Author Archives: Adrian Sproule

1. Weekly Report Monday 10th December – Sunday 16th December 2018

   December 24, 2018 11:27 am Comments Off on Weekly Report Monday 10th December – Sunday 16th December 2018

   By Andrew Tees

   The 2018 festive season got into full swing last week with no less than two major OAC Christmas traditions being observed.

   The annual Orangegrove Christmas Tree Run took place on Wednesday 12th December, with plenty of club members getting into the festive spirit by observing the OAC tradition of dressing up in their most extravagant and outrageous Christmas garb. Both Santa and Mrs Claus were there in their runners, as was Rudolph, there were a couple of very mobile Christmas trees and more elves than you could shake an antler at! At about 6.15 a huge string of fairy lights, baubles and santa hats could be seen moving off through Victoria Park and snaking its way towards the city centre. After stopping for photos at Titanic Belfast, the Odyssey and Victoria Square, it was on to City Hall for another photo and the mandatory pitstop at the Christmas Market. All were keen to top up their Christmas spirits with a cup of mulled wine or cider (2 for some…), and then it was a leisurely couple of miles back to Victoria Park and home. A great turnout as usual for this annual tradition and thankfully the forecasted rain stayed away! Special thanks for Catherine McIntyre for taking on photography duties and congrats to Steven Gilliland and Gemma Blake who were awarded best Christmas costumes.

   A somewhat younger Christmas tradition in the Orangegrove calendar is the outing to the North West Cross-Country. The itinerary of travelling to Derry on the train, taking part in the race and then retiring to the Walled City Brewery for food and liquid refreshment has proved a popular one. This year numbers had swelled to almost 40, with around 25 due to run and others coming to lend their support and enjoy the craic. However, on the day there were a few who were unfortunately unable to make it, and one or two who thought thet they might melt in the rain and just decided to stay home. So in the end there were 19 hardy runners, 10 men and 9 ladies, who variously battled against and were gusted along by the strong winds which swept across the grounds of the Gransha estate on Derry’s Waterside. Unlike many other cross country events, all competitors run together in this race and as a result the distance is slightly shorter than the men would usually run at 6k. That said, three laps was enough for anyone given the atrocious weather, but the conditions underfoot were good for a cross-country race in December. As with most XC races this season, Mark McKinstry was victorious, breaking the tape with a time of 19:59. North Down’s Rachel Gibson won the ladies race in 22:42.
   As for the Orangegrove contingent, Andy McIntyre led the OAC men home in 22:44 and newly-appointed captain Heather Flint was the first OAC lady in 30:50. Well done to all who made the trip and defied the miserable weather conditions to get out and race.
   Full club results below.

   Andy McIntyre 22:44:00
   Andrew Tees 22:59:00
   Robin Montgomery 25:18:00
   Michael O’Donoghue 26:29:00
   Chris Woods 26:37:00
   David Fletcher 27:03:00
   Brian Todd 30:25:00
   Heather Flint 30:50:00
   Sharon Corken 32:42:00
   Sarah Steer 32:48:00
   Steven Gilliland 32:50:00
   George Gribben 33:21:00
   Jenny Powell 34:53:00
   Emily Paisley 34:55:00
   Selina Myles 35:00:00
   Catherine McIntyre 35:15:00
   Marcia Sharkey 36:03:00
   John Ferris 37:00:00
   Lisa Nevin 39:00:00

   With the minor issue of the running out of the way, it was on to the Walled City Brewery for lunch and drinks. Between the brewery and the train home, there was plenty of drinks and plenty of craic, a few even continued the festivities when back in Belfast. Many many thanks go to Heather for all of her hard work organising the travel, food and race entries. It may have been a pi** up in a brewery, but it was so much more besides.

   

2. Weekly Report Monday 3rd December – Sunday 9th December 2018

   December 17, 2018 9:28 pm Comments Off on Weekly Report Monday 3rd December – Sunday 9th December 2018

   Report by Martin O’Brien

   What does mud, sun, jingles, motor race track and 4 soles/souls have in common?

   Well…we had 4 hardy souls solely representing Orangegrove in the Cross Country, Lanazrote Marathon, Jingle 5k and Kirkistown Half Marathon during this relatively quiet week.

   MIGHTY OAK’S CROSS COUNTRY (Report by Brian Todd)

   The only orange vest in sight at the Mighty Oak’s Cross Country on Saturday, at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena, Cookstown, was that of Brian Todd. The hill was there and there were the usual copious amounts of liquid mud, but other than that the course this year was entirely different to the previous one. Gone were the final sections of each lap in and around the football pitches. The new course almost entirely dominated the high ground behind the infamous Acorn’s Hill. It was a tough course too, tougher than the previous one. The big hill was followed by a series of smaller hills which took their toll on even the fittest runners. However, at least it was over and done with quickly.

   Brian ran in the ladies race with the other aging male vets and enjoyed the challenge. The conditions were fine, the rain holding off until the end of the race. A time of 23.29 for three miles in the mud was satisfactory if not spectacular, but enough to win the +65 age category prize on the day. As usual the refreshments were excellent, the egg sandwiches, buttered fruit loaf and jaffa cakes more memorable than the race itself.

   The men’s race (4 miles) was won by Aaron McGrady (East Down AC) in 23.29, strangely Brian’s time for three miles!
   The ladies race (3 miles) was won by Katie Moore (North Down AC) in 20.03.

   LANZAROTE MARATHON
   (Report by Michael O’Donoghue)

   The Lanzarote Marathon probably is up there as one of the sunniest December Marathons around. Certainly with a temperature of 24 degrees there were much better conditions than Clonakilty in Cork which was the same weekend. This made it great for spectators, but a little stifling for competitors. The race started in the tourist resort of Costa Teguise, heading through the largest town on Lanzarote, Arecife before heading along to the coast to another resort, Puerto Del Carmen and back. It was billed as an international marathon, and that was certainly the case.

   Many of the competitors were from the UK and Ireland with a large contingent of the GB 100 marathon club in their bright blue shirts and tattoos. The route went past beach after beach along the coast and was well supported with snacks and drinks, which turned out to be essential in those conditions. It didn’t feel like a particularly competitive event and I finished with a time of 4.19.41, and went on to enjoy the post-race party at the finish line. Recommended for the pre-xmas blues!

   THE JINGLE 5K

   Over 600 people ran, walked and jogged their way around Stormont Estate in support of the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice inaugural Jingle 5k event.

   The Jingle 5k, which is part of the Children’s Hospice Christmas fundraising campaign Jingle All The Way, was hosted by Athletics NI and Mallusk Harriers and raises vital funds to help support children’s hospice services over the festive period.

   In a race that seemed extremely well organised and enjoyed, Peter McGarry of Mallusk Harriers, was the first male over the line in 18:18 while Dearbhla Sheridan from the Belfast Running Club was the first female running home in 21:30.

   Orangegrove’s Nicola Hart was our sole representative and finished in the top third of the 5k runners in a tidy time of 29:48, so, a very well done to Nicola and maybe we could increase our presence next year with the hope that this race builds on this success.

   KIRKISTOWN HALF MARATHON

   Darren Houston matched and completed the Club’s dizzy array of performances by running presumably around and around and around the race track for 13.2 miles and finished in the dizzy heights of 5th place in 1:46:37. Alan Ladd was the top lad with 1:25:45.

   PARKRUN

   Tom Smith achieved a cracking PB of 20:15 at Victoria Parkrun.