Roe Valley Country Park Trail Run

The 8K Trail Run was organised in association with NI Environment Agency and was sponsored by RG Connell & Son Solicitors. The overnight snow, frost and fog across the province put some competitors off resulting in a drop in the numbers from previous years. By the time racing got underway the light dusting of snow in the country park had virtually disappeared and runners enjoyed the bright winter sunshine.

The first race of the day was the Primary School 800m with seventeen youngsters competing in the out and back course. Springwell's Jamie Nolan led the field home in 3:07 and Springwell's Danielle Graham (3:10) was first girl just holding off the challenge of team mate Holly Woodhead (3:11). Springwell Results: Leah Gilfillan 6th (3:24), Stephen Cairns 8th (3:28), Adam Gordon 9th, Sinead Gormley 10th, Charlotte Parr 11th, Ben Nolan 12th, Conor Kendall 13th, Katie Green 14th and Rachel Lowry 16th.

Five Springwell Runners took part the U13 & U16 combined 1600m. Ashley Cairns led them home in 5:39 to win the U16 Boy's race followed by Oran O'Kane 6:29 1st BU13, Chris Surgeoner 6:53 2nd BU16, Sally Brown 6:57 1st GU16 and Aife McSheffrey 7:04 1st GU13.

The ladies were first off in the 8K Trail Race. Roberta Dornan North Down and Springwell's Catherine Henry set the early pace but as the approached half way Roberta had open a gap and came home to win in 31:56 with Catherine second in 33:08 and Gemma Turley 3rd in 33:15. Prize winners: FO35 Fran McFadden, Springwell RC, 34:29; FO40 Stephanie Hambling, North Down 34:16; FO45 Lind Petticrew, North Belfast 40:27; FO50 Breedagh Hughes, Unattached 50:47, FO60+ Bridgit Quinn, Ballymena Runners 43:23 and Female Junior Tabea Weyrauch, Unattached 42:19. Springwell Results: Alison Rankin 34:50, Sonia Knox 37:21, Kay Hack 38:28, Catherine Butcher 38:48, Ella Loughery 39:11, Gillian Early 40:48, Betty Deighan 40:48, Jane Carton 43:15.

The Male Vets and Male Junior race was won by Ballymena & Antrim's Matt Wray 28:28. Omagh's Barry Kelly (29:26) had an excellent race sticking with Matt until half way and came home 2nd the win the Male Junior race. Prize winners: MO45 Bryan Edgar, Springwell RC, 30:25; MO50 Gerry O'Doherty, Springwell RC 31:59; MO55 Jim Breen, Springwell RC 32:44 and MO65+ Sam Gordon, Unattached 41:22. Springwell Results: Philip Mullan 31:17, Ronnie Kidd 31:28, Gary Kendall 33:33, Gerard Mullan 34:52, Samual McCaul 35:13 David Carton 37:35 and Hugh Deighan 48:47 despite taking a wrong turn.

The last race of the day was the Male Open. North Belfast Gregory Walsh recorded the fastest time of the day as he came home to win in 27:41 followed by Omagh's Martin Cox 28:01 and Foyle Valley's Scott Rankin 29:03. Springwell Results: Marcus Devine 30:27, Michael Devine 32:20, Thomas Moore 33:00, Chris Millar 33:30 and Nial Sheerin 35:36.

The club would like to congratulate Peter Jack on getting to the top of Kilimanjaro unfortunately he was delayed at Heathrow and was unable to make it back for the race.

Thanks to Gerard Cutmore of NI Environment Agency and his staff at the Country Park, George Brolly for the use of the coffee shop for presentation of prizes, St John's Ambulance and all the marshals who help make the event a success.