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Author Archives: Michael O'Donoghue

  1. 31st Greencastle 5 mile Road Race

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    Over one thousand participants (917 runners and nearly 200 walkers) turned out on Boxing Day for the 31st Greencastle Road Race in County Tyrone. Attention was focussed on Olympian Paul Pollock, winner of the two preceding races. The cold and windy conditions proved to be no disadvantage to Paul who made it three in a row.

    Orangegrove had four members make a strong appearance for the club:

    Robin Montgomery 31:44 59th/917
    Des Fahy 32:36
    Louise Browne 39:29 PB
    Fintan Hurl 40:43 PB *

    * bettering his time of last year by a whopping 4.5 minutes. Good run Fintan!

    1st M Paul Pollock Annadale Striders 24:52 with a 4:58 m/m pace!
    1st F Catherine Whoriskey City of Derry Spartans 28:12 (5:38 m/m).

  2. BARF Turkey Trot Mountain Race

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    The BARF (Belfast Association of Rock Climbers & Fell Runners, not anything to do with overindulgence before or overexertion during the race!) Turkey Trot race is a 5.7 mile event, which includes 435 metres of ascent, starts and finishes at the bottom of the Trassey Track and takes competitors to the Col between Slieve Meelmore and Slieve Bearnagh and onwards towards Slieve Meelbeg and Slieve Meelmore, before descending to Happy Valley and along the Ulster Way back to the Trassey Track.

    The gales of the preceding night had brought down a tree near the start, and though the tree was cleared and the sky cobalt blue, the winds were still blowing hard as the runners set off. They would also have to deal with ice and slippery conditions on the high sections of the course.

    Thomas Leitch made another impressive appearance for Orangegrove, particularly when you consider the much younger competition at the front of the field, finishing 13th/94 in a time of 55:23

    1st Male: Paul Pruzina, Cambridge University Hare & Hounds (also Ballydrain Harriers) 46:00 (certainly not out for a trot as he cleared the runner-up by over 3 mins!)
    1st Female: 20th Moire O’Sullivan UA 58:47

    Liz Leitch also attended the race and won a prize in one of the day’s events – the after-race quiz. Liz claims it was down to her knowledge of deceased pop stars but I’m sure there was much more to it than that; I have never heard of such a specialised prize!

  3. Seeley Cup 10K

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    This was the final round of the Novosco 10K Series and therefore the last chance to move up the ranking list and make some money. When the dust had settled, the first prize of £800 went to Ruth Peroli (Ballydrain Harriers). Brian Todd dropped down the ladder, but clung on to fifteenth place to win the £20 prize.

    The course was the usual two and a half laps of Ormeau Embankment and Ormeau Park, starting on Ormeau Embankment, with a tricky finish on the curved park path near the tennis courts. Though last year the weather turned wet, this time conditions were well nigh perfect throughout the race. OAC was well represented and Andy McIntyre led the pack with a time of 35:48, which was a personal best. It was thought that he was overcome with emotion afterwards, but it turned out something had gone down the wrong way. Julie McKimm, despite having a back injury, was first OAC female in 44:34. Brian Todd’s time of 42:22 gave him first place in the M65 category. Amazingly, the M70 category was won with an even better time.

    The race was won by John Williamson (Derry City Track Club) in 31:05 and first female was Emma Mitchell (Queens University AC) in 33:57. Well done to them both. Thanks to Podium 4 Sport and Willowfield Harriers for delivering the event again this year. Finally, thanks to all the spectators for their support, especially those from OAC.

    Results:

    Andrew McIntyre 35:48 PB 
    Thomas Leitch 37:54  
    Robin Montgomery 38:24  
    Eric Fairfield 38:56 PB
    Stephen Orr 39:00 PB
    Chris Downey 39:10 PB
    Brian Todd 42:22  
    Martin O’Brien 42:29 PB
    Jonathan Weston 42:21  
    David Roberts 43:35 PB
    Julie McKimm 44:34  
    Pauline Bayliss 45:24  
    Heather Shanks-Miller 48:27 PB
    Jacqueline Maxwell 48:38  
    Jill Holland 50:18  
    David Doey 53:07  
    Gerald Harvey 53:31  
    Mairead Conlon 57:35  
    Judith McCann 57:36  
    Stephen Craig 1:01:09  
    Sharon McFarland 1:01:22  
    Anne Devlin 1:05:07  
    Susan Anderson 1:05:08  

  4. Acorns AC ‘Mighty Oaks’ XC

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    Saturday saw the Acorns AC annual cross country, held at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena in Cookstown. The event is part of the ongoing Athletics NI XC League 2016/17 and saw a strong representation of Orangegrove AC.

    The (in)famous ‘Acorns Hill’ was adjusted slightly this year to give the athletes a better run at it; this change seems to have been well received, but I don’t think many were thinking complimentary thoughts on the ascent!

    The snow stayed away this year and the cold and dry weather conditions were excellent, but the rain earlier in the week soon resulted in a challenging course with a true cross country experience. The panoramic course while challenging proved enjoyable for the athletes.

    JUNIORS

    We were represented by Matthew Sykes in U13’s 1 mile race with an unofficial time of 6:50, and by;

    Adam Sykes and Rory Hall-Thompson in the U15’s 2 mile race, with the unofficial times of 13:43 and 13:49 respectively.

    Thanks to Gillian Sykes for the unofficial times; junior races are not chipped and results haven’t been published yet.

    LADIES (3 miles)

    The Ladies’ results were as follows:

    #
    22 Sile Brennan 23:06
    35 Pauline Bayliss 24:29
    57 Alison Hall-Thompson 26:44
    63 Jacqui Maxwell 27:16
    66 Sharon Corken 27:40
    69 Jill Holland 27:51
    72 Lisa Flemming 28:04
    76 Patricia Magill 28:20

    The race was won by Jessica Craig (North Down AC) – 19:17

    MEN (4 miles)

    The Men’s results were as follows:

    #
    16 Andrew McIntyre 26:11
    40 Michael Broadhead 28:14
    46 Eric(a!) Fairfield 28:34
    59 Robin Montgomery 29:09
    76 Ian Grant 30:28
    78 Brian Todd 30:36
    79 Michael O’Donoghue 30:38
    85 Stephen Anderson 31:21
    86 Darren Houston 31:24
    96 Chris Woods 33:18
    101 Colin Sykes 34:30
    117 Brian McFarland 42:14
    118 Ian Reid 47:47

    The race was won by Seamus Lynch (Newcastle AC) – 22:43

  5. Run in the Dark

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    The Run in the Dark is an initiative of the Mark Pollock Trust and plays a vital role in funding The Mark Pollock Trust’s mission to find a cure for paralysis. On Wednesday 16th November thousands of runners pulled on their running shoes and flashing armbands to take part in six official locations, Dublin, Cork, Belfast, London, Manchester and Taipei (12/11), and numerous pop-up events in cities worldwide.

    More than two thousand runners turned out on a blustery evening at Stormont Estate in Belfast for what turned out to be quite a spectacle. There were two distances: 5K and 10K in either one or two laps of the same course which , with an early climb up the avenue towards Parliament Buildings got most of the climb out of the way by the 2K mark (or 7K with a second lap).

    Andrew McIntyre ran an excellent race to finish third in the 10K race.

    Zak Hanna (Newcastle AC) was first man across the line in a time of 34:51. Deborah Gilliland was first woman in 43:43.

    Results were difficult to find as runners ran individually or as teams rather than clubs, but the results I could find were:

    10K

    Andy McIntyre 37:18 Third place
    Johnathon Weston 43:15
    Brian Todd 44:14
    Carolyn Beattie 47:48
    Andrew Bennett 52:52
    David Doey 55:18
    Sarah Malcolmson 56:06
    Jenny Powell 56:07
    Anna Rankin 56:11
    Alison Hall-Thompson 56:13
    Hilary Bradshaw 57:37
    Sharon Corken 1:01:58
    Kirsty Buchanan 1:03:17

    5K

    Sharon McFarland 30:01
    Judith McCann  42:37

    The official photographer, Bradley Quinn, got some fantastic shots of the event – they are worth a look.

  6. Decathlon 10K

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    Reportedly there were over a 1,000 entrants for this FREE event. Yes, free and aided by a fabulous OAC Marshalling crew, whose efforts in the cold non-sheltered Holywood Exchange area was appreciated by Decathlon staff and runner alike…although Elizabeth Leitch would have braved Mount Everest to get to that birthday cake presented to her…happy birthday Liz!

    Thanks to Rodney Corrigan for organising and to the OAC crew. Despite no chip-timing, this encouragement seemed to help the following Orangegrove members with their personally recorded times:

    Johnny Park 35.05 (3rd place)
    Eric Fairfield 39:42   (after XC on Sat!)
    David Roberts 43:35 PB (OAC Debut)
    Gillian Logan 44:21  
    Julie McKimm 46:00
    Jacqui Maxwell 48:59  
    Sharon Corken 49:48  
    Reg Sanlon 50:45
    Anna Rankin 51:15 PB
    Karen Russell 55:28 PB
    Ian Reid PB 1 min PB

    Plenty of other members also took part in this Decathlon race which is as flat as you can get but where you can be at the mercy of the wind.

  7. 82nd McConnell Shield

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    With the new skippers Jill and Stephen providing clear instructions and targets from the outset of the XC season and with a bun-filled cosy gazebo on offer, who could turn them down?

    This race was the second of the 4 XC races being targeted for points and as ever the runners and support crew done the club proud. The race is split into a 3 mile race for Women and over 60 Men and then a 5 mile race for Men.

    The ladies and ‘mature’ (over 60) men kicked off the fresh afternoon at 1:30 and was won by Catherine Whoriskey of City of Derry AC in 17:10:

    46th Julie McKimm 22:10
    60th Emma McWilliams 23:22
    77th Jacqui Maxwell 24:28 3rd in Age Cat
    84th Jenny Powell 24:59
    110th Catherine Fearon 27:16
    125th Sharon McFarland 29:39  

    60+ Men

    9th Brian Todd 20:49
    20th Reg Sanlon  24:12

    The men started at 2pm and it was won by Conor Duffy of North Belfast Harriers in 25:43:

    39th Andy McIntyre 30:09
    55th Michael Broadhead 31:41
    64th Robin Montgomery 32:04
    67th Eric Fairfield 32:07
    68th Des Fahy 32:11
    108th Andrew Acheson 34:56
    115th Michael O’Donoghue 35:10
    161st Ian Reid 50:10

    Andy McIntyre tried to match his time with his new birthday but…he was too quick…an excellent 30:09 and 39th place. Happy birthday Andy.

    The Athletics NI XC League standings, after Comber and Bobby Rea shows the ladies with 19 points and in 7th place out of 22 XC teams, whereas, the men have 18 points and sit in 6th place out of 25 teams. Mighty Oaks XC is the next targeted race on Saturday 19 November although I’m not sure if Jill and Stephen have informed the full coach-load OAC-ers that there is a race on and that it’s not just a day trip to the shops and pubs!

  8. Run Forest Run Minnowburn 5 & 10K

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    Both the 5K and 10K races started and finished on the fantastic state-of-the art Mary Peters Track, home of Northern Ireland Athletics on Saturday.

    The route covers, track, forest trail, country road, taking you through National Trust property at Minnowburn and back along the banks of the Lagan. Close to the city yet in the heart of the countryside – that’s the paradox of Minnowburn which has changed little over the years and still holds a rural charm.

    This Born2Run Forest Series event reached over 400ft at 2 peaks of the race so fair play to those 600+ who completed it:

    The 5K race was won by Kent Swann (M) in 17:57 and Roisin Hughes (F) in 19:39.

    46th Anne Devlin 32:25
    47th Stephen Craig 32:26

    The 10k race was won by Tim Johnston (Unattached) in 37:20 and Judith Lonnen of City of Lisburn AC in 39:44.

    50th Michael O’Donoghue 45:35

    My geography ain’t great but I heard a rumour that Michael didn’t even stop for his medal and just kept running all the way to Ballyclare for the Cross Country Race…

  9. Palma de Mallorca Marathon – 10K

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    The PMM offered a choice of marathon, half marathon and 10K. The OAC contingent wisely chose the latter as Sharon McFarland explained:

    The numbers of the Palma Marathon de Mallorca participants were bolstered by a few Norn Irn bods on Sunday. Not quite the usual sea of orange, but 5 vests were on the start line at 9.40am and cheerleader extraordinaire Ian Wilson was shaking his pom poms on the sidelines due to an ongoing injury.

    We can report that it was Gerald standard awful due to the blistering heat, but everyone survived and we’re trying not to post too many irritatingly smug blue sky, beach and sangria pics. Link to results here for anyone who is interested…it wasn’t about the times – Results.

    Alan Montgomery 55:11
    Jenny Powell 57:47
    Karen Russell 1:01:28
    Jean Stone 1:03:33
    Sharon McFarland 1:13:24

    Good running from the OAC quintet.

  10. GR8 Dundrum Run

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    Saturday 8th October, 2016, saw the 7th annual GR8 Dundrum Race organised by members of Murlough AC in association with the National Trust.

    This has been a popular race among a number of Orangegrove members. Over eight hundred and fifty competitors took part in the challenging 8 mile race on road, trail, boardwalk, and sand, starting and finishing on Main Street. Among their number were 19 Orangegrove runners.

    The race proved to be an enjoyable one and appears to have become a favourite for a few more club members. Local girl Sarah Malcolmson was glad to be running the race again this year as working towards completing the race last year was her reason for taking up running in the first place.

    Former Club Captain, now Club Chairman, Robin Montgomery was first Orangegrove runner across the finishing line with a very impressive 0:53:25. Brian Todd had another strong race producing yet another age category win. Well done Brian!

    Full club results were as follows:

    27 Robin Montgomery 00:53:25
    100 Brian Todd 00:58:44
    199 Carolyn Beattie 01:03:19
    200 Jonathan Weston 01:03:19
    320 Reg Sanlon 01:08:23
    330 Gerald Harvey 01:08:54
    346 Emma McWilliams 01:09:31
    380 John Neill 01:09:58
    381 Alison Hall-Thompson 01:09:59
    414 Sharon Corken 01:11:21
    417 Darren Moan 01:11:28
    434 Jenny Powell 01:12:30
    488 Alan Montgomery 01:14:14
    494 Sarah Malcolmson 01:14:48
    497 Karen Russell 01:14:53
    525 Judith McCann 01:15:56
    637 Melinda Wilkinson 01:20:45
    750 Shona Pryde 01:27:24
    788 Mairead Napier 01:30:15

    Newcastle AC’s David O’Flaherty dominated throughout, recording 44:12 for 1st place. Mourne Runners’ David McKee (48:38) and Dub Runners’ James Trainor (48:51) secured 2nd place and 3rd place respectively.

    In the ladies race, it was Ballydrain Harriers’ Amanda Perry who took the win, crossing the line in 54:08 (1st place) for victory. Collette McCourt took 2nd place in 55:17, with Diane Watson (City of Lisburn AC) in third