Sean bolts to good time at RGU event

Sean bolts to good time at RGU event

1 August 2018

JUST three Murlough members headed to Downpatrick for the RGU 10k and relay. 

The lingering heat made for a tougher than usual run as there was not even a cool breeze to relieve runners. 

Sean Armstrong had turned out to give the 10k a good effort on a testing course. Undeterred, he managed a fantastic finish in 45.08. 

Dynamic duo Leah Calvert and Jemma Cousins ran the relay on the night. Which of the ladies would have the tougher half? 

This pair are well used to a hill or two and ‘Dave’s Dunes’ on a Saturday has certainly stood them in good stead.

The ladies finished sub 50 in a combined time of 49.46 As always, the hospitality was praised and the Murlough runners left pleased with their results. 

Greyhound McCormick

The Crossgar 10k was on Friday night with seven MACers participating in a race that attracted 198 runners. 

This 10k has been described as a fast course with a few hills. The route included a long run up the main Saintfield Road before turning down into the side country roads to return back to Crossgar.

After the race, we did query ‘the few hills’ part of the deion, with the last two miles consisting of a series of steady climbs which although not individually steep, gave little respite to tired legs. General consensus was that the course was a challenging, ‘tight wee run’.

Once again, Declan McCormick was our first MAC runner home with a time of 40.36 by employing his running tactic of emulating a greyhound – spring out of the trap and keep running fast!

Declan is having a brilliant season, bagging yet another PB, to add to the PB achieved in Portaferry a couple of weeks ago.

Declan was followed in by Stephen Cassidy (46.54) then Dave Fulcher. Dave’s strategy involves starting slowly then gradually increasing the pace so that he then appears alongside you at three or four km, smiling before running effortlessly past. 

Next past the post was one of our newer members, James Ashdown, adding to his list of good fast 10k race finishes.

Pat Shields was the first MAC lady home with a well-deserved fast sub 50 time. Anne McCormick and Paula McKibben completed the MAC run in.

All were in agreement that this was a good route, well marshalled and great post-race refreshments.

 After a horrible day with a lot of torrential rain, there were doubts that the Rossi 5k would go ahead. Thankfully, the weather cleared up and the race went ahead. Three MACs headed to the scenic village of Rostrevor.

After registering everyone had to take shelter under a huge oak tree as rain was pelting down with a vengeance.

It was short lived and when the starting whistle went, the skies were clear. It was a hilly and tough run, but a well organised run for  Life & Time, a proposed new end of life palliative care service for the area. 

Eamon McCann was first in for MAC with a time of 19.41, Lorna Chambers was second in at 21.58, which was a PB and Leah Calvert shortly behind with a time of 23.44 

On Friday evening, Aoife McVeigh and Denise McAlarney took part in the annual Dub Runners Belfast Giants Trail 6 mile race. 

It was a challenging, multi-terrain course with a few hills thrown in for good measure. Climbing through woodlands of Minnowburn, passing the monument at Giants Ring, over Shaw’s Bridge were some of the highlights. 

Denise, a former Dub Runner received a warm welcome and big cheers on finishing. Superb post race refreshments and excellent marshalling by Dub Runners.