Weekend Report – June 28th
This week’s report is entitled: Better late than never. I am standing in for Orangegrove’s regular scribe Brian Todd for two editions so bear with me.
The following report is based on actual events. Only the names, locations and times have been changed for dramatic purposes!
To confuse you even more I begin by drawing attention to a result worthy of being noted from the week before last……if that makes sense. Orangegrove Juniors U15 boys relay team recently came fifth at the Mary Peters Track setting a new 4X100m club record of 56.30 – very well done to the team; Ben, Aaron, Adam and Tom and of course to their coaches.
Last Tuesday (23 June) saw 171 runners descend on Woodburn Forest for the fourth and final race in East Antrim Harriers AC’s popular Forest Race Series. The route did what it said on the tin, 4.5mile through the forest plus round a number of reservoirs. The weather was perfect and thankfully there was less midge action than was the case for race 3.
Willowfield’s Neil Weir won in 25min39sec, first lady was Shileen O’Kane from Lagan Valley with a time of 29.25.
Robin Montgomery led the strong OAC contingent home, placing 13th with a time of 28.11, Emma McWilliams was first Orangegrove lady completing the course in 33.50 – 66th overall.
The other results were as follows: Brian Todd; 30.38, Ian Grant; 31.29, Michael O’Donoghue; 31.56 , David Fletcher; 32.11, Rodney Corrigan; 32.45, Sharon Dickenson; 36.49, Kirsty Buchanan; 37.33, Zoe Ni Dhuinn-Bhig; 41.13 and Lisa Fleming; 43.18.
Most importantly Sharon Dickenson won a quite delightful selection of bath salts – that’s this year’s secret santa sorted!
Well done to all OAC members who have braved the East Antrim insect life across the four fixtures and to East Antrim Harriers AC for laying on such an enjoyable series.
Fintan Hurl and Louise Browne travelled to Iceland; the land of ice and fire, Björk, volcanoes with impossible to pronounce names and very expensive beer (£9 a pint?!) for the Midnight Sun Half Marathon in Reykjavik.
A scenic but tough course run at dusk – no PBs but by all accounts a great experience.
Friday saw the conclusion of Newcastle AC’s ever popular Hill and Dale Series. 186 intrepid runners took part in what was race 11 at Drinahilly, this included 2 of our own mountain goats, Zoe Ni Dhuinn-Bhig; 34.40 and Sharon Dickenson; 35.51.
Unsurprisingly Newcastle AC supplied both first male and first female – Seamus Lynch completing the course in 20.39 and Shalene McMurray in 24.28.
A number of OAC members have shown real dedication attending many of the races and as a result qualifying for the special series backpack. This is not however an ordinary backpack, it is in fact the luggage equivalent of the Swiss Army Knife; a combined backpack/whistle/juicer. Brian Todd, Lisa Fleming, Emma McWilliams, Thomas Leitch, Jill Holland, Michael O’Donoghue, Robin Montgomery and Sharon Dickenson have well and truly earned their new bit of multifunctional and potentially lifesaving kit.
Friday was also the Ards Half Marathon. A hilly course in the shadow of Scrabo Tower combined with the heat and humidity on the night made it a particularly tough race.
Brian Campbell of Willowfield was first of the 687 entrants over the finish line in 01:14:26 while Hanah Oldroyd of UK Netrunner was first lady in an impressive time of 01:23:19.
Once again Robin Montgomery was the first of the Orangegrove crew home and 29th finisher overall, blitzing round the course with a chip time of 1:27:23, closely followed by Thomas Leitch who finished 32nd in a time of 1:27:51 – 32nd before heading to Newcastle for the Hill and Dale closing ceremony – he really wanted to get his hands on his backpack!
Carolyn Beattie added to her Lisburn Half Marathon medal and was first OAC lady home, with an excellent time of 1:48:06. Michael O’Donoghue opted for the half marathon over the final Hill and Dale race having already bagged himself one of the backpacks (does he have a twin btw?) achieving a new PB of 1:39:08, placing 92nd – wow!
Darren Houston also secured a place in the top 200 (193rd) with a time of 1:43:26. Rodney Corrigan (me!) finished 202nd in a time of 1:43:32 and put the visor back on the running map. Ian Grant overcame his prosecco related woes finishing in 1:46:08. Other OAC times were as follows; Jonathan Weston; 1:48:07, Ashleigh Collim; 1:52:07, Trish Magill; 1:58:41, Verity Cornford; 1:59:52, Melinda Wilkinson; 2:08:19, Sharon Corken; 2:08:40 and Eoin Woodman; 2:50:37 – well done one and all.
The event was very well organised, with lots of water stations and friendly marshalls. The Orangegrove support team also did a fantastic job – thank you.
372 parkrunners took part in the most recent parkrun at Victoria Park, it was great to be joined by the latest Jogbelfast graduates. Congratulations to all graduates on this achievement and I hope this is just the beginning of a long and enjoyable connection with running. Thank you to the Jogbelfast coaches and volunteers who have given their time and throughout the duration of the course.
In terms of OAC PBs congratulations to our Stephen Orr who completed the course, ably paced round the park by John Craig, in a time of 18mins42seconds – Boom! Most importantly Fintan Hurl sported perhaps one of the greatest t-shirts known to man.
Paul Tyro notched up his 100th parkrun at Waterworks in a time of 18:36 coming fourth while his better half Lyndsey Pronger was second lady and secured a new PB of 20:42 – well done!
Members of the OAC relay team continue to clock up the hours in preparation for the Energia 24 Hour Race. The event takes place on 17 July so there are just a few opportunities left for you to support them on their remaining weekend double runs. Eleanor, Martin, Robin and Stephen really appreciate any time, encouragement or ice cream you can provide so pop along if you can – I recommend it.
The week finished with the ‘Run for Paul’ – a 10k trail race and 5k run/walk to raise funds to help Paul Brannigan access new cancer treatment in London which is not yet available locally on the NHS.
Orangegrove was well represented with Catherine Fearon, Andy McIntyre, Paul Tyro, Lyndsey Pronger, Carole Bell and Darren Moan all heading down to Delamont Country Park, Downpatrick to support this fantastic event.
Well done to Mags Mathieson, the supporting clubs; EDAC, NICSAC and Ballydrain Harriers, volunteers and all who took part either at the race or who logged virtual runs for this worthy cause and raised several thousand pounds towards in the process – the running community at its very best.
That wraps up the update for another week, thanks to those I have borrowed pictures from; Liz Watt, Fintan Hurl and Gillian Sykes.
Enjoy the sunshine, tall ships, potato run, parkruns or whatever else you are planning and until next week – keeeeep running!
The End.
