Belfast One World Run

Undoubtedly the main event of the weekend for many Orangegrove members will be the Belfast One World 10k run at Ormeau Park, a kind of Seeley Cup in reverse. For a number of years now Orangegrove has had a close association with this particular charity which provides funding to mainly third world charities such as Oxfam, Trocaire, Concern Worldwide and Christian Aid. Initially Gary Keenan was the link although this year Chris Woods has stood in to provide the organizers with advice and guidance. In addition this year’s Belfast One World Run is the seventh round of the Orangegrove Club Championship and with things tight at the top of both the men’s and ladies tables there will be a fair amount of manoeuvring for position at the start of this race. By no means a training run in the park for Orangegrove members today….and as I write this conditions are not particularly favourable with a strong cool wind and intermittent heavy squally showers and hail. So, time will tell. Sure if nothing else it will give us an appetite for our dinner, and all in a very good cause!

Well, it is 10.31pm, the sun has set and the race has been run and the prizes won. As predicted it was truly an Orange fest. I counted nearly forty Orange vests on the line and there were numerous others out and about around the course both marshalling and shouting encouragement. Inevitably Orangegrove runners featured significantly in the results:

Pos. Chip time
3 Garry Morrow 36.47
4 Paul Woodman 37.24
6 Paul Tyro 37.47
8 Thomas Leitch 38.18
9 Andy McIntyre 38.30
10 Jennifer Black 38.37 First lady
13 Robin Montgomery 39.01
24 Leann Gibson 41.15
29 Ray Leitch 42.41
32 Brian Todd 43.00
33 Darren Houston 43.34
34 Michael O’Donoghue 43.55
35 Darren Marshall 44.16
36 Stephen Hamilton 44.30
38 Stephen Anderson 44.32
40 Julie McKimm 44.56
42 Rodney Corrigan 45.51
43 Martin O’Brien 46.02
46 David Fletcher 46.28
47 Antra Balcuna 46.35
51 Chris Woods 47.00
54 Louise Browne 47.37
58 Emma McWilliams 48.10
62 Martin Doherty 48.53
67 Jill Holland 49.19
68 Pauline Bayliss 49.33
90 Paul Buchanan 52.44
92 Reg Sanlon 52.41
93 Fintan Hurl 52.49
95 Kirsty Buchanan 53.31
102 Andrew Acheson 54.21
107 Paul Edgar 54.52
111 Catherine Fearon 56.10
128 Kathryn Morrow 58.50
135 Gavin Marshall 61.13
142 Mairead Napier 63.16
151 Diana Porter 67.47
152 Eoin Woodman 74.47

And there were Orangegrove youngsters in there as well. Well done Andrew Corken on winning the junior 2k race; number 1 was number 1! Ben Acheson was in the main 10k race and finished in a very good 54.22 (101st). And while Jennifer Black was winning the 10k ladies race I am sure I spotted Lemmy pushing his pram along the Ormeau Embankment with, I don’t know, how many children on board.