Weekly Report – 19th June-25th June 2023

The Lighthouse Run

Sunday saw another race completed by We Run Wild’s biggest cheerleader, Michael O’Donoghue. This one was a 41 mile ultra (marathon and half-marathon options were available) starting from Whitehead Lighthouse following the coastline all the way round to Donaghadee. The route is mainly flat with only around 200 metres of total ascent, but the last 13 miles is basically a trail section. Foods consumed included a Greggs and an ice lolly at Pickie Park. Well done Michael.

Michael O’Donoghue – 9.00.49

Paddy Cheshire Memorial 5k

Brian Todd made the return to his hometown of Dundalk on Friday night to take part in the Paddy Cheshire Memorial 5k. The race runs along the famous Navvy Bank on the Castletown River. Although Brian was a little slower than last year he still managed to win the 70-74 age category! We can just ignore the fact he was the only person in this category – great running Brian.

Brian Todd – 22.54

Hill & Dale Series – Drinnahilly

This year’s final Hill & Dale race also took place on Friday night. Well done to everyone running, especially to Andy Tees with yet another podium finish, coming in 3rd place on the night – that’s his 6th podium of this Hill & Dale Series. Congrats to all the OAC runners that ran in Hill & Dale Series races this year – great to see so many of us taking part!

Andrew Tees – 22.20
Thomas Parkins – 29.14
Sarah Steer – 34.03
Emily Paisley – 39.32

Lisburn Half Marathon & 10k

Earlier in the week we had Lisburn Half-marathon and 10k. A firm favourite on the sporting calendar with this year marking the 40th year of this event. It was a great turn out from Orangegrove on Wednesday night and a lot of good times, considering the usual traffic slog to Lisburn at that time of night and it being a scorcher. Some great running from Mr Podium (Andy Tees) with a 3rd place finish in the half-marathon and Danny Bradley getting a top 10 finish in the 10k.

I’ve also been informed that there was a real battle between Andy Carson and David Montgomery, with David gleefully taking the upper hand at the 6km mark but, as Andy put it, “thankfully David blew up” and Andy caught him with 500 metres to go. David then attempted to finish through the fun run funnel and lost more time – better luck next year.

Congratulations to everyone taking part.

Half-marathon

Andrew Tees – 1.16.24
Robin Montgomery – 1.34.21

10k

Danny Bradley – 34.18
Andrew Carson – 38.22
David Montgomery – 39.05
Elaine Weston – 53.03

Parkrun Report

24/06/23

Not much to report on this weekend, but a few of us did manage new parkrun locations – Michael O’Donoghue in Navan, Ian Wilson at Swansea Bay, and Emily Paisley at Hillsborough Forest. Michael has the most locations of the bunch with Navan being his 81st on his slow jog to 100.

Results

Navan

Michael O’Donoghue – 22.09  

Belfast Victoria

Robin Montgomery – 22.06
Tom Smith – 23.06
Gavin McGucken – 23.11
David Gilliland – 24.58
Emma Smith – 26.27
Gillian McGucken – 29.02
Paul Woodman – 29.03
John Gribben – 37.18

Enniskillen

Elaine Bates – 28.26
Jean Stone – 35.12

Omagh

Adrian Sproule – 30.17

Ormeau

David Montgomery – 19.40

Stormont

Johnny Park – 18.52
Keith Weir – 19.00
Gemma Blake – 23.22
Alison Canning – 27.02
Stephen Hamilton – 29.46
Judith McCann – 30.29
Adrienne Savage – 30.34
Melinda Wilkinson – 30.49
Jill Holland – 30.52
Sharon Corken – 30.58
Lisa Fleming – 31.03
Mairead Napier – 40.38

Swansea Bay

Ian Wilson – 26.42

Orangefield

Colin Simpson – 23.16
Chris Woods – 24.40
Heather Flint – 24.54
Kerris Hamilton – 27.29

Knockbracken Reservoir

Gerald Harvey – 29.11

Hillsborough Forest

Verity Cornford – 27.16
Emily Paisley – 28.54