Orangegrove AC

East Belfast

Menu

Author Archives: Brian Todd

  1. Weekend Report – May 2nd

    Comments Off on Weekend Report – May 2nd

    The weekend itself was a rather quiet one. However, there was the usual fare of Hill and Dale on the preceding Thursday evening and the May Bank Holiday Monday itself brought the Deep River Rock Belfast Marathon in which OAC had a number of relay teams and a few intrepid individuals taking on the full challenge.

    In between, Michael O’Donoghue, not to be outdone by the marathoners, took on the extraordinary challenge of the Hoka Highland Fling ultra marathon in Scotland, 53 miles in length no less, and there was also a round of the Firmus Energy Super 6 track and field at the Mary Peters Track and an East Antrim Marathon Series marathon and half marathon in and around Carrickfergus!

    Hill and Dale Race 3 – Slieve Martin

    Thursday evenings at this time of the year are synonymous with Newcastle Athletic Club’s super Hill and Dale Series. Following the two ‘taster’ events at Castlewellan and Tollymore, the third round at Slieve Martin is definitely more challenging, indeed probably not for the faint hearted. The action starts near the car park in Kilbroney Forest Park at Rostrevor and the runner is treated to a sharp uphill tour through the trees to the bare mountain with its spectacular views to the south over Carlingford Lough and Dundalk Bay.

    The very fast, quite treacherous descent to the finish, requires both dexterity and not a little courage. It is all over very quickly, but you will certainly know you have been in a race and your aching limbs will remind you of it over the next few days. Total length is only 4.25 miles but in that distance you will climb over 1740 feet. The weather forecast for Thursday evening is very cold and full body cover may be required by the organisers. Just one more thing to worry about!

    We congratulate the following members of Orangegrove who took part in the Slieve Martin round. I have included their published times although, in many respects, times are irrelevant. Getting yourself to the start line and, eventually, to the finish line are the main indicators of endeavour, determination and, not least of all, courage.

    In recent weeks Orangegrove has been well represented at Hill and Dale by Michael O’Donoghue, Darren Marshall, Sharon Dickenson, Eoghan Rainey, Judith Dalzell, Verity Cornford, and Stephen Craig. However, this week, with MOD not wishing to risk anything prior to his Hoka West Highland Fling, and, perhaps, the unfavourable weather conditions, only Darren Marshall and Sharon Dickenson made it to the start line at Kilbroney. Very well done indeed to both Darren and Sharon on representing the Club so well. Their times were as follows:

    Summit time Descent time Total time
    Darren Marshall 36.25 15.31 51.56
    Sharon Dickenson 46.44 23.05  1.09.49

    The Hill and Dale Slieve Martin Race (Race 3) was won by William McKee (Mourne Runners) in 32.55/22.45/10.10. Diane Wilson (Dromore AC) was first lady in 40.46/28.47/11.59.
    The next race is next Thursday at Slieve Binnian….this is the one in which the finish is in the clouds on the top of the mountain, the only race I know where the finish tunnel is angled upwards at 45 degrees!

    Firmus Energy Super Six

    Also on Thursday evening, the Firmus Energy Super Six track and field athletics series resumed at the Mary Peters Track, the second meeting of the programme. This is a super little series for which we should be truly thankful, containing both track and field events for a wide plethora of athletes of all ages and abilities from disabled to minis, and from U13s to senior men and women, even including old stagers like myself. The action begins at 18.45 and the final events will be at 20.45.

    We at Orangegrove had a number of athletes competing and I have included below some information about how they performed. The orange of Orangegrove was notably visible on the evening. Well done to the following:

    Minis 600m Sam Rainey 2.14.13 (7th)
    Minis Shot putt Sam Rainey 3.98m (21st)
    U13 800m Iseult Fahy 2.56.47 (11th)
    U13 200m Reegan McKenzie 33.41 (13th)
    U15 800m Chloe Browne 3.09.57 (26th)

    Very well done indeed to all in the Junior Club, athletes and coaches!

    The third round of the series will be on Thursday 2nd June.

    Hoka Highland Fling Ultra Marathon

    One is never quite sure what Michael O’Donoghue will be up to next. He appears to be both proficient and definitely competitive in every aspect of running from 3k to infinity. This weekend, on Saturday, he was in Scotland taking part in the 53 mile Hoka Highland Fling ultra marathon on the West Highland Way from Milngavie, north of Glasgow, to Tyndrum, near Crianlarich, following roughly the line of Lough Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

    It is mainly off road and, of course, the terrain is hilly. Michael is certainly hoping to beat the 15 hour cut-off time but is determined, if possible, to get below 12 hours which will allow him to catch the last bus back to Glasgow and civilisation. This is no backwoods ultra marathon. Michael will be in the company of athletes from all over Europe, South Africa, Australia and the United States of America. Nor will he have to face the wilderness alone. Over 750 are already entered and there will be an additional 200 relay runners.

    This ultra marathon requires the individual participant to organise for the placing of a number of drop bags at 10 mile intervals containing food and other sustenance. He has told me that this aspect can be quite tricky because the placing of appropriate food that can be eaten on the move can be crucial to the outcome. We wish Michael all the best of luck, although luck will probably play very little or no role whatsoever in this affair.

    And the news from the front is good news! Michael managed to catch that last bus back to Glasgow with the super time of 13 hours, 24 minutes and 55 seconds. Apparently the bus company heard he was coming and ordered its driver to wait for him. Michael averaged 15.12 minute miles over the distance and finished in 561st place out of 673. OAC offers its warmest congratulations to one of its favourite sons. If he turns up for the Bank Holiday Monday Marathon please, somebody, call an ambulance!

    EAMS Half Marathon

    There exists a no frills marathon and half marathon series called the East Antrim Marathon Series. Michael O’Donoghue knows all about it. They run very well organised marathons and half marathons, as the name might suggest, in and around south and east Antrim. Publicity is not sought or given. Information about routes and results can be tricky enough to source. On Sunday 1st May they ran a full marathon and half marathon in the Carrickfergus area, or so the rumours would suggest, in which there was some OAC interest.

    I am reliably informed that recently joined new member Gillian Logan was first lady home, and third overall, in the half marathon in a time which remains a closely guarded secret. Very well done indeed to a young lady who has enjoyed an impressive number of podium finishes lately. Verity Cornford, the girl with a name straight out of a Thomas Hardy novel, was also spotted battling the elements on an unidentifiable section of road somewhere in Co. Antrim.

    I have a photograph of an elegant lady in purple to prove it. If any more information about this race turns up in due course, you shall hear it. But don’t hold your breath!!

    Belfast City Marathon

    Bank Holiday Monday in Belfast means only one thing if you are a runner, the Deep River Rock Belfast City Marathon. It is not the greatest route, or the easiest, but it is 26.2 miles long and it is a hell of a challenge for those, in particular, who take on the full distance. By the way, it all started in 1982, so this is the 35th running of the Belfast event.

    Read the full race report here

    Parkrun

    I think it was Brendan Behan who once said that there was no such a thing as bad publicity except one’s own obituary, and this may well be the case regarding the recent controversy over the local council at Little Stoke wishing to charge parkrunners for location wear and tear. The controversy, and the media coverage it attracted, have raised the profile of the concept of parkrun to heights hardly imaginable only a short time ago.

    This is possibly reflected in the greater than ever numbers attending Ulster parkruns, including our own at Victoria Park. Of course, the improving weather may have something to do with it as well!

    A quick survey of what OAC members have been achieving this week has revealed the following:

    At Victoria Park Des Fahy was running very well to finish in 6th place in 18.51. Sile Brennan (pushing her pram and getting ready for a full marathon) was first OAC lady home in 25.09. Rory Hall-Thompson continued his fine recent form to finish in 13th place in 19.37. The only personal best of the day at Victoria was by Ben Acheson (JM10) in 22.38. Very well done indeed! And well done too Anne Devlin who was a first timer at the Waterworks parkrun in 32.04.

    Now, don’t forget that volunteering bit! We are always in need of new recruits, particularly at this time of the year as the holiday season approaches. Give a little back to your local parkrun by contacting Gerry on belfastvictoriahelpers@parkrun.com. You know it is the right thing to do. You know it makes sense!

  2. Belfast City Marathon 2016

    Comments Off on Belfast City Marathon 2016

    Bank Holiday Monday in Belfast means only one thing if you are a runner, the Deep River Rock Belfast City Marathon. It is not the greatest route, or the easiest, but it is 26.2 miles long and it is a hell of a challenge for those, in particular, who take on the full distance. By the way, it all started in 1982, so this is the 35th running of the Belfast event. The course has changed a few times over the years. Away back in the early 1980s about two thousand runners took to the streets. This year over 17,500 will don trainers on the day and set off, hoping eventually to finish. About 2,200 will attempt the full distance while 1,700 relay teams will split the course into five more easily manageable sections. For the first time this year the relay runners will be individually chipped. Last year Joel Kipsang Kositany won in 2.19.36. You can be a bit lax in your training for most distances, but not for a marathon, and those from our Club who turn out to tackle the full distance will have been at it, in all kinds of weather, for weeks and months. We wish them well and may they reach the finish in Ormeau Park intact, both physically and mentally.

    The following Orangegrove members will attempt the full marathon……Sharon Corken, Sile Brennan, Linda Carson-Craig, Kerris Hamilton, Heather Shanks-Miller and Ian Millgate. Best of luck!

    The Club has also entered three 5 person relay teams in addition. This year relay runners will be chipped. They are:-

    Team 1 Andrew Acheson (6.2 miles), Rodney Corrigan (3.3 miles), Brian Todd (7.2 miles), David Fletcher (4.5 miles), Emma McWilliams (5 miles).

    Team 2 Ian Grant (6.2 miles), Ian Wilson (3.3 miles), Kirsty Buchanan (7.2 miles), Alison Hall-Thompson (4.5 miles), Jenny Powell (5 miles).

    Team 3 Ian Reid (6.2 miles), Hilary Bradshaw (3.3 miles), Brian McFarland (7.2 miles), Nicola Downey (4.5 miles), Jill Long (5 miles).

    I am also aware of a number of OAC members, and friends of OAC, running in other relay teams… Liz Leitch, Thomas Leitch, Eric Fairfield, Anna Rankin, Shona Pryde, Mairead Napier, Reg Sanlon, Judith McCann, Darren Houston, Elaine McAlister and others I may not have picked up. We wish them well. Rachel Woodman was also spotted pushing a pram in full OAC regalia!

    And the following times were achieved by OAC members on Bank Holiday Monday, 2016:

    Sile Brennan 3.36.42 (378th/2156)
    Kerris Hamilton 4.06.30 PB
    Ian Millgate 4.20.27 PB
    Heather Shanks-Miller 4.20.38 PB
    Linda Carson-Craig 4.50.06
    Sharon Corken 4.56.08 PB

    Relay Teams:

    Team 1
    Andrew/Rodney/Brian/David/Emma    		 3.08.49 (35th/1719)
    Team 2
    Ian/Ian/Kirsty/Alison/Jenny    		 3.41.52 (164th/1719)
    Team 3
    Ian/Hilary/Brian/Nicola/Jill    		 4.23.30  (936th/1719)

    The 2016 Deep River Rock Belfast City Marathon was won by Joel Kipsang Kositany (Kenya) in 2.17.39. Berhan Gebremichael (Ethiopia) was first lady in 2.48.26.

    Grateful thanks are extended to our captains, Robin and Eleanor, for all their hard work in organising us for the relays and providing us with hospitality on our arrival at Ormeau.

    We are very lucky indeed to have such dynamic people to keep us in order, to answer questions and to keep us informed. Their hard work, patience and good humour are greatly appreciated. We are also very grateful to those who provided food, hospitality and a focal point for us at Ormeau Park.

    Particular thanks to those who supported us around the course, who shouted encouragement and took photographs, both those who were static and those who were mobile. I know the full marathon runners also greatly appreciated the one or two relay runners who selflessly continued on after their stint to offer support and encouragement to those from our Club who needed it most. It did make a difference.

  3. Weekend Report – April 3rd

    Comments Off on Weekend Report – April 3rd

    With Easter Monday and an action packed weekend you may want to settle down with a cup of tea and a biscuit and get comfy before beginning this week’s lengthy write-up…

    An Carn 10k

    Easter Monday saw 3 OAC runners pack up their Easter eggs and head to scenic South Derry for the first running of this event organised by Slaughtneil GAC in association with St Patrick’s College, Maghera. We were promised scenic and this was delivered. On the way to registration we got a glimpse of local architect Patrick Bradley’s award winning container house (as featured on Grand Designs). The 10k was a loop, starting and finishing in the grounds of the GAC, the race was accurately measured and Glenn Grant from ChampionChip was there to do the timing.

    It was an undulating route (slight understatement) taking in the beautiful country roads around Drumlamph Forest and the scenery at the base of the Carn Trochair mountain. Parts would have been better suited to trail shoes than road shoes, as there were stony sections, potholes and puddles a plenty. It was well marshalled and there were 2 water stations. There was also a 5k out and back route. The 3 OAC athletes ran well and Sarah finished very strongly with a sprint finish which Mo Farah would have been proud of!

    Michael O’Donoghue 43.40 (9th) Liz Leitch 46.28 Sarah Malcolmson 59.34 The race was won by Acorns AC sky running expert Shane Donnelly in 36.26. First lady was Karen Alexander (Acorns AC) 40.09. As expected, the spread afterwards was excellent; soup, sandwiches, buns and fruit!

    The OAC runners were well supported by Sarah’s husband Steven and Sooty her loyal pooch. If anyone fancies another race in this area, they hold a mountain race up and down the Carn on 12th July.

    Whitehead 5 mile road race

    Also on Easter Monday a bunch of our athletes made the journey to the beautiful Edwardian town of Whitehead for the annual road race. This is one of the oldest road races in the country, first run in January 1924 and then switched to Easter the following year. It has been run in Waterworks, Ormeau Park and at Ards Airport. This race used to be regarded as the NI novice championship and teams would arrive by the bus load. Our runners arrived by train!

    The course is 3 laps around the town, the main challenge is the aptly named Slaughterhill Road. Registration and prize giving are in the community hall where Dusty Springfield performed in the 60s. Our OAC athletes fared very well in changeable weather. Johnny Weston 33.53, Brian Todd 34.11, Carolyn Beattie 37.26, Lisa Rodham 37.36, Gerald Harvey 38.00, Reg Sanlon 40.34, Judith McCann 42.57, Jenny Powell 43.00 and Ian Reid 55.09.

    Stephen Prentice was first finisher in 26.42 with Judith Lonnen First Lady in 29.49.

    NiRunning Killylane Klassic 5 mile trail run

    Brian Todd (his second race in 6 days with a duathlon planned within 24 hours) was the only Orangegrove runner to make the journey to the hills above Larne to Killylane reservoir and Ballyboley Forest. This is a great event and I was disappointed that I was unable to run it this year (have been floored by the lurgy).

    It’s organised by Ryan Maxwell and his NIRunning team to raise funds for the upkeep of their super informative website. Ryan and his team do a fantastic amount of voluntary work for our athletics community, so this is a worthy cause and I would like to suggest that it is considered for our next club championship list. The race itself is very well organised, well marshalled, chip timed and with hot dogs afterwards, all for a fiver.

    The route is scenic and has a few challenging hills which add to the fun. Anyway, as always, Brian ran very well, he won his age group in a time of 34.21. Well done Brian. The event was won by NI international athlete Mark McKinstry in 26.34, with Ballymena Runners’ Paula McAllister first woman in 33.54

    Reading Half Marathon

    Not satisfied with having run the majority of races that NI has to offer, Michael O’Donoghue made his way across the water to take part in the Reading Half Marathon. This course was changed last year to a flatter one starting in Green Park with the final straight taking you into the Madejski Stadium. Michael informs me that it was “a very well organised race with ale at one of the water stops, about 16,000 entrants and had a great stadium finish”. Full results aren’t available yet for this race but text confirmation gives him a very impressive time of 1.36.56.

    Victoria Shield 2016

    With the inclusion of the annual Victoria Shield in the Club Championship, this was always going to be a special event. We had 37 runners which is a record . For those not in the know, the Victoria Shield is a handicapped race, with times worked out on recent 5k form, the slower runners go off first and the aim is that the runners will all merge together in the last 400m and there will be a mad sprint finish! The course is parkrun in reverse.

    Read the full race report here

    Runher Delamont 10k

    The popular Runher series brought over 450 keen runners and walkers to Delamont Country Park on a rather wet Sunday. With a 5k and 10k option the OAC contingent that attended all decided to race instead of taking a trip on the miniature railway and both distances were covered.

    This was an 1 or 2 lap undulating, and in places rather mucky course, but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of all those running this ladies only race. Puddle jumping was optional although the final stretch included a good climb to the monument followed by a spot of cross-country running across a boggy field before the finish (not optional).

    Lyndsey ran the ladies home in the 10k with a podium place of 3rd in line with her race number and a superb time of 43.34. Lisa Rodham came in next with 51.31 followed by Verity Cornford (55.52) and Sarah Malcolmson (1.00.56). Catherine Lavery was the only club member who ran the 5k and finished with an impressive 34.14. Well done to Lyndsey on her top 3 and all that ran in what was a demanding course. The winner of the 5k was Rachel Gibson (North Down) in 20.05 and the 10k was won by Laura Graham (Mourne Runners) in 38.56.

    Rabbit Run

    The second 5k Rabbit Run and 1 mile Bunny Hop in support of Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice took place at Hazlebank Park in Newtownabbey. Ian Reid was the only member who took the gauntlet for OAC at this event (hot-footing it straight from the Victoria Shield). The 5k race takes you along the coastal path at Belfast Lough with the 1 mile bunny hop option for children to join in beforehand. Ian finished the race in a commendable 35.21. First male home was Marsh Rushby (18.35) and first female was Eimear McBrien (20.21).

    Duathlon events

    In the last few weeks Brian Todd has been indulging himself in Sprint Duathlon. Last weekend, in the familiar environs of Victoria Park, he managed to complete the two mile run, the ten mile bike ride and final two mile run in 1.05.29 (20th/34), although a vicious south-westerly wind practically ground many of the less experienced cyclists (he amongst them) to a standstill on the exposed Airport Road section. Today (Sunday) at Bishopscourt Motor Racing Circuit, near Downpatrick, he was joined by the very versatile Antra Balcuna who was in great form and finished on the podium as second lady in 1.05.54. Brian was a little slower in 1.07.44, his campaign today negatively affected by yesterday’s fairly brisk five mile trail race up at Killylane Reservoir.

    Parkrun

    12512777_10153510615157066_7230363561230407810_nDespite the packed schedules over the Easter Weekend and beyond, Parkrun was still as popular as ever with OAC members taking part in plenty of timed runs both at home and further afield. There were no PBs at the club’s home run at Victoria Park or across NI this week with runners possibly saving themselves for the Victoria Shield.

    Michael O’Donoghue ran Reading Parkrun in 23.58 prior to the Half Marathon the following day. George Gribben was also in England touristing and ran Huddersfield in 27.17 with Chris Downey running a fantastic 19.04 (7/674) in Greenmount, South Africa to finish his holiday on a high.

    Thanks to all those that helped marshall, bake and generally help out at Victoria on Saturday. As we all know, no volunteers, no parkrun!

  4. Victoria Shield 2016

    Comments Off on Victoria Shield 2016

    With the inclusion of the annual Victoria Shield in the Club Championship, this was always going to be a special event. We had 37 runners which is a record .

    For those not in the know, the Victoria Shield is a handicapped race, with times worked out on recent 5k form, the slower runners go off first and the aim is that the runners will all merge together in the last 400m and there will be a mad sprint finish! The course is parkrun in reverse.

    Today’s results are as follows, it’s a long list!

    Finish time 5K time
    1 Brian McFarland 28.37 25.52 PB
    2 Judith McCann 28.58 26.28
    3 Jacqui Maxwell 29.49 23.49
    4 Anne Devlin 29.50 29.05 PB
    5 Andy McIntyre 29.53 17.53
    6 Eoghan Rainey 30.01 23.46
    7 Reg Sanlon 30.04 23.19
    8 Jonny Weston 30.06 20.36
    9 Karen Russell 30.09 27.54
    10 Julie McKimm 30.15 21.45
    11 Sharon McFarland 30.15 29.00
    12 Colin Sykes 30.16 23.16
    13 Alison Hall-Thompson 30.21 24.51
    14 Catherine Fearon 30.23 27.08
    15 Beverley Martin 30.26 28.11
    16 Ian Grant 30.26 21.41
    17 Des Fahy 30.27 19.12
    18 John Neill 30.28 21.58
    19 Eric Fairfield 30.30 19.45
    20 Graeme Bennett 30.34 20.34
    21 Darren Houston 30.36 20.26
    22 Jenny Powell 30.43 26.13
    23 Gerald Harvey 30.46 23.16
    24 Martin O’Brien 30.47 21.32
    25 Anna Rankin 30.52 26.37
    26 Fintan Hurl 30.56 24.26
    27 Mark Williamson 30.58 21.58
    28 Melinda Wilkinson 31.03 27.33
    29 Carolyn Beattie 31.05 22.50
    30 Ian Wilson 31.08 25.53
    31 Ian Reid 31.20 31.20
    32 Stephen Hamilton 31.24 21.24
    33 Martin Walker 31.41 25.26
    34 Martin Doherty 31.46 24.01
    35 Robin Montgomery 32.28 20.28
    36 Alan Martin 33.18 27.03
    37 Eoin Woodman 35.07 35.07

    Well done to our winners and congratulations to everyone who ran. It was lovely to see the sea of orange running round the park. Thanks to Robin for organising the handicaps and race entries, to Carole and Darren for the timing and to Anne and Cara for marshalling.

    Thanks also to those who provided refreshments for afterwards, to quote Catherine Fearon ‘it’s better than an East Down AC spread!’ Also thanks to those who came down to cheer and support. £111 was raised today from entry fees and this goes to a charity of Brian’s choosing.

  5. Weekend Report – March 20th

    Comments Off on Weekend Report – March 20th

    Spring may have sprung and recent high pressure and blue skies might suggest that St. Patrick has turned the stone…but don’t get too excited! It is my turn to write again. Hopefully, I will remember how! It is a fairly busy time of the year with at least one substantial St. Patrick’s Day event and, of course, one of the biggest events of the year, Saturday’s AES Larne Half Marathon. Sunday will see the inaugural JogBelfast 5k run in Ormeau Park.

    Spar Craic 10K

    In the last couple of years St. Patrick’s Day has become synonymous with the Spar Craic 10k which begins at Belfast City Hall and takes the runner on a tour of West Belfast before a traverse of the Lagan on the new pedestrian bridge to East Belfast and the Titanic slipways and the finishing mats. There are a number of main promoters and competitors are urged to seek sponsorship to help the deterMIND charity which is leading the campaign against Motor Neurone Disease. This is being billed as a cross community event and a portion of each entry fee of £25 will be donated to the named charity.

    The former Lord Mayor of Belfast Máirtin O’Muilleoir, himself a runner, is one of those behind the initiative. The action begins at Belfast City Hall at 9am. I am aware of a number of OAC entrants for this year’s race, at least two of them in very fancy dress, or so the rumours would suggest. Well over 1000 entries have been received and amongst them will be Thomas Leitch, Anne Moore, Catherine Fearon, Mairead Conlon, Graeme Bennett, Lisa Rodham, Ian Reid, Mairead Napier, Shona Pryde, Michael O’Donoghue and possibly others. So, if you are not interested in either the Schools’ Cup Final at the Kingspan or the MacRory Cup Final in Armagh or even the gee gees at Down Royal, head into Belfast city centre for a bit of running craic, either as a competitor or as a spectator. You will not be disappointed! The following are the Orangegrove Athletic Club times for the Spar Craic 10k:-

    Thomas Leitch 37.34 (24th/1131)
    Michael O’Donoghue 41.59 PB
    Graeme Bennett 42.04
    Anne Moore 44.14
    Catherine Fearon 55.46
    Mairead Conlon 57.17
    Lisa Rodham 1.09.01
    Mairead Napier 1.09.01
    Shona Pryde 1.09.01
    Ian Reid 1.14.56

    Very well done indeed to Thomas Leitch on a great run and to Michael O’Donoghue on a personal best for this distance. The St. Patrick’s Day Craic Spar 10k was won by Andrew Annett in 32.56. Theresa Duffy was first lady in 38.44.

    Larne Half Marathon

    Some of us are inclined to think that we have to travel far and wide to find a decent marathon or half marathon. Yet, within our own shores, indeed just up the road a bit, we have what must be one of the great half marathons of Europe, if not the World. Larne Athletic Club’s AES Larne Half Marathon has just about everything; a little bit of urban, a slice of leafy suburb, a very big chunk of stunning coastal scenery, some beautiful rural vistas, a challenging hill, a spooky castle, a picture postcard village, loads of razzmatazz, great organisation, great local support along the route and post-race hospitality that is second to none. In the last few years this half marathon has expanded enormously and it definitely has an international feel to it and this is borne out by some of the names in the entry list which stands at nearly 2000 in number.

    The route is spectacular. Race headquarters is at the magnificent Larne Leisure Centre at the sea front. The race itself begins by the lapping waters of Larne Lough close to the Chaine Monument to a local dignitary and not too far removed from the memorial to the 133 victims of the Princess Victoria disaster in 1953. The first part of the route is through the centre of Larne itself before the runner doubles back towards the Antrim Coast Road for the magnificent section through the Black Arch, Drains Bay, Carnfunnock, Ballygally Head and the village of Ballygally itself. At the spooky castle the runner bears left and shortly afterwards begins the fairly challenging climb of about a mile or less up to Cairncastle village. After that it is fast downhill to the coast again before the journey back to the Leisure Centre, this time the final section by the coastal path rather than through the town itself. It is a truly magnificent event and one in which it is a pleasure to run….as long as the weather is on your side, as it has been in the last few years. However, strong winds and rain could make it all very difficult indeed!

    Thankfully, the weather forecast for Saturday is good, so hopefully all will be well. Traditionally, there is a very big Orangegrove turnout for this one, and Saturday will see many of us there again!

    And conditions were perfect on the day, cool, dry and no wind. The organisation too was superb. Great marshalling and enough water around the course to float an Esso supertanker. The following are the chip times for Orangegrove participants:

    Des Fahy 1.27.46
    Sile Brennan 1.33.00
    Rodney Corrigan 1.36.08
    Stephen Anderson 1.36.50 PB
    Julie McKimm 1.41.29
    Ian Grant 1.42.12
    Michael O’Donoghue 1.42.48
    Zdzislaw Malkinski 1.45.33
    Ian Millgate 1.45.44 PB
    Jacqui Maxwell 1.47.47
    Emma McWilliams 1.50.18
    Brian Todd 1.50.18
    Anne Moore 1.54.46
    Heather Shanks-Miller 1.54.49
    Trish Magill 1.55.34
    Linda Craig 1.56.51
    Kerris Hamilton 1.58.28
    Sharon Corken 1.58.28
    Kirsty Buchanan 1.58.55 PB

    Very well done indeed to both Des Fahy and Sile Brennan for leading the OAC contingent home. The AES Larne Half Marathon was won by Gideon Kimosop (Project Africa Athletes) in 1.07.28. Laura Graham (Mourne Runners) was first lady in 1.19.21.

    We at OAC are very grateful for the support and encouragement we received around the course, particularly from our own Sharon McFarland, Anne Devlin, Ian Reid and Thomas and Liz Leitch. We are also very grateful for the many photographs they took during the course of the day, some of which I will attempt to compile into a photo album to follow this report. Thank you!

    Winter triathlon

    Male club captain Robin Montgomery should have been pounding the coast road with us, but instead he was on ‘business’ in the Netherlands, in Enschede to be exact, taking part in a ‘work related’ winter triathlon. Have no fear, he is not doing the whole thing himself. It was Robin’s job to run the 10k road/trail section before handing over to a cyclist (50k) and eventually to a speed skater (22k). As was to be expected Robin did his bit with gusto, running the 10k in 39.21 for sixth place out of 47. The cyclist didn’t fare so well, suffering a mechanical failure which slowed him before he handed over to the speed skater. To cut a long story short, Robin’s team finished in 19th place out of 47 and was the first work team to complete the event. We offer our congratulations to both Robin and his work colleagues.

    GloHealth Irish Masters Indoor Championships

    There is within Orangegrove a small but very active sprint group under the ever watchful eye of Alan Martin which meets at the Mary Peters Track on Monday evenings and at Grosvenor on Wednesday evenings. This Sunday a number of the sprinters are in Athlone taking part in the GloHealth Irish Masters Indoor Championships. I understand that Joy McAleer, Beverley Martin, Ian Wilson, George Gribben, Jim Harris and Alan himself will compete and results will be added to this report as soon as they are available. Indeed, before even a sprint was sprung, the day got off to an excellent start for Orangegrove with a very focused looking Emma Smith featuring on the front cover of the Championship programme. Unfortunately Emma could not compete due to injury, but was present to coach and cheer on her team. We wish them all the very best of luck.

    And the news from Athlone, so far, is good news. Jim Harris was 3rd in the 400m. George Gribben was 2nd in the 200m and 4th in the 60m. Beverley Martin was joint 4th at 60m and 5th in the 200m with a new PB by 1.41 seconds. Ian Wilson, recovering from injury, ran 8.52 in the 60m and coach Alan Martin, sprinting for the first time in a long time, registered 9.02 in the 60m. I have no news of Joy McAleer other than a photo of her standing alone on the 3rd place level of a podium. We will hear in due course. Sorry, wrong! Joy is standing on the silver side of the podium, having secured 2nd place in the F50 800m. Job done! Very well done indeed to all the sprinters!

    JogBelfast 5K

    There has been an enormous revolution in non-competitive running in the last three or four years and at the heart of it has been parkrun and the Couch to 5k programme. While parkrun caters for those who can run a bit, the Couch to 5k phenomenon has offered incredible support to hundreds, possibly thousands, of local people in their efforts to make the enormous jump from inactivity through a twelve week programme of manageable easy steps towards a first parkrun of 5k and, in the process, providing a sense of achievement, self respect, friendship and fraternity and even a bit of craic for those who see it through.

    Our own Club, now in conjunction with Victoria Park and Connswater Athletic Club, has been foremost in running a successful Couch to 5K programme over the last couple of years and it is gratifying to note that today some of our most respected Club members have entered the portal from the programme. On Sunday March 20th the achievements and endeavour of every individual who has come through Couch to 5k were celebrated in the running of the inaugural Couch to 5k race in Ormeau Park. While specifically for those who have completed or are completing the scheme the race also welcomed anybody else who wished to take part. The route is a five kilometre loop within the park itself. The start is at 10am and the organisers will welcome all those who have partaken in the scheme and not just those who wear the blue JogBelfast t-shirt. Race headquarters is in the Bowling Pavilion at the Ormeau Road end where the start and finish areas will also be located. Timing will by ChampionChip Ireland.

    The organisers are very grateful for the support they have received from Belfast City Council, the Public Health Agency, ActiveNI, the Belfast Health Development Unit, Sport NI, BelfastRunning.com and Bailies Coffee, a company which has not only provided valuable sponsorship but will also provide welcome refreshments on the day. Entries are limited to 1000 and hopefully our Club will be represented both on the track and amongst the marshals. We salute them! Too many to mention all of them from Victoria Park, but certainly today the following were in action at Ormeau: Jack Duffin, Christina Laing, Magda Berntek, Eleanor Harkness, Joanne Bakley, Teri McIlroy Wilson, Linda McKenna, Leon Thompson, Charlene Hughes, Emma McCreery, Richard McCance and Alison Smyth. (Names provided by Ian Wilson) Very well done indeed to the runners and to the coaches who got them there!

    North Coast Marathon Series

    It all started as a nasty unlikely rumour, but then it turned out to be true. Following on yesterday’s Larne Half Marathon, it would appear to be fact that Michael O’Donoghue got out of his bed this morning and headed for the north coast to take part in a North Coast Marathon Series marathon from Portstewart to somewhere west of Ballintoy and then back to Portstewart? His Strava report records a time of 4.10.26 and an elevation gain of 1,082 feet. I will just leave you with that. Nuff said!

    Parkrun

    Parkrun goes from strength to strength and is not far off being a global phenomenon. Last week Ormeau had over 500 runners and our own Victoria Park had 335 while Waterworks had 301. Long gone are the days when these locations would have sported a man and his dog only at 9.30am on a Saturday morning.

    There are currently over twenty parkruns within Northern Ireland, with eight in the Greater Belfast area alone: Waterworks, Victoria Park, Queen’s University at the Dub, Falls, Stormont, Ormeau, Colin Glen and Newtownabbey. This week 209 runners plumped for Victoria Park and there were one or two very good runs from the Orangegrove clientele.

    Many congratulations to Darren Houston who is running very well at the moment. Darren completed his 100th parkrun in a personal best time of 19.33. Well done Deborah Killen on yet another personal best of 35.38. At Queen’s, Aaron McCord (JM 11-14) recorded a personal best of 21.27. At Stormont Martin O’Brien (21.37), Gerald Harvey (23.10) and Melinda Wilkinson (26.52) all set personal bests for the venue. David Fletcher (22.07) and Ryan Drain (JM10/23.25) were first timers at Stormont. Andy McIntyre was flying at Ormeau where he finished second in a personal best time of 18.01. Well done Reg Sanlon at Comber where he registered a personal best of 24.11.

    Thomas Leitch was 2nd overall at Larne parkrun at Carnfunnock in a personal best time of 19.00 for this hilly venue. Mark Williamson tackled Letterkenny parkrun where he finished second in 21.28. Paul and Lyndsey Tyro were speedy first timers at Cookstown in 18.24 and 19.52 respectively. There also seems to have been quite a bit of parkrun tourism going on at the weekend amongst the OAC brethren. Paul Gruhn was in Newcastle-upon-Tyne where he recorded 25.26, Lisa Fleming was in Ballymena (23.15), Anna Rankin was at Marlay, near Dublin, in 26.06 and Nicola and Chris Downey ran at Fish Hoek (Cape Town, South Africa) where Nicola recorded 31.03 and Chris a more sedate 45.59.

    The whole thing is dependent on Volunteers and there is room for more. Training will be given and you will not be thrown in at the deep end.

    Email belfastvictoriahelpers@parkrun.com and the indomitable Gerry Ward will get you a wee job to do. It could change your life. It most certainly will change your Saturdays.

  6. Weekend Report – February 28th

    Comments Off on Weekend Report – February 28th

    Another busy weekend for our club with athletes competing in Belfast, Castlewellan, Desertmartin, London, Broughshane and Dubai.

    ABO Wind Raceview 10k

    On Saturday, Kirsty Buchanan raced in the ABO Wind Raceview 10k in Broughshane, the event was organised in association with 26 Extreme, so this was never going to be a fast course. Kirsty tells me that it was a challenging , scenic course and that there was a mare of a hill at 4 k which went on for about a mile. Despite this , Kirsty finished in a time of 54 minutes. Tea , coffee and shortbread afterwards were highly commended!

    Parkrun

    On a crisp but bright Saturday morning, eleven Orangegrovers took part in Victoria parkrun with some individuals also bravely putting themselves forward for the afternoon mud-fest at Stormont. Congratulations to Mark Williamson who successfully completed his 100th parkrun (his 37th at Victoria). Verity Cornford took part in her first Queens parkrun and gained a new PB of 24.01 as well as a post run bacon sandwich supplied for their 4th Birthday celebrations. Lynsey Tyro ran Ormeau parkrun at the front of the pack to make first lady with a fantastic time of 20.44.

    Run Forest Run, Castlewellan

    Saturday also saw the finale of the Run Forest Run 10k series taking place at Castlewellan Forest Park. Although many Orangegrovers had taken part previously in various races during this series, only three determined individuals travelled down to pick up their hard-earned Forest Finisher t-shirt that had required 6 of the 8 races to be completed. The race was won by William McKee in 33.29 with Laura Graham was first female in 37.37.

    Michael O’Donoghue (58/678) led the pack home for Orangegrove with a fantastic time of 43.51 before hot footing it back to Belfast to take place in the last of the Stormont XC races. Mairead Napier arrived in next in a very respectable 1.07.36 with Shona Pryde shortly afterwards at 1.11.28.

    Dubai Aquathlon

    Meanwhile in Dubai, Helen Charlton and her friend Laura (a Ballymena lass) were ‘Team Norn Iron’ in the Aquathlon at Fairmount the Palm.

    Helen completed the 1500m swim in 25 mins and Laura the 10k in 46 mins , which gave them 2nd place.

    Well done!

    NICSAC XC – Stormont Estate

    This was always going to be the biggest event of the weekend for OAC. The final race in the ANI XC league, the penultimate race in the NI Masters Athletics Association league and the 3rd race in the OAC club championship.

    Read the full race report here

    Desertmartin 10k (St Martin’s GAC Slieve Gallion Challenge)

    Fintan Hurl took part in this race on Sunday morning, this was advertised as a scenic mountain challenge in the foothills of the Sperrins. Fintan ran a negative split, finishing in a very respectable time of 53.21.

    Not bad at all considering he had to tend to 2 runaway donkeys on the route, he had run the XC on Saturday and baby Shay has him rather sleep deprived. Race pack included a very nice day glo technical tee and the spread afterwards did not disappoint.

    One for the diaries for next year!

    12799308_10154015503999973_5606585286758086655_n

    Inter area vets athletics championships, Lee Valley

    Coach Alan Martin and athletes Emma Smith, Beverley Martin and Joy McAleer travelled to London to represent Northern Ireland.

    The news is that Emma ran a PB in the 60m hurdles and was 3rd. Beverley ran a PB of 10.40 in the 60m flat and was 3rd in her 200m heat. Joy ran 2.50.75 in her 800m. Well done all!

    Ben Dearg 10K

    Soon to be newbie Eric Fairfield ran in the Ben Dearg 10k on Sunday. He finished in an excellent time of 39.44. Well done Eric!

    As always I will finish by mentioning our invaluable parkrun volunteers. Week In, week out they are there.

    If you would like to help out contact Gerry (or opt in on your parkrun profile). If you fancy a role in the tea room, then contact the lovely Anne Moore.

  7. Stormont XC – Club Championship

    Comments Off on Stormont XC – Club Championship

    This was always going to be the biggest event of the weekend for OAC. The final race in the ANI XC league, the penultimate race in the NI Masters Athletics Association league and the 3rd race in the OAC club championship.

    The event included primary school, junior and senior events and we were well represented.

    PS Boys Jacob McKittrick 3.42 (6th)
    PS Boys Christian Chandler 4.10
    PS Boys Matthew Sykes 4.23
    PS Boys Sam Rainey 5.01
    PS Boys Elijah Blake 5.38
    PS Girls Olivia Chandler 4.34
    PS Girls Emma Carson 4.44
    U13 Girls Iseult Fahy 8.48 (5th)
    U13 Girls Reegan Neil-McKenzie 9.35
    U15 Boys Rory Hall-Thompson 12.17 (12th)
    U15 Boys Aaron Sykes 12.32
    U15 Girls Chloe Brown 15.53
    U17 Boys Ben Hall-Thompson 13.38

    Ladies (3 miles)

    Trudy Brown 21.23 74.28%
    Lyndsey Tyro 21.42 68.20%
    Julie McKimm 23.44 64.47%
    Emma McWilliams 24.10 65.10%
    Lisa Fleming 25.27 61.82%
    Kerris Hamilton 26.52 56.58%
    Alison Hall-Thompson 27.00 56.67%
    Jacqui Maxwell 27.17 65.49%
    Jenny Powell 27.55 54.45%
    Anna Rankin 28.11 55.00%
    Selina Myles 29.16 50.91%
    Catherine Fearon 29.17 50.54%
    Judith McCann 29.33 51.44%
    Eleanor Acheson 29.55 50.81%
    Linda Craig 29.56 60.47%
    Sharon Corken 29.57 51.09%
    Hilary Bradshaw 30.20 48.79%
    Karen Russell 30.21 50.41%
    Judith Dalzell 30.34 54.20%
    Sarah Malcolmson 32.10 46.48%
    Anne Devlin 41.30 41.97%
    Deborah Killen 41.40 40.72%

    MV60+ race (3 miles)

    George Gribben 29.10

    Men’s race (approx 4.5 miles)

    Andy McIntyre 28.26 74.74%
    Des Fahy 30.34 77.43%
    Robin Montgomery 31.11 75.31%
    Tim Robinson 31.16 74.52%
    Darren Houston 32.41 70.73%
    Brian Todd 32.43 83.49%
    Stephen Anderson 33.08 71.98%
    Martin O’Brien 33.48 66.86%
    Ian Grant 34.18 63.51%
    Michael O’Donoghue 34.32 64.96%
    Paul Tyro 35.13 60.91%
    Andrew Allen 35.46 67.24%
    Ian Millgate 38.28 58.75%
    Gerald Harvey 39.03 69.31%
    Colin Sykes 39.18 59.29%
    Eoghan Rainey 39.18 57.93%
    Reg Sanlon 39.57 69.63%
    Fintan Hurl 41.20 52.42%
    Adrian Sproule 41.31 51.30%
    Ian Wilson 43.45 54.97%
    Stephen Craig 49.29 51.90%
    Neal Killen 52.12 45.34%

    Well done to all who ran, maximum points in the XC league have been achieved which should keep the ladies team in a prize winning 5th place and the men in a very competitive 8th.

    Thanks to our captains for all their encouragement and to all who came along to support, feed and cheer.

    A special mention to Stephen Craig who stopped to come to the aid of a fellow runner who was involved in a nasty collision.

    The club championship standings will be released soon by the captains. It looks like Trudy will continue to lead the ladies and Brian the men. But it’s early days with 9 more events to come.

  8. Weekend Report – January 31st

    Comments Off on Weekend Report – January 31st

    Yes, it is me again and glad to be back as one of the writing pool! Dismal January is usually far from dismal on the running front and this weekend was no exception. There was the Northern Ireland and Ulster Intermediate and Masters’ Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Coleraine and Sunday saw Orangegrove runners in abundance at the very picturesque 5k and 10k Cultra Challenge trail races around the grounds of the Folk and Transport Museum, near Belfast. Also on Sunday, one or two of us turned up at Bishopscourt Motor Racing Circuit near Downpatrick with our bikes for the first round of the Ni Duathlon series for 2016. So, plenty going on!

    NI & Ulster Masters XC Championships

    The Athletics NI Northern Ireland Intermediate and Masters’ Cross Country races at the University of Ulster at Coleraine are one of the foremost and most eagerly anticipated cross country races of the season. They take place on an interesting course in the grounds of the University, not far from the convenient Coleraine University railway station. The course comprises both grass and forest trail, with at least one steep hill, and can present a tough enough challenge when the conditions are right, or rather wrong as they usually are. There is an enormous entry list for this event which also comprises a round of the Masters’ Winter League for those of us who are paid up members of the Northern Ireland Masters’ Athletic Association. The races are for both Intermediates and Masters men and ladies. Intermediates are those 35 or younger. Masters comprises those 35 and older. The first race of the day at 1.15pm is for Masters Men (35-64) over a distance of 8k. The ladies (Intermediates and Masters together and Masters’ Men over 65) go at 2.00pm over 4k and the final race of the day for male Intermediates over 10k is at 2.30pm, by which time the course will be in a right mess!

    This year Orangegrove will concentrate on the Masters category only with both ladies and men’s teams. The rules are that clubs can enter eight male and female runners, six run and the best four score. However, these are also individual races and all who turn up will run. On the day Orangegrove will, hopefully, be represented by Liz Leitch, Lisa Fleming, Jill Holland, Julie McKimm, and Linda Craig, Thomas Leitch, Robin Montgomery, Darren Houston, Tim Robinson, Michael O’Donoghue, Ian Grant and Jim Harris ; however, it could all be change on the day! May they all run well!

    Conditions were far from perfect on the day and it didn’t take long for the course to cut up badly, making the going very tough indeed. We offer our congratulations to the following members of OAC who travelled to Coleraine to represent the Club on a day when it certainly would have been easier to have stayed at home:

    Masters Men (8k)

    Thomas Leitch 28.31
    Robin Montgomery 29.17
    Tim Robinson 30.02
    Ian Grant 30.56
    Darren Houston 30.57
    Michael O’Donoghue 32.07

    The race was won by Pauric McKinney (Inishowen) in 24.02

    Masters Ladies and Men 65+ (4k)

    F35 Julie McKimm 20.42
    F35 Jill Holland 21.54
    F35 Lisa Fleming 22.23
    M65 Jim Harris 24.24
    F35 Elizabeth Leitch 24.45
    F35 Linda Craig 24.45

    The F35 race was won by Catriona Devine (Finn Valley AC) in 17.03 while the M65 race was won by Gerry Lynch (City of Derry AC) in 18.55.

    Cultra Challenge 5k and 10k

    There will undoubtedly be a large Orangegrove turnout on Sunday morning for the new Cultra Challenge 5k and 10k trail races in the grounds of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra. Well over 500 have pre registered. These races are being organised by National Museums NI and all proceeds will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support. The route is ominously described as ‘hilly’ but will, nevertheless, reward the participant with spectacular scenery and the unusual opportunity to run amongst a collection of the best of Ulster’s rural built heritage, including the town of Ballycultra itself. The race starts at Cultra Manor. Built in 1902, the Manor was once the family home of Sir Robert Kennedy, a career diplomat in his day. In 2004 the Folk and Transport Museum was named Irish Museum of the Year and is generally regarded as one of the best and most dynamic in the United Kingdom. At the time of writing the following members have indicated that they are running at Cultra on Sunday: Catherine Lavery, Alan Montgomery, Ian Millgate, Ian Reid (5k), Heather Shanks-Miller, Martin O’Brien (5k), Melinda Wilkinson, Verity Cornford and Selina Myles. However, as before, it may well be all change on the day!

    Well, the race went ahead in reasonably stable weather conditions, although I gather there was a little bit of confusion over the length of the route and the direction taken by some runners. Ah well, these things sometimes happen and a worthy charity did, nevertheless, benefit. Before Garmins and TomToms no one would have noticed! The following results are as published or as have been indicated to me. If there are anomalies, please pm me over the next day or so and the report will be corrected before uploading to the main website:

    9k/10k/11k/12k?

    Ian Millgate 49.56
    Reg Sanlon 54.31
    Melinda Wilkinson 55.52
    Heather Shanks-Miller 58.15
    Jonny Weston 59.18
    Carolyn Beattie 59.19
    Catherine Lavery 1.11.36
    Selina Myles 1.11.58

    The 10k/11k race was won by David Simpson (Newcastle AC) in 39.02.

    5k

    Ian Reid 40.56

    The race was won by Brian Bogle (Unattached) in 23.26.

    Hospitales San Roque Gran Canaria Marathon

    We don’t see as much of Zdislaw Malkinski as we used to, but he is still running and running very well indeed. Last year he recorded an impressive time in the Belfast half marathon, although he now prefers to run abroad where the temperatures tend to be higher. In fact this past weekend Zdislaw was in Gran Canaria where he took part in the Hospitales San Roque Gran Canaria Marathon, recording 4.16.06. Very well done indeed Zdislaw. I really like Zdislaw because he is, I think, one of the few members of our great club who is actually older than me!

    Bishopscourt Race Track Duathlon

    Sprint Duathlon in Northern Ireland is run by NI Duathlon and the 2016 season began on Sunday 31st January at Bishopscourt Motor Racing Circuit near Downpatrick, Co. Down. Duathlon is really triathlon without the nasty freezing swim. It involves the competitor running two miles, cycling ten miles and then running another two miles to the finish. The section of circuit used at Bishopscourt was two miles long so it was run a lap, cycle five laps, run a lap. Easier said than done! Obviously there are also transition stages between the run and the cycling bit which can take as long or short a time as you make them. Two OAC members were on the start line for this first duathlon of the year, Brian Todd and Emma McWilliams.

    The following times were achieved by the OAC pair:

    Emma McWilliams Brian Todd
    Run 1 14.58 13.33
    Transition 1 52secs 22secs
    Cycle 34.04 31.57
    Transition 2 41secs 23secs
    Run 2 15.15 13.57
    Total 1.05.49 1.00.10
    (6th female)

    Emma, only sister of former international grand prix and Moto GP road racing motorcycling star Jeremy McWilliams was, not surprisingly, very stylish on the bike as she adopted a fast knee out racing style on the sweeping curves of Bishopscourt that would undoubtedly have pleased and impressed her speedy brother who also took part in the duathlon. Her ageing companion, the writer, was less stylish and was indeed ill at ease on the bike and unsteady in places and lucky to finish at all having misjudged his braking on several occasions. Nevertheless, a very enjoyable and very well organised diversion from mere running and one to recommend. A few lessons were undoubtedly learned by the writer from this first duathlon….

    1. Do not eat Indian curry and drink wine the night before.
    2. Practice getting on and off the bike to avoid making a complete fool of yourself.
    3. Start the bike bit in the right gear!
    4. Do not regard the bike bit as a rest opportunity after the run… it is far from it.
    5. Develop a thick skin and pay no attention to other riders who swear at you when you cut in front of them on the bends, especially the ones who are lapping you.
    6. Run faster and ride the bike faster!
    7. Wear the proper kit!
    8. Do not nearly get yourself disqualified by riding your bike over the timing mats in the transition area. It is that, transition.
    9. Be prepared for the very odd feeling you get when you start the second run after the ten mile bike ride. You legs try to continue pedalling even though you are in run mode!

     

    BITEC Bangkok Half Marathon

    The Tyro pair, Paul and Lyndsey, are nearing the end of their belated honeymoon sojourn in SE Asia, during which they have taken the opportunity to run a number of half marathon races. On Sunday they ran the very humid BITEC Bangkok half, a race in the Bangna-Trad area of the city they have described as amongst the toughest they have ever done. I have no results to report, but I am sure the speedy pair’s times were very respectable indeed. We are grateful to Paul and Lyndsey for flying the Orangegrove flag in the orient and keeping us informed of their activities.

    East Coast Junior Cross Country series

    The final placings of competitors in the East Coast Junior Cross Country series were recently published and Orangegrove names appear in the results. Well done to the following Martha Orr (6th/Minor Girls), Isaac Orr (15th/ Minor Boys), Iseult Fahy (12th/ Junior Girls), Rory Hall-Thompson (9th /Junior Boys) and Alfie Houston (13th/Junior Boys). Iseult Fahy was also thirteenth in the recent Down Schools’ cross country races at Delamont. We wish her well in her Ulster Schools’ Cross Country trial in February.

    Parkrun

    Parkrun at Victoria Park returned to normality this week after the Club Championship antics of last Saturday when the timed run came as near to being a full blown race as it ever had before. There were no orange or light blue vests about this week and the nervy regulars seemed more at ease than they did last week, surrounded as they were then by runners who gave the misleading impression of knowing what they were doing. Conditions were far from ideal, the odd flurry of snow adding to the atmosphere and anticipation. Nevertheless, there was no ice underfoot for the three statutory laps of the lake and at precisely 09.30 they set off to the sound of a bell tolling. It was not an ideal morning for personal bests and there was only one OAC personal best to report. Well done Jacob McKittrick (JM10) on a fine PB of 22.37.

    Well done too Paul Woodman who was first finisher this morning in 18.10. I guess running in Dubai last weekend was not exactly best preparation for the distinctly cooler challenge that Paul faced this morning at Victoria Park. Well done Ashleigh Collim who was first OAC lady home in 22.58, closely followed by the ever consistent Sile Brennan in 22.59. There were OAC runners at nearly all the other Belfast parkruns too; Stormont, Ormeau, Waterworks and Colin Glen. Only at Stormont was there a PB set, by Martin Walker in 28.33. However, three Orangegrovers were first timers at the challenging Colin Glen parkrun where Andy McIntyre was first finisher in 19.15. Reg Sanlon got round in 27.26 and Catherine Fearon in 30.05. Very well done indeed! Sarah Malcolmson, recovering from injury, was weekending near Dublin and, having decided to forgo her bacon and eggs for a rather fluffy looking croissant, was a first timer at Malahide parkrun where she registered a respectable 28.52. Well done, Sarah!

    Please remember that the parkrun extravaganza depends on the goodwill and commitment of the volunteers. More than most parkruns, Victoria parkrun is being carried along each week by the same regulars. Although they do the job willingly with a smile and a nod they need more help from a larger pool of volunteers. Particularly if you are a regular runner at Victoria your additional help as a volunteer would be greatly appreciated.

    Please contact Gerry Ward on belfastvictoriahelpers@parkrun.com. Do it now and make your appearance soon.

  9. Weekend Report – January 24th

    Comments Off on Weekend Report – January 24th

    Was hoping this report would be like me, short and to the point, but as the week went on I discovered just how many events our athletes were participating in.

    Ho Chi Minh City Half Marathon

    Paul and Lyndsey Tyro continue on their honeymoon half marathon series. Race 2 was the HCMC half which they ran this morning whilst most of us were still asleep. The race starts at 6am to try to avoid the most of the daytime heat and humidity. The runners are taken on a route along Crescent Plaza and across the Phu My bridge with beautiful views of the Phu My Hung urban development.

    Not so sure how much of the beautiful views our speedy couple took in as they both finished in very fast times. Paul ran 1.29 and Lyndsey was 1st lady home in 1.35 (these times are approximate as official results are get to be released).

    Lyndsey won a beautiful trophy, some trainers and 6,000,000 VND ( best not to look up the exchange rate). The couple are celebrating the victory with a well earned meal and some local beverages.

    Well done on your win, Lyndsey, all at OAC are delighted for you.

    Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon

    Two of our athletes took part in this race in Friday morning. Famous for its flat and fast route starting and finishing in the shadow of the iconic Burj Al Arab, this race also starts early to avoid the heat.

    It’s also one of the richest long distance events, with record prize money. This year’s front runners set a 30km world record but fell off the pace in the last 12k. The eventual winner was the 6ft 4 Ethiopian Tesfaye Abera in a time of 2.04.24. First Lady was his county woman Tirfi Tsegaye in 2.19.41

    Our 2 athletes fared very well in the difficult conditions. Paul Woodman finished in 3.13.12. Helen Charlton in 4.14.40.

    Belfast Victoria parkrun , event 249

    This was always going to be busy! The first event in the OAC club championship and an inter club competition with our friends from Acorns AC. Nearly 300 runners took part, over 60 from our club and over 30 sporting the blue of Acorns.

    Read the full race report here

    Jordanstown Indoor Track Event

    This was the first indoor meet of the season for our sprint team. Jason Moore competed in his first 60m flat and having only recently started training with the sprinters showed no nerves and ran extremely well. Jason ran 8.19 in his 1st race and then 7.94 seconds.

    Emma Smith ran a PB over the 60m hurdles, 11.14 and then 10.80 seconds (previous PB 12 seconds) , and then ran 9.4 for the flat 60 after her 2 hurdles races. Lucy Armstrong , one of our junior athletes , ran very well over the flat distance, 8.68 in her first heat and then 8.62 seconds.

    Sperrin Harriers Winter Trail Race – Drum Manor 10k, race 4

    MOD and Paul Gruhn represented us in this race, Drum Manor is just outside Cookstown, it’s in a beautiful forest park and is well worth a visit (as a Mid Ulster lass I may be slightly biased).

    Built in 1829, taken over from the Stewart family in 1964 by NI Forest Service and reopened as a forest park in 1970.

    Anyway, the race consists of 2 x 5 k loops, it’s rather hilly ( an understatement. Michael was 72nd in a time of 46.59 and Paul completed the course in 56.33. As expected of a race organised by Sperrin Harriers the post race spread was extensive and I hear that our 2 men enjoyed the feast!

    Ben Sykes (minis) took part in the Firefly Fastest Feet competition at Jordanstown yesterday, this was to search for the fastest 7/8 year old in the country. The winner then gets to run in the final in the USA.

    It was a busy weekend for Rory Hall-Thompson. During the week he set a new 3k pb at a school event, he then paced his mum Alison around parkrun before competing in the East Coast AC XC. Rory was 2nd in the junior boys race. (Distance 2316m, time 10.05) Well done Rory.

    Finally (phew), did you know that the legend Gerry Ward will be 83 next month? Why not make his birthday extra special by volunteering at parkrun, there are many different roles available and training can be provided by the core team. Gerry’s email is belfastvictoriahelpers@parkrun.com

    Thanks to those who have sent me updates by message and thanks to Sarah Malcolmson, Paul Tyro, Helen Charlton, Rachel Woodman, John T Glover, Karen Russell and Francis Purvis for the photos.

  10. Festive Round-up

    Comments Off on Festive Round-up

    With the way that Christmas fell this year it was very much a case of parkrun with bells on it. There was a Christmas morning parkrun on the Friday and a Boxing Day parkrun on the Saturday, both at Victoria Park. However, this did not complete the festive running fare.

    On Boxing Day there was the Greencastle 5 mile road race in Co. Tyrone and also the Burren Townland’s Run, near Rostrevor, in Co. Down. On Monday 28th December, the popular Christmas Cracker at Castlewellan Forest Park took place and well over thirty Orangegrovers and supporters turned up on the day. Michael O’Donoghue competed in the East Antrim Marathon Series Carrickfergus marathon on Wednesday 30th and, the following day, the last day of the year, Graeme Bennett was in Co. Tyrone for the Lough 5 mile road race at Loughmacrory.

    On the 1st of January the challenging Race over the Glens at Glenariff took centre stage, and that wasn’t the end of it! On both New Year’s Day and Saturday 2nd January there was the usual parkrun bandwagon, with varying time configurations allowing some members to run two in the one morning and certainly two on consecutive days. Also on Saturday 2nd, January, down at Kilbroney Forest Park, near Rostrevor, a number of Orangegrovers lined up for the Born2Run ‘Run Forest Run’ 10k trail race! On Sunday 3rd January, 2016, some of us turned up at the Mary Peters Track for the John T. Glover/Lagan Valley AC 5k handicap trail race. Phew!

    There are three Greencastles that I know of in Northern Ireland. There is one in North Belfast, one in Co. Down on the shores of Carlingford Lough and then there is an extremely remote Greencastle high up in the Sperrins about half way between Cookstown and Omagh. Well, the latter one was the venue for the 30th running of the Greencastle 5 mile road race on Boxing Day, and what a great event it was.

    Read the full race report here.

    However, OAC on Boxing Day did not just revolve around Greencastle, Co. Tyrone! Andy McIntyre would have revelled in the mists of the Sperrins but he has romantic associations in South Down and he very wisely plumped for a race closer to home, her home, (though a race twelve miles long as opposed to five), that would be more likely to maintain his domestic harmony than travelling to the wilds of Co. Tyrone.

    This was the Burren Townlands 12 mile road race which started at the Burren Heritage Centre, not too far from Warrenpoint. There was also a 6 mile option. Andy is running very well at the moment and he scorched round the course in 1.22.07 to finish in a very creditable 6th place overall, which certainly put him in form for his Boxing Day lunch and a few drinks with the inlaws. Well done Andy!

    The Burren Townland’s 12 miler was won by Christopher Devine (Newry City Runners) in 1.13.12 and Eimear Devine (Newry City Runners) was first lady in 1.29.29.

     

    Closer to home, Orangegrove is traditionally well represented at the CIYMS rugby club’s charity run in and around Belfast’s Circular Road, and it was no exception this year. Orangegrove’s Jim Harris is at the heart of this one and we are always very glad to support any venture that he hosts.

    Jim is not only a successful OAC sprinter in his own right but one of Victoria Park parkrun’s most loyal volunteers. In the end seven lovely ladies and Ian Grant ran. The ladies were Jacqui Maxwell, Linda Carson-Craig, Julie McKimm, Kerris Hamilton, Sharon McFarland, Jackie Grant and Sharon Corken.

    I haven’t seen any results from this one yet. I am not even sure there are results or, if there are results, whether they matter. However, what I am sure of is that there was fun, laughter, music, festivity, food, wine and craic and that a good cause or two benefited. Well done all who ran at CIYMS on Boxing Day!

    Three days after Christmas Day traditionally brings the Castlewellan Christmas Cracker, organised by Newcastle A.C., a Club which knows a thing or two about organising races over difficult terrain. This is a ‘race’ of sorts in which competitors run (or otherwise) in pairs, which can be all male, all female or mixed. Read the full race report here.

    As if running over Slievenaslat (272m) on Monday 28th with the lovely Anne Moore wasn’t hard work enough (the run, not Anne), Michael O’Donoghue then casually threw in a little marathon on Wednesday 30th just to see his year out in style. He ran in the East Antrim Marathon Series Carrickfergus run which started in Carrickfergus and then followed a route southwards along the shore path towards Belfast.

    The Duncrue/Dargan Road area was included before a more pleasing stretch over the bridges into East Belfast and the Titanic Quarter. Then it was out along Sydenham Road and Airport Road towards Victoria Park where, I suspect, the runners were due to complete at least a lap before the return journey to Carrickfergus.

    However, Victoria Park just happened to be closed that day due to flooding and a further section of Airport Road had to be contemplated before the turn and return journey. Conveniently Michael posts his stats on Strava and they indicate a full marathon distance of 26.3 miles completed at an average pace of 9.30 (minute/miles) and a final time of 4.04.51. Exhausting, even thinking about it!

    Very well done indeed, MOD. Your club is both proud of you but also a little worried for you. You have had a great year. The worry is….what on earth will he attempt next to improve on it in 2016? The one thing we do know is that he will not sit still! Super running! Surely he will not throw in the Race over the Glens as well!

    -2048x1152

    On Thursday 31st December, the last day of the year, Graeme Bennett was in Co. Tyrone at the village of Loughmacrory, not far from Omagh, taking part in the Lough 5 mile road race, which includes a lap of the Lough itself. Graeme is running extremely well at the moment and he completed the race in 35.34 (102nd/532), despite a killer hill which, it would appear, is a regular feature of five mile road races in Co. Tyrone.

    Very well done indeed, Graeme, and grateful thanks for representing Orangegrove so well on the occasion. The race was won by Paddy Hamilton (Slieve Gullion Runners) in 25.14, with Julie Butler (Omagh Harriers) first lady in 30.39.

    It is traditionally a busy time of the year and no sooner has the Christmas Cracker been put to bed than we are contemplating the Race over the Glens on New Year’s Day. Now, New Year’s Day up at Glenariff Forest Park can be a pretty grim place to be weather wise.

    It does require a bit of an effort to get there as well, even for the 12 noon start. Most of us will have been imbibing a little the night before and the prospect of a fairly stiff six mile run the next day does not usually sit well with the majority of us, at least the ordinary mortals amongst us. Read the full race report here.

    Saturday 2nd January brought the Run Forest Run (Born2Run) 10k trail race at Kilbroney Forest Park, near Rostrevor, Co. Down. Over 600 runners took part in the December 10k at Tollymore, and this latest race promises to be just as popular. It is a fairly challenging run too, taking place, as it does, on the trails in and around Slievemartin. Those of us who did the Hill and Dale series this year know all about the one or two surprises that this area a can conjure up.

    The action begins at 11am and a fair number of Orangerovers are expected to travel south. Whether any of them will also have done the previous day’s Race over the Glens remains to be seen! Michael O’Donoghue might just be daft enough to do both! Registration is in the Cloughmor Inn in Rostrevor and the race actually starts in the town centre before taking the runner in and around the forest park a few times. This is the fifth race in the eight race series and runners who complete at least six of the runs qualify for the quite collectable Run Forest Run/ Born2Run tee shirt. The next one after Kilbroney is at Mount Stewart on Saturday January 16th.

    Kilbroney 10k times for Orangegrove Members:

    Andy McIntyre 39.41 (10th/ 454)
    Michael O’Donoghue 45.51
    Ian Millgate 49.42
    Verity Cornford 53.34
    Kerris Hamilton 56.10
    Sarah Malcolmson 57.31
    Catherine Fearon 1.00.58
    Mairead Napier 1.03.15
    Linda Carson-Craig 1.03.15

    Very well done indeed to all running at Kilbroney today. Super run from Andy McIntyre to finish in 10th place overall out of 454 runners. Great too to see that Verity Cornford’s hard work in training is beginning to pay a dividend.

    The Kilbroney 10k was won by William McKee (Mourne Runners) in 34.06 and Laura Graham (Mourne Runners) was first lady 38.08.

    The final event of the so called Festive Season will probably be the Lagan Valley AC Charity Handicap race of about 5k on Sunday morning, beginning at the Mary Peters Track at 10am. Our old friend John T. Glover is behind this very worthy attempt to raise funds for the Mary Peters Trust which aims to enable young athletes to reach their true potential. Registration is at the MPT from 9.30 and the action begins at 10am when the first groups will head off on a route taking in the Lagan towpath, Shaw’s Bridge, the House of Sport, part of the route of the Queen’s parkrun, the pitches above the old Dub pavilion and then back to the MPT. I know of some Orangegrovers who will be turning up on the day. The space below will be filled in due course with the results of their endeavours before this report is uploaded to the main website. May they all run well tomorrow! Trail shoes of some kind would appear to be the preferred option.

    And it rained and rained and rained and we were soaked to the skin. However, it was over quickly, a good cause benefited and the craic was good back in the pavilion at the MPT. Times and position were not important. Three OAC members made it to the start line:

    Emma McWilliams 24.17
    Brian Todd 24.17
    Liz Leitch 25.48

    Victoria Park parkrun elected to run on Christmas morning and, despite the unfavourable weather, 145 revellers turned up to take advantage of the opportunity to run 5k on the big day. First male Orangegrover home in 17.59 in 4th place was Paul Tyro with his wife, Lyndsey, not to be outdone, first lady in 19.24. Well done the Tyro’s.

    Emma McWilliams, who usually runs her parkruns at Ormeau which is on her doorstep, turned up at Victoria on Christmas morning and ran a personal best for this venue of 23.45. Well done, Emma! Diana Porter is making a habit of personal bests and looked comfortable running a pb of 28.33 on Christmas morning.

    On Boxing Day the Orangegrove personal bests at Victoria Park were by Ian Millgate (22.07), Sam Rainey (JM10/23.34), Eoghan Rainey (23.48). Ralph Coetzee was first Orangegrove male in 21.13 and Hannah Macleod was first OAC lady in 26.01. Also on Boxing Day, Pauline Bayliss was first lady, as usual, at Stormont in 22.51.

    Paul Buchanan was a first timer at Portrush in 25.06 and Kirsty set a personal best for the venue of 27.13. Well done, Kirsty! Verity Cornford was at home for Christmas in Cheshire and took in the lovely Delemere Forest parkrun where she got round in 26.34, a personal best for her home venue. Well done, Verity! Michael O‘Donoghue was with his relatives in Glasgow for the festive season and took in Pollok parkrun on Boxing Day where he toured round in 26.40. He was at the same location on Christmas Day and registered 25.49.

    Having run on Christmas Day there was no Victoria Park parkrun on New Year’s Day, but the first day of 2016 will bring a novel opportunity to run two parkruns in the one morning. The Stormont parkrun has linked up with those at Comber and Waterworks to enable two for one. Stormont will begin at the much later time of 11am to allow those running at Comber (9.30am) and Waterworks (9.45am) to get to the later destination. Other configurations may be possible if you have access to a helicopter. Both Victoria Park and Ormeau will run as usual on Saturday, 2nd January, so three in two days is possible. However, remember…. ‘no barcode, no time’!

    So, how did it go for Orangegrovers at parkrun on the first two days of 2016?

    Well, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry! The ‘two in one’ experiment was scuppered for some by the late cancellation due to icy conditions of the Waterworks parkrun, leaving it only possible for those who initially went to Comber to do the double. So, on New Year’s Day the following Orangegrovers did the double. In the end, complicated mathematics were not necessary to spot those who doubled up, because all Orangegrovers who turned up at Comber also managed to get themselves to Stormont for the 11am start. They were:

    Comber Stormont
    Darren Houston 22.43 22.42
    Reg Sanlon 26.12 26.45
    Adam Sykes 26.23 28.09
    Colin Sykes 26.24 32.27
    Lisa Fleming 27.51 26.33 (PB)
    Michael O’Donoghue 28.22 26.39 (PB)
    Fintan Hurl 28.23 27.15 (PB)
    Martin Walker 28.31 29.31
    Neal Killen 32.34 33.39
    Anne Devlin 32.53 35.04
    Stephen Craig 32.53 34.58
    Deborah Killen 38.09 37.02 (PB)

    Lyndsey Tyro also recorded a personal best of 20.33 for the Stormont venue. On New Year’s Day Orangegrove participation was impressive at the two venues, 12 at Comber and 35 at Stormont. Stormont recorded 500 participants on the day……but there may have been more!

    Then it was Saturday parkrun as usual at Victoria Park on 2nd January, 2016. Rather dismal conditions greeted the runners as they arrived, nearly 150 in number, some to enjoy their third run in two days and at least one member, Martin Walker, his fifth in eight days. However, at least it wasn’t cold, Gary said his piece and off everybody set at the designated time of 9.30am.

    After the excesses of the previous week the results indicate that for Orangegrovers it was not a day to be running personal bests. However, there was one notable exception to this. Adrienne Savage, a young lady who rarely gives herself any credit at all for her running, stunned everybody, not least of all herself, by running a fine personal best of 28.46. Very well done indeed, Adrienne! Only the tip of the proverbial iceberg! Robin Montgomery, despite his recent gruelling race schedule, was first Orangegrover home in 18.38 (4th place).

    Photo by Colin Glen parkrun There were two Orangegrove ‘winners’ of local parkruns on Saturday 2nd January, 2016. Paul Tyro was first finisher at Queen’s in 18.50. Lyndsey, his wife, was not there to steal his thunder, as she usually does, difficult as that would have been, because she was helping to serve the teas and coffees at Victoria Park parkrun. Thomas Leitch, who inexplicably likes hills to run up, was at Colin Glen this morning where he was first finisher in 20.09. Well done Paul and Thomas!

    It will not happen unless there are people running about in hi vis jackets making it happen. To join this elite corps of hi vis helpers email Gerry Ward on belfastvictoriahelpers@parkrun.com. He will then find you a nice little job to do and you can then wear that jacket, and they come in green or orange, with pride. Do it now and get your 2016 off to a healthy volunteering start!

    Photo credits: NiRunning, Greencastle 5 Mile, mcglonemedia@gmail.com, John T Glover, Lagan Valley AC, Born2Run, Stormont parkrun, Colin Glen parkrun, Louise Browne, Michael O’Donoghue, Sharon McFarland, Catherine Fearon, Sarah Malcolmson, Tim Robinson and Kirsty Buchanan.