoria parkrun
Brian HARPER 00:30:30; Heather HARPER 00:36:37
Ecos parkrun, Ballymena
Paul LAVERTY 00:21:53; Kenneth BACON 00:42:23;
Portrush parkrun
Andy WHITEFORD 00:18:43; David O'NEILL 00:19:02; Maurice WALKER 00:19:44; Rhys WALKER 00:20:49; Stephen BEGGS 00:21:06; Cathy ADAMS 00:22:20; Mervyn ADAMS 00:22:59; Kevin MCLEAN 00:23:11; George BRIEN 00:23:51; Mervyn THOMPSON 00:24:56; Sylvia POLLOCK 00:25:10; Alanna MILLAR 00:25:18; Patrick MAGEE 00:25:49; Michael ALCORN 00:26:08; Patricia CRAIG 00:26:35; Janet MC NICHOLL 00:27:40; Karen GARVIN 00:30:17; Gemma WRAY 00:32:03; Anne JACK 00:32:15; Emer THOMPSON 00:50:26; Andrew WILMOT 00:53:17
Osterley parkrun
Catherine BYERS 00:33:21
Castlewellan parkrun
Gary KENDALL 00:23:10
Limavady parkrun
Chris DENTON 00:18:16; John BUTCHER 00:22:25; Fergus THOMPSON 00:24:00; Ciaran BLAKE 00:24:21; Michael MCKEOWN 00:24:42; Darren WALSH 00:27:51; Nicola WHITE 00:28:45; Alan WHITE 00:29:55; Ingrid HAMILTON 00:33:04; Heather MCLAUGHLIN 00:33:30; John MCMICHAEL 00:34:37; Linda MC MICHAEL 00:34:37; Naomi GORDON 00:50:30; Kathryn CAMPBELL 00:50:30; Sinead GRAHAM 00:50:31; Alison C DUNCAN 00:50:32
Deerpark parkrun, Carlanstown
Ali SHAW 01:01:00
Limepark Playing Fields parkrun
Peter TEES 00:18:47
Nairn Links parkrun
Gillian RUDDEN 00:25:29
Lurgan Park parkrun
Liz DOWEY 00:29:07
Christie parkrun
Rodney MC PHEE 00:19:32; Fiona PRUE 00:20:40; Alan PLATT 00:22:19; Deborah MC PHEE 00:25:13; Janet PATRICK 00:26:36