Murlough members celebrate birthday

Murlough members celebrate birthday

9 May 2012

MURLOUGH AC members celebrated their fourth birthday last Thursday night in The Bucks Head, Dundrum.

The club that started with humble beginnings has gone from strength to strength and is now one of Northern Ireland’s biggest running clubs.

The club, which was founded by Carol McMenamin and Paul Madden, was started when Carol put a few posters up in businesses around Dundrum inviting anyone interested in running to meet up at Keel Point on April 19, 2008.

The last year has been particularly successful for a significant amount of club runners and it also seen significant numbers participating in races such as the Gr8 Dundrum Run, the Causeway Coast, Jimmy’s 10k and Castleward.

Members have also taken part in marathons and half marathons all over the world from the Mourne Way, Belfast, Dublin, Connemara, London, Edinburgh and even Berlin and Barcelona.

Murlough members have also been achieving personal bests, gaining notable positions, taking part in their first 10k races and even entering some extreme events such as the Himalayan 100k Challenge and the Art The club’s Hill & Dale runners not only have made great progress in the past year, but also have increased in the number of member participants particularly with the females.

Barbara Carey and Jill Murphy have set the trend and now Paulette Thompson, Bernadette Jennings, Shona Murray, Anne McCormick, Marguerite Robinson, Vicky Canavan, Debbie Kendall, Carol McMenamin and Nichola Kielty have taken to the hills.

Vicky Canavan’s training in the run-up to the series paid off as she was first Murlough woman home in the first three races of the series followed by Debbie Kendall.

Dominic McInerney, who was a newcomer to mountain running last year, has led the Murlough runners home in the first two races of the series with Stevie Wallace and Phil Hodge showing great promise.

The highlight of the past year has to have been the success of the second annual Gr8 Dundrum Run, the 8 mile race organised by the club which took place last October.

The race participation doubled in numbers from the inaugural race in 2010 with 652 entries and with the success last year, it will be an even better race this year.

The club held its AGM last week and elected new members to the committee to take the club forward.

The committee is now made up as follows: chairman, Gerard Rowe; vice-chairman, Paul Madden; secretary and PRO, Carol McMenamin; treasurer, Shona Murray; committee members, Nigel McKinney, Jane Rowe, Susan Lenaghan, Donna McCusker, Mal McCann, Dave Stewart and Jill Murphy. The chairman thanked the outgoing committee members, Kevin Corrigan and Paula McKibbin, for their commitment and dedication to the club.

At the club’s four anniversary dinner, some awards were presented to members who have made progress through out the year.

Award winners were: best improved male, Dominic McInerney; best improved female, Jill Murphy; best newcomer, Pat Crawford; member of the year, Susan Lenaghan.

The Stephen Smyth Award was presented to Mark King and Stevie Wallace by Stephen’s wife Ursula.

Whether you are a marathon runner, a mountain runner or just someone who enjoys the company of other runners, Murlough AC has something for everyone. For further information on the club call Carol on 07712 004543.