SEVENTY-ONE members of Ward Park Runners turned out for the ever-popular Donaghadee 5k last Wednesday evening.
It was a strong night for the club with some fantastic results across the board. The first of the club’s runners to cross the line was Oran Kane in an incredible time of 19:12 and Mary Slocum was the first lady home in an equally impressive 20:55.
Four members were running their first race in the club vest – a big well done to Callum Porter, Holly Fleming, Kris McKee and Daniel Annett.
There were also lots of celebrations as 15 members beat their previous year’s time and achieved a course PB. Those runners were: Andrew Kane, Matilda Heaney, Dawn Daly, Brian Cavan, Rhiannon Carver, Yazmin Bleakley, Colette Archer, Matthew Taylor, Lorna Thrush, Kelly Morrow, Claire Fleming, Claire McQuillan, Nathaniel McMahon, Lewis Taylor and David Yell.
Elsewhere, four members were running on Friday at the Giant’s Trial Race. Starting and finishing at the Queen’s University playing fields at Upper Malone Road in Belfast, the route brought runners on a scenic and ancient trail run of six miles.
Oran Kane clearly hadn’t tired legs from Donaghadee and was the first club male to cross the line in 43:45, followed by Andrew McCorkell 53:30, Jennifer Elliott 59:44 and Ian McAleer in 1:05:52.
To finish the week off, four other members headed to the very pretty but not so flat Hillsborough on Sunday taking part in the 5k, 10k and half marathon distances.
Elizabeth Maxwell completed the 5k in 32:45 and was also 1st in her age category V70, Kelly Morrow 1:09:18 and Claire McQuillan 1:09:25 both tackled the 10k while Kevin Tuplin secured an overall half marathon personal best of 1:45:17.
Ward Park Runners is an all-inclusive group, welcoming members with a range of abilities. Check out the club’s Facebook page for information on training.
