Fizzing Beer and Bubbles race

Fizzing Beer and Bubbles race

25 June 2025

THE Beer and Bubbles race is becoming a favourite with local runners and club athletes, taking place in the picturesque Finnebrogue Woods.

It makes use of the paths and trails of the woodlands, before finishing next to the lake, with all proceeds going to local mental health charity, Suicide to Zero, and with all finishers receiving a small bottle of beer or wine, what’s not to like? 

Seven East Down athletes took to the start line for this great event. First home for the club was James Wright, who finished a superb fourth place out of 187 other runners and posted a strong time of 21 min 35 sec. 

He was closely followed by Olly Robinson, clocking 22 min 04 sec to finish in an impressive fifth place. 

Sharon Madine, in ninth position, was the second lady across the finish line, completing her run in 24 min 24sec. 

Maureen Kelly (27 min 56 sec) and Ashley McGrady (28 min 45 sec) were the next club ladies across the line, while Marguerite Robinson will be happy with her time of 30 min 55 sec. 

Wayne Giles brought the red and yellow of East Down home with a steady 33 min 12 sec.

Wednesday saw the return of the Annual Lisburn Vitality Half Marathon and 10K road race. 

This is a very popular event, with both races starting and finishing at Lagan Valley Leisure Plex, taking in the town centre and covering the roads and lanes of the local countryside. 

The half marathon was the first race off and Daniel Giles was on the start line for east Down. He has been taking on all distances on the road recently and will be pleased with his effort, coming home in 1 hr 26 min 24 sec. 

Last year, Leanne Spick did not have the best race, but she certainly made amends this time around, producing a great run and a time of 1 hr 48 min 47 sec — over 20 minutes better last year. 

Lesley Keown is more used to the hills and trails of the Mournes and will be very happy to break the two-hour barrier with a strong run of 1 hr 57 min 36 sec.

In the 10k, Helen McGinley was the only red and yellow vest amongst the 1,350 runners on the start line. 

With the warm conditions, Helen will be happy with her time of 1 hr 05 min 48 sec. Well done to all runners.

On Friday evening, the final race of this year’s Hill and Dale series took place at Drinahilly.

Starting in Donard Park, the 6K route consisted of gravel trails and woodland paths, leading up to the summit of Drinahilly, around the Radio mast and back down the main forest path back to Donard Park. 

Four club members braved the event, and it was Stephen Heasley (32 mins) who was first past the finish line.

Matthew Taylor, who had a great first full season on the hills, was just a couple of seconds behind Stephen. 

The first east Down lady home was Nuala Taylor, in a time of 43 min 09 secs, only two ahead of Lesley Keown. Well done to all the Hill and Dalers this year.

If Friday could not get any busier, Ballybrain Harriers organised the Comber 10K road race. 

This popular event takes in two big laps of the town and with a fairly flat course, it attracts athletes from all the local clubs. 

The conditions were very warm and clammy, so fast times were few and far between. East Down had two athletes on the packed start line, with 670 other athletes, and it was a fast start from the gun.

The race made its way through the backstreets of the town, before heading out onto the main roads and carriageways. 

Seamus Savage, who is now getting back into some old form, will be happy with his 44 min 49 sec in very humid conditions. 

Only a couple of days after the Beer and Bubbles 5K, Sharon Madine was back on the road with a steady 48 min 01 sec, using this race as a warm up for the Newtownards Half Marathon next week. 

Well done to Ballydrain Harriers for another great race.