Month: August 2015

Bobbie Irvine travelled all the way to Inishowen in Donegal to take on the Extreme 26 Quadrathon 4 day marathon challenge. The event takes place in one of the most stunningly beautiful parts of the country and despite some hot and challenging conditions Bobbie completed all four marathons and collected his 4 part medal plaque.

The County Down town of Groomsport, on the North Down coastline, was the venue for the penultimate race of the 2015 Pure Running-ChampionChip Ireland Half Marathon Series. Representing Seapark were Gillian Strudwick, who has completed all 9 Half Marathons in the series so far, and Caroline Salters who has completed 8 Half Marathons. The 2015 series finishes on Saturday 22nd with the Dambusters Half Marathon and this has been chosen as the club away trip for 2015 so there will be plenty of support for Seaparkers taking part.

Results:

Caroline Salters 1:44:09

Gillian Strudwick 1:55:56

Hosted by Ballymena Runners, the first Kells & Connor Half Marathon was chosen by Sara Johnston as her first half marathon! The beautiful course was ‘hilly’ in parts but the stunning views and superb organisation and hospitality will hopefully ensure that this event will become a regular fixture on the local race calendar. Attending from Seapark with Sara were Ian Clelland, Gary Connolly, Colin McCrumm, Gillian Barnhill and Vivien Davidson.

Sara held a strong and consistent pace to finish her debut half marathon in under 2hrs 20mins. Meanwhile Gillian Barnhill was on the podium again taking first lady position with a time of 1hr 40mins.

Results: Ian Clelland 1hr 28mins, Gillian Barnhill 1hr 40mins, Gary Connolly 1hr 44mins, Colin McCrumm 1hr 47mins, Sara Johnson & Vivien Davidson 2hr 19min

nice group picture – Andy Smyth, the one and only Seaparker at Crawfordsburn Trail 5k  – well done Andy!

Also on Sunday 5 athletes travelled to the Cookstown Half Marathon (Pure Running Series) which proved a challenging and hilly course.

Results: Robert Murray 1.42, Gillian Strudwick 1.58, Andy Smyth 2.07, Alison Welsh and Mark Welsh 2.19.

After their successes in Tralee on saturday Gillian and Gary went on to complete the Rock and Roll Dublin Half Marathon on Sunday along with Neill Harper and Becki Tester, also from the club.

On Saturday Gillian Barnhill and Gary Connolly completed the Tralee 100k Ultra Marathon. Gillian took second place overall and First female in a time of 10.09,
and Gary was placed third overall in a time of 10.46.

Running Blind has been described as ‘the most unique running event in Northern Ireland this summer’ – and quite possibly was.

Organised by Tony Barclay, Chair of Seapark alongside two running friends, Running Blind was an opportunity for runners to experience the sport from Tony’s
view – or more to the point, lack of it. As the name suggests, runners ran blind, wearing a blindfold and guided by a friend. Over 230 runners took on the famous
‘mile’ at Stormont in pairs, with finish times over the hilly route:
Colin McRum/Ian Cleland 23.56; Jonathon Bell/James Bell 27.15; Andy Smyth/Anne McCraken 31.24; Robert and Glenda Murray 32.35; Bobbie and Nicola Irvine
34.08; Gillian and Allan Grant 34.45; Sara Johnston and Louise Cleland 35.04; Phillipa Bell and Megan Kane 35.17; Dave Allen and Vivien Davidson 36.22;
Geraldine Kane and Alison Gill 38.58; Helena Perry and Lynette Magill 39.27; Carol Downey and Caroline Kealey 41.47; Sharon Nesbitt and Gillian Bell 42.15.

The race was well supported and raised a significant amount of money for Pathfinder Dogs.

video footage courtesy Colm Fearon