Springwell runners perform strongly at Lisburn meeting

Gary O’Hanlon 1:09:44 and Pauline Curley 1:20:25 took the major prizes in the Half Marathon with Joe McAlister 31:37 and Breege Connolly 36:02 taking the honours in the 10K.

Springwell’s Paul Thompson had an excellent run finishing 8th in a PB time of 1:21:38. Next home for the club was Hugh Boyle 1:25:31 winning the MO60 age category followed by Gerard Mullan 1:27:46 (PB), Leslie Ashe 1:30:19, Richard Crown 1:30:34, James McMullan 1:33:03, Alistair Shaw 1:37:33, Nicola Frizelle 1:40:01, Alan McKeeman 1:42:03, Caroline Irwin 1:43:16, Robert Workman 1:44:14, Mervyn Thompson 1:51:35 and Brendan McLaughlin 2:02:35.

Bryan Edgar paced stepson Patrick Higgins round to a PB of 44:29 in the 10K. Scott Bell came home in 46:23 closely followed by Caroline’s husband David Irwin in 46:31.

Alistair Shaw has been using the Park Runs to try and get a bit of speed into his legs. He ran Queens on Saturday 16 June in 19:28 and Victoria Park on Saturday 23 June in 18:13.

Springwell’s Jim Breen was part of the 850 runners who took part in the 48th Freckleton Half Marathon, near Preston, on a sunny but breezy Sunday 17 June. This is the UK’s oldest half marathon.

It was a tough undulating course taking in the edge of Lytham Saint-Anne’s. Jim was running as a member of the Northern Ireland Civil Service team, which was taking part in the UK Civil Service Half Marathon championship.

The championship was run in conjunction with the main half marathon. Jim led home the Northern Ireland team of four runners, to win the bronze medals in the team event.

Jim finished in a solid time of 1.25.48. This time was also good enough for 2nd MO55 in the main half marathon itself.

Springwell Juniors were in action at the NI & Ulster Track & Field Championships at the Antrim Forum on Saturday and Sunday 16 & 17 June. Performance of the day came from Gareth Kee who picked up a bronze medal in the Boy’s U15 100 metres.

Springwell results:

Girls U14 - High Jump Ellen Kirk 1.15; Long Jump Holly Woodhead 3.77, Aine McKinney 3.23; 80m Amy McAuley 11.50, Sinead Gormley 12.00; 200m Amy McAuley 30.40; 800m Holly Woodhead 2.42.03, Aine McKinney 2:43.01; 1500m Molly Brennan 6.10.24

Boys U14 - 1500m Oisin Brennan 5.12.54

Girls U15 - Long Jump Leah Gilfillan 3.94; 200m Leah Gilfillan 28.94; 800m Niamh Tweedie 2.44.05, Jill Thompson 2.48.02; 1500m Niamh Tweedie 5.35.80

Boys U15 - 100m Gareth Kee 12.57 (3rd)

Girls U16 - 800m Aife McSheffrey 2.25.01, Robyn Ennis 2.41.02; 1500m Aife McSheffrey 5.15.50

Springwell athletes travelled to Antrim on Friday 15 June for the Active Antrim Run. The five mile race mainly off road turned out to be 5.6 miles. Alan McCullough led the field home in 29:47 with Judi Graham first lady home in 37:10.

Bryan Edgar 34:03 was the first Springwell Runner home followed by Hugh Boyle 35:21, Leslie Ashe 35:51, Alan McKeeman 40:15, Brenda Boyle 45:12 and Joe McAvoy 47:50.

Three Springwell Runners made the short Journey to Glenullin on Friday 15 June for the annual 10K.

Gerard Mullan 42:00 was first home for the club followed by Seamus Mullan 48:00 and Mervyn Thompson 48:00.