Memorial ‘Round the Bridges’ 10 Mile Road Race

After the heavy rain during the day it cleared up to be a warm clammy evening with the runners looking for a shower during the race to freshen things up.

Club President Jimmy Reid set the 236 runners off as they took to the roads around Limavady to challenge themselves over what is a flat, accurate and fast course.First runner across the line in a super time of 55:19 was Foyle Valley’s Keith Shiels followed by teammate Pius McIntyre 56:56 and Ballymena Runners Iain Taggart 57:21.

Marina Campbell from City of Derry led the ladies home in a time of 1:06:46 followed by Donna Philson 1:11:50 and Larne’s Kirsty Sharratt 1:13:55.

Good packing by the Foyle Valley athletes led to them winning both the male and female team prizes. After the race, the runners enjoyed refreshments in the Recreation Centre before Peter Jack and race director Gillian Wasson distributed the prizes.

The category prize winners were as follows:-

Male Open - 1st Keith Shiels, Foyle Valley, 55:19; 2nd Pius McIntyre, Foyle Valley, 56:56; 3rd Iain Taggart, Ballymena Runners, 57:21.

MO40 - Paul McCafferty, City of Derry 58:19, MO45 - James Turtle, Ballymena Runners, 1:00:36, MO50 - Gerry Duddy, City of Derry 1:00:15, MO55 - Jim Breen, Springwell, 1:04:03, MO60 - Hugh Boyle, Springwell, 1:03:48, MO65 - Christy Monagle, City of Derry 1:20:16. Team - Foyle Valley AC

Female Open – 1st Marina Campbell, City of Derry, 1:06:46; 2nd Donna Philson, UA, 1:10:50; 3rd Kirsty Sharratt, Larne AC 1:13:55.

FO35 - Linda Gillen, Springwell, 1:14:14, FO40 - Ann Bonner, UA, 1:14:13, FO45 - Linda Petticrew, Ballymena Runners, 1:17:00, FO50 - Una Gavin, City of Derry, 1:21:08. Team - Foyle Valley AC

Stephen Joyce was the first Springwell Runner home finishing 6th in 59:09 followed by Paul Thompson 1:00:58 (PB), Bryan Edgar 1:02:33, Hugh Boyle 1:03:48 (1st MO60), Jim Breen 1:04:03 (1st MO55), Jason McLeister 1:05:24, Richard Crown 1:05:30, Christopher Millar 1:06:04, Gerard Mullan 1:06:31, Leslie Ashe 1:07:10, James McMullan 1:08:10, Ross Armstrong 1:10:23, Martin Curry 1:11:42, Hugh Deighan 1:11:59, James Davidson 1:12:19, Thomas Moore 1:12:27, Gary Moore 1:12:53, Graeme Montgomery 1:13:16, Mark Henderson 1:13:39, Linda Gillan 1:14:14 (1st FO35), Graeme Morrison 1:15:57 (PB), Caroline Irwin 1:16:14, Alan McKeeman 1:16:41, Barry McCluskey 1:17:00, Robert Workman 1:18:51, David Irwin 1:18:54 (guest), Patrick Higgins 1:19:33, Seamus Mullan 1:20:19, Jean-Claude Bourgeois 1:20:52, Karen McLaughlin 1:21:12, Mervyn Thompson 1:22:06, Alison McAllister 1:23:55 (PB), Katherine Woods 1:25:05, Althea Clarkson 1:27:32, Catherine Pinkerton 1:27:41, Brendan McLaughlin 1:29:57, Rebecca Clarke 1:35:21 (PB), Caroline Taylor 1:36:54 (PB), Angela Calderwood 1:39:09 (PB), Zara Hunter 1:39:10 (PB), Joe McEvoy 1:39:14, Amanda Simpson 1:39:30 (PB) and Emma Hawley 1:54:32 (PB).

These races don’t happen without the help and support of a number of people. Firstly a big thank you to our sponsor Robert Robb of RR Printing for his support. Springwell had 42 runners competing in the race as well as a myriad of helpers.

Special thanks to all those club members who helped in the organisation and running of the race: manning registration, car park duties, marshalling the course, helping at the finish line, serving refreshments etc.

To Springwell junior members and their parents who helped at the water stations and water at the finish line, a big thank you. Thanks to PSNI for excellent cover, control of traffic around the course and at the major roundabouts. Thanks to the British Red Cross for their presence around the course and at the finish line; thankfully they were not called upon.

Thanks again to Limavady Recreation Club for the use of their premises and facilities and Roe Valley FC for the use of their field behind the club for car parking.

If you are looking for another well organised race by the Springwell Club, put the following dates in your diary as a must run.

* Kennedy Kane McArthur Festival of Running - Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K, Dervock Playing Fields, Saturday 21 July at 10:45am. Online entries at Athletics NI (www.athleticsni.org) have been extended to Monday 16 July at 12.00 noon. Last day for postal entries will be the 11 July.

* NFU Mutual 5 Mile Road Race and 1K Fun Run, Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre, Ballymoney, Friday 27 July at 6.15pm 1K and 7.00pm main race.

* Downhill Demesne 5 Mile Trail Race, National Trust Downhill & Mussenden Estate, Saturday 25 August at 12.00 noon.

* Details of these races and their entry forms can be found on the club website www.springwellrunners.com.

Sally back on song

Springwell’s Sally Brown made a successful return to major competitive action at the IPC European Athletics Championships in Stadskanaal, Netherlands (24-28 June).

Running for the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team Sally won her first bronze in the T46 200m clocking 27.42 behind winner Nikol Rodomakina (25.88) and was content just to be back on the track and healthy.

On day 3 she went on to finish third in the T46 100m securing her second bronze medal in a time of 13.61 seconds.

It’s been a difficult 12 months for Sally who is now fine tuning for the London Paralympics in August.

Meanwhile, Chris Denton and Alistair Shaw travelled to Ards for the Half Marathon on Friday evening. Chris completed the 13.1 miles in 1:22:39 and Alistair 1:26:37. The race was won by Conor Magill in 1:10:38 with Caitrona Jennings led the ladies home in 1:18:58.

Gillian Wasson was Springwell’s sole representative at the final race of Newcastle AC’s Hill & Dale series at Donard Forest on Friday evening. Gillian finished first FO35 in 28:41. Congratulations to Gillian who has been selected to represent Northern Ireland at the International Snowden mountain race on Saturday 21 July.