Lisburn Half Marathon
This year the Lisburn Half Marathon would take place over a new and possibly more forgiving route. Beginning in Warren Park the route will run west in the direction of Moira before taking the runner back towards Lisburn on mainly country byways through Broomhedge, Down Royal, Culcavy, and eventually to the finish line via Blaris and the main Hillsborough Road. Supposedly a less hilly and more rural route than that used previously.
The 10k course uses the same route but cuts south and then back to Lisburn sooner than for the longer distance. This is always a very well organized and marshalled event with plenty of razzmatazz. We expect no less this year! Enormous numbers too taking part, over 1200 in the half marathon and an incredible 1799 in the 10k.
The half marathon race is also the last half marathon of the ‘first half’ of the Pure Running/ChampionChip Ireland Half Marathon Series. Twenty-three Orangegrove runners gathered at the start near Lisburn Leisure Plex in dry but breezy conditions. Eleven were going in the half, ten in the 10k and two in the 3k Fun Run. The following times were eventually recorded by Club members:-
| Half marathon | ||
| Paul Tyro | 1.23.11 | 34th overall |
| Garry Morrow | 1.25.02 | 46th overall |
| Robin Montgomery | 1.25.27 | 50th overall |
| Lyndsey Pronger | 1.31.09 | |
| Brian Todd | 1.36.40 | |
| Michael O’Donoghue | 1.39.45 | |
| Anne Moore | 1.40.03 | |
| Mark Williamson | 1.43.48 | |
| Carolyn Beattie | 1.45.26 | |
| Jonny Weston | 1.45.26 | |
| Eoin Woodman | 2.41.50 | |
| 10K | ||
| Andy McIntyre | 38.34 | 62/1799 |
| Des Fahy | 39.49 | 67/1799 |
| Chris Downey | 41.38 | |
| John Neill | 49.59 | |
| Trish Magill | 50.34 | |
| Verity Cornford | 51.42 | |
| Kirsty Buchanan | 53.16 | |
| Adrian Sproule | 54.48 | |
| Catherine Fearon | 58.38 | |
| Mairead Napier | 1.00.50 | |
| Fun Run (3K) | |
| Andrew Corken | 15.48 |
| Sharon Corken | 15.48 |
Great running from Paul Tyro, Garry Morrow and Robin Montgomery in the half marathon. Lyndsey Pronger was well up in the ladies section and Carolyn Beattie had a queue of men hoping for a pacing duty. Jonny Weston won the day in the end although, in the final analysis, it was not quite certain who was pacing who! Well done too to Anne Moore and particularly to Michael O’Donoghue who arrived after the race had started. At one point Michael was running flat out against the flow to get to the start mat! Luckily for him the time above is a chip time rather than a race time!
In the 10k race Andy McIntyre, Des Fahy and Chris Downey were flying! Trish Magill doesn’t run often, but when she does she invariably gives a very good account of herself. Verity Cornford fits that same mould. When she is in the mood, she runs very well indeed and she had a good run in Lisburn. Well done too to Kirsty Buchanan, Catherine Fearon and Mairead Napier.
In the 3k Fun Run Andrew Corken claimed he was slowed a bit by his mother. Sharon claimed that it was the other way around!
The half marathon was won by Freddy Sittuk (Raheny Shamrock A.C.) in 1.11.36 and Caitriona Jennings (Unattached) was first lady in 1.21.17. In the 10k race Ryan McDermott (Annadale Striders) was the winner in 31.06 with Natasha Adams (Letterkenny A.C.) first lady in 34.53.