Armstrongs at Limerick

Armstrongs at Limerick

8 May 2019

SUNDAY saw Sean and Teresa Armstrong take part in the Great Limerick 6 Mile Run  — made even more enjoyable by a beautiful sunny day and a lively musical warm-up which saw runners entertaining the crowd by displaying some dodgy dance moves with the dance troupe on stage. 

Race four of the Hill and Dale series took Team Mac to Slieve Binian for the ‘race to the top’. 

This is only race of the series to finish on a mountain peak and Binian certainly doesn’t show any mercy to the competitors. 

A field of 254 lined up on the Head Road on a glorious evening, Binian was looking majestic in the evening sunshine, but no runner was admiring the view, competitors were all just looking in shock at the gradient that lay before them. 

Paul Byrne was race director and quickly gave the race briefing before giving the field a very abrupt start. 

A fast sprint up the lane towards the quarry with runners fighting for position before the steep incline up beside the wall.

At the quarry the field slowed to a walk as legs began to burn climbing the 1,770 feet to the peak. The welcome sight of the stile at the wall brings relief to the faces of many as it means the finish is merely a 100 metres away. 

Some of the runners had to queue to get over, which was a welcome rest as they all prepared themselves for the last leg burn up the steepest finish of the series with the finish right at the peak. 

Hugh Oram was initially leading Team Mac up the wall when he was comfortably passed by Sean Armstrong, who greeted him as he passed and then disappeared into the distance. 

Sean finished in 71st in 31:16, Hugh was six places behind him, then Colm Devlin, Laura Lynch, Dave Fulcher, Barry Poland with Regine Candau hot on his heels, finishing only six seconds behind. 

Liam Smyth was next, then Catherine Scannell, with Michael Power just behind. Another great turn out from MAC with quite a few hardy members having already competed in the Mourne Highline on the previous Saturday. 

EAMS Newtownabbey

It was worth the early start on Saturday for Judith to travel to Monkstown Wood, Newtownabbey, for the 8.30am half marathon as she came home with the award for first female.

Belfast Marathon

Murlough was well represented at Belfast City Marathon. First over the line for MAC was Kieran McShane followed by Eddie Murnin and Declan McCormick. Congratulations to Kevin Corrigan who knocked an amazing 36 minutes of his previous PB and Eddie Murnin with another PB. Marathon veterans Paula, Jackie and Ann were joined by Patricia Hogg who was competing in her first marathon and running in support of Air Ambulance. Tony, Gavin, Bernie and Myles completed the MAC team, with Sarah and Dave S both running the anchor leg of the Rely.  A special mention for Declan McCormick who today completed his third marathon this month – Paris, London and now Belfast.