Springwell Club hold first event of 2014

The 8K Trail Run was organised in association with NI Environment Agency and was sponsored by Drenagh Sawmills, Limavady. Conditions on the day were good but the recent rain meant the competitors faced a muddy challenge over the 3 lap course.

The first race of the day was the Primary School 800m with thirteen youngsters competing in the out and back course. Fionn Calvert led the field home in 4:16 and Springwell’s Niamh Mulligan was first girl. Springwell Results: Lucas King 2nd 4:16, Rachel Cochrane 5th, Leionha Mulligan 6th, Amy Craig 7th, Cliodhna McElhinney 8th, Finn McGurk 9th, Thomas Allen 10th Noah Armstrong 11th and Emma Jane Service 12th.

Fifteen runners took part the Secondary School 1600m out and back course. Frank McAlonan led them home in 6:49 and Springwell’s Leah Gilfilland was first girl. Springwell Results: Natasha Simmons 6th (1st FU13), Jodie Patterson 7th, Sam Thompson 9th, Jessie Ross 12th, Conor McGowan 13th, Anna Henderson 14th and Casey Ross 15th.

After the competitive junior races, it was time for the ladies to tackle the 8K course. Springwell ladies featured heavily at the front of the field with Karen McLaughlin leading the field home in 36:47.  Fellow Springwell athletes Kerrie McIlmoyle (37:25) and Rebecca Conlon-Elwood (37:32) followed in second place and third place respectively.

Prize winners: FO35 Catriona Hull, Unattached, 44:16; FO40 Heather Montgomery, Unattached 44:40, FO45 Alison McAllister, Springwell, 41:44; FO55 Mabel McFall 45:47; FO60 Bridgit Quinn, Ballymena Runners, 42:51, FJ Emma Lusby, Springwell, 42:30.

Springwell Results: Lynn Montgomery 41:53, Debbie Tutty 45:20 and Caroline Taylor 48:07.

The penultimate race was the Veteran and Junior Men’s 8K, which brought an excellent battle between Matt Wray (Ballymena & Antrim AC) and Peter Cromie (Unattached). Matt Wray (1st MO45) eventually assumed control, breaking the tape in 29:47. Peter Cromie (1st MO40) finished second in 29:51 and Michael Kelly (Armagh AC) third in 29:59.

Prize winners: MO50 Frank O’Deorain, Unattached, 43:32; MO55 Alvin Taylor, Magherfelt Harriers, 33:06, MO60 Hugh Boyle, Springwell, 32:44 and Male Junior Frank McAlonan, Ballycastle Runners, 40:11.

Springwell Result: Mark Hudson 32:30, Jim Breen 33:39, Kevin McLean 34:59, Ricky Cochrane 36:51 and Mark Jack 42:36.

In the Men’s (8K) Open race, pre-race favourite, Allan Bogle (City of Derry AC) led from the off, progressively opening the gap between himself and the rest of the field, before crossing the line in 27:31.  North Belfast Harriers’ Simon Reeve recorded 30:04 for second place, before Bruce Lovell (Vegan Runners UK) completed the top three in 30:15.

Springwell Results: Glenn Millar 31:21, Andrew Dowey 32:38, Alex Curran 36:08 and Erik Ausenhus 43:20.

The club would like to thank Drenagh Sawmills for sponsoring the race without their finical support the race would not have been possible. Thanks to the NI Environment Agency staff at the Country Park, Noel Harkin for the use of the Ritter Tea Rooms for registration and presentation of prizes, British Red Cross for providing First Aid cover and all the volunteers who helped make the event a success.

Springwell juniors were in action on Saturday representing their schools at the Aviva All Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships in Cork CIT.

The Loreto College junior girls team had a good day winning gold in the team event. Abigal McBroom finished just outside the individual medals in fourth in 11:01 followed by Niamh Carr 12th in 11:33 and Molly Brennan 29th in 12:06.

Also in the junior girls race were Aine McKinney who finished 20th in 11:48 and Rebekah Hunter 27th in 12:04.

Aife McSheffrey (Limavady Grammar) finished 5th in the Intermediate Girls 3500m in 14:26 and Aiofe Carr was 51st in 17:11.

Luke Dinsmore (CAI) was 14th in the Intermediate Boy’s 5000m in 18:21 and Zac Hutchinson (CAI) 33rd in 19:21. John Gordon (CAI) 39th in 25:35, Brian Tweedie (CAI) 51st in 26:15 and Ryan Murray (CAI) 66th in 27:06.