Tollymore Forest is perfect location

Tollymore Forest is perfect location

11 January 2017

SATURDAY saw the biggest turnout yet in the Belfast Telegraph Run Forest Run series when over 700 runners descended on Tollymore Forest Park for the first Born2Run race of 2017.

As with all of the previous four races in the series, weather conditions were absolutely perfect on race day. Tollymore Forest was buzzing as the car park quickly started to fill up with runners, among them Sam Uprichard and Naomi Meek, who met for the first time at the Tollymore race three years earlier. 

This time they were travelling together, now married and with their beautiful 11 week-old baby daughter. You just never know who you’re going to meet at a race.

The 10k runners were the first to start with the race getting underway promptly at 11am. The 5k started 10 minutes later to the sound of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run as runners made their way from the top car park along the main avenue before heading into the forest.

It was 5k runner Sam Linton of Acorns AC who was the first to cross the finish line in 19.06. He was followed by Paul Hartley and in third place was William Kells. The winner of the women’s race was Mourne Runner Karalee Porter, runner-up was Meadow McCauley of St Peter’s in Lurgan and in third place was Eva Winters of Slieve Gullion Runners.

In the 10k it was once again Mourne Runners who shone with David McKee finishing in first place in 36.05 followed by his club mate Timothy Johnston. Third place was taken by Pace runner Aaron Woodman. 

Following her recent success at the World Masters in Australia, Cathy McCourt continued her winning streak by coming first in the ladies’ race in a time of 39.37. In second place was Dromore AC’s Gillian Burns and third place went to another Mourne runner, Bethany Haugh.

The runners were all rewarded with commemorative medals which have become collectors’ items among many of those taking part. Members of Drumgooland Girl Guides efficiently assisted with the registration and finish line duties making sure everything ran smoothly and according to plan.

There are still three remaining races in the Run Forest Run series. Gosford Forest, Antrim Castle Gardens and Castlewellan Forest Park. Runners don’t need to have taken part in any of the previous races to enter the remaining races. For more information go to www.born2runevents.com.

Born2Run invited runners taking part in the event to bring their old trainers 

along as club mate James McKnight of Murlough AC is organising to transport them to Uganda. 

James’ cousin is working with villagers in Uganda and knows first hand how little these people have and how much they will appreciate these shoes. The runners who attended Tollymore came with bag loads of shoes, many in near perfect condition and volunteers from the Newcastle Coastguard helped James to collect the overwhelming donations. 

Born2Run would like to thank all those who donated and to remind anyone who missed this opportunity that they’ll be collecting again at their Run Forest Run Castlewellan race on February 25.