4th June.
At Carrickfergus on 4th June we had William Jenkins, Ian Cleland, Elisoa Crawford (1st lady home), Jonathan Beattie, Robert Steele, Sara Johnston (with a parkrun PB of 26:08), Julie Marshall (1st parkrun ever), Catherine Steele (parkrun PB of 26:21), Karen McMaster and Julie-Ann Mitchell.
It was the Derry Marathon on the 5th so a few went down to do the parkrun on the 4th. Everyone got course PBs so whoop whoop to them. 1st Seaparker home was Bobbie Irvine (with a course PB of 19:12). He was quickly followed by Clive Weatherhead (with a course PB of 20:01), Ryan Weatherhead (with a course PB of 20:11) and Nicola Irvine (with a course PB of 25:12).
Mark Welsh and Alison Welsh went to the sunglasses free zone of Limavady for the 1st time each. Alison had posed for various photo ops but for some reason Limavady parkrun only published the non sunglasses shot of Mark on their Facebook page.
Trevor Lamb had suggested that everyone head to Portrush for their 200th event but when no one could see the cake at the start he was nearly lynched by the rest of the group.
Luckily for him there were two cakes (and oranges).
First Seapaker home was Robert Murray (1st run at Portrush). He was 11th overall (yea) but was beat by a kid (ha ha).
He was followed by Allan Grant (course PB of 25:33), Trevor Lamb (1st run at Portrush), Karen Waring (1st run at Portrush and beat by Trevor), Derek Kane (1st run at Portrush), Alan Poag (1st run at Portrush) and Glenda Murray (1st run at Portrush).
Everyone (except Karen) went for ice cream after, and just like the parkrun Glenda finished last.
Queens had Gary Craig (course PB of 25:11), Philip Poag (1st run at Queens), Karen Poag and Ross Gilmore (1st run at Queens).
While Richard Craig (with a course PB of 18:30) and Ronald Simms (1st run at this course) attended Valley.
Elsewhere Ann McCracken completed another timed run at Victoria plus Michael Kane and Geraldine Kane attended their 1st run each at Waterworks.
11th June.
Richard Craig (with a parkrun PB of 18:03) was first over the line at Carrickfergus on 11th. He was followed by William Jenkins, Clive Weatherhead, Charlie McCormick, Ryan Weatherhead, Jonathon Bell, Janet McCullough (with a parkrun PB of 24:04), Thomas Dunlop (parkrun PB of 26:21), Catherine Steele, Julie Lyness (parkrun PB of 27:15), Julie-Ann Mitchell, Jenny Robinson and Nicola Dunlop (parkrun PB of 32:12).
Some idiot thought that if people had to go to Enniskillen for a parkrun (for the 22 parkrun challenge) they might as well do it on the day of the Enniskillen 10K and do that as well. So on 11th June 16 Seapark members woke at the craic of dawn and travelled to the Enniskillen parkrun for the first time each. Some, but not all completed the 10K after. Seapark is now the 4th largest club to appear on the Enniskillen parkrun results. Ronald Simms has the 35th fastest time overall for the Enniskillen parkrun and for 11th June four Seapark members came in the top ten. Ronald Simms (2nd & with a parkrun PB of 18:37), Bobbie Irvine (3rd & with a parkrun PB of 19:00), Robert Murray (4th) and Mark Welsh (8th).
Though Ronald Simms took a wrong turn in the end and came in short at just over 3 miles. If that wasn’t bad enough Bobbie Irvine just followed him and he too completed just over 3 miles. Technically Robert Murray was the first Seaparker home and the jury is out on whether Bobbie’s run counts as part of the 22 challenge.
Vote below to confirm.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5YBQS2P
1. Should Bobbie be penalised for following Simmsy? Yes/No.
2. Should Bobbie Irvine have to do the Enniskillen parkrun again as part of the 22 challenge? Yes/No.
3. Should Bobbie Irvine be stripped of his 19:00 PB and revert back to his old PB of 19:02 at Antrim? If it doesn’t seem important I will point out that Charlie McCormick’s PB is 19:01 (at Victoria) so it’ll be the difference between being first or last between Bobbie and Charlie.
Others in attendance included Neill Harper, Nicola Irvine, Karen Waring, Derek Kane, Trevor Lamb, Julie Kelly, Alison Welsh, Glenda Murray, Michael Kane, Rebecca Tester, Geraldine Kane and Susan Kane.
Other parkruns attended included Gary Craig at Ormeau (with a parkrun PB of 23:56), Karen McMaster at Stormont (with a course PB of 29:21) while Philip Poag & Karen Poag (on her 1st run here) attended Valley.
18th June.
10 different parkruns where attended by Seapark on 18th (9 in NI and 1 in England).
William Jenkins took the podium spot at Carrickfergus. He was followed by Clive Weatherhead, Brendan Rice, Jonathan Beattie, Paul Daniels, Andrew Smyth (with a parkrun PB of 23:44), Janet McCullough (with a parkrun PB of 24:02), Julie Kelly (who achieved a course PB of 27:59), Karen McMaster, Julie-Ann Mitchell and Susan Kane (with a course PB of 30:55).
I do need to point out that Julie Kelly’s course PB of 27:59 was achieved with a broken toe. She mustn’t have been trying hard enough before now if she can get a PB with a broken toe. Just saying.
Karen Waring and Rebecca Tester partook in their first run each at Citypark, Craigavon.
While Derek Kane attended Cookstown for the first time. He nearly didn’t make it due to roadworks (but some might say Glenda Murray threw a spanner in the works, but not me) but he got there just in time.
It was Bobbie Irvine’s 150th parkrun (or 149th if you’ve voted to make Enniskillen void). He attended Falls with Mark Welsh (1st run at Falls), Nicola Irvine (1st run at Falls) and Alison Welsh.
Five Seaparkers went to Limavady for the 1st time each. It was top 40 places for everyone involved. Robert Murray was 5th overall with a parkrun PB of 19:43. He was followed by Trevor Lamb (35th), Geraldine Kane (38th), Michael Kane (39th) and Glenda Murray (40th).
Geraldine Kane achieved her first sub 30 min parkrun with 29:59.
Colin McCrum was at Ormeau on his own. If he checked Facebook once in a while he could have went to one of the other parkruns with actually people instead of going to Ormeau on his own.
Nicola Dunlop achieved a parkrun PB of 31:13 on her first run at Queens.
The 2nd podium spot of the week went to Ian Cleland at Valley.
7 Seaparkers attended. Ian was followed by Charlie McCormick (1st run at Valley), Phillp Poag (with a course PB of 26:01), Angela McCormick (1st run at Valley), Sara Johnston (1st run at Valley), Karen Poag (course PB of 27:50) and Neill Harper (course PB of 28:31).
At Waterworks we had Ronald Simms (1st run at Waterworks), Heather Haggan (1st run at Waterworks with a parkrun PB of 24:33), Gary Craig and Ross Gilmore.
And over on the mainland Elise Park and Gavin Irvine ran at Hull.
25th June.
Ryan Weatherhead was the first Seaparker home at Carrickfergus on 25th. He was followed by Brendan Rice (with a course PB of 20:19), Richard Hetherington, Paul Daniels, Gillian Strudwick (with a parkrun PB of 23:05), Catherine Steele, Julie Lyness, Julie-Ann Mitchell and Marie Nicholson.
Karen McMaster maintained her race to 100 lead by attending Antrim (with a course PB of 28:57).
Four went to Armagh for the 1st time each for the 22 challenge. Derek Kane and Glenda Murray are now on 21 (out of 22, doh!) thanks to this little trip. They were accompanied by Robert Murray and Susan Kane.
Pressure’s on for both Derek and Glenda to finish the challenge next week. It’s like the referendum all over again. Derek or Glenda, who’s getting your vote?
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5J3NG69
Since Trevor Lamb knew he wasn’t going to finish first in the 22 challenge he decided to go were the cake was instead and attend the Ormeau 3rd annual cakerun. He was accompanied by Michael Kane (1st run at Ormeau) and Geraldine Kane (1st run at Ormeau). This now means that Michael isn’t in last place for Team Blue (more on that later) in the race to complete the 22 parkrun challenge & now Mark Welsh is the weak link. Shame on you Mark!
Elsewhere Bobbie Irvine used the Victoria parkrun as a warm-up for the Energia 24 hour race at Victoria Park. You would think his misses would have been there to support him, but no, Nicole Irvine went to Waterworks (with a course PB of 26:20) to add another notch to her 22 parkrun challenge. Gary Craig (with a course PB of 24:12) also attended Waterworks.
While two further podium spots were achieved by Seapark on 25th. Richard Craig at Valley and Ronald Simms at Stormont. Ronald was only using Stormont parkrun as a warm-up for the Stormont 10K later that same day. He came third in that race.
And finally over on the mainland Colin McCrum attended the Gunpowder parkrun for the 1st time. I see he’s sticking to his doctor’s advice about not running at the moment.
Race to 100
Karen McMaster (AKA Team Chair) is at 87 parkruns as off 25/06/16.
Glenda Murray (AKA Team Devious) is at 84 parkruns as off 25/06/16.
Trevor Lamb (AKA Team Wolf) is at 83 parkruns as off 25/06/16.
Allan Grant (AKA Team Barcode) is at 79 parkruns as off 25/06/16.
Official hashtag #Raceto100.
Seapark charity parkrun challenge
As of 25/06/16 there are 28 parkruns left to the end of the year (if you count Christmas Day).
Derek Kane (21)
Antrim, Armagh, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Colin Glen, Comber, Cookstown, Craigavon, Ecos, Enniskillen, Falls, Larne, Limavady, Ormeau, Portrush, Queens, Stormont, Valley, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Glenda Murray (21)
Antrim, Armagh, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Colin Glen, Comber, Craigavon, Derry, Ecos, Enniskillen, Falls, Larne, Limavady, Ormeau, Portrush, Queens, Stormont, Valley, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Bobbie Irvine (19)
Antrim, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Cookstown, Citypark, Colin Glen, Comber, Derry, Ecos, Enniskillen, Falls, Larne, Ormeau, Queens, Stormont, Valley, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Nicola Irvine (18)
Antrim, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Citypark, Comber, Cookstown, Derry, Ecos, Enniskillen, Falls, Larne, Ormeau, Queens, Stormont, Valley, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Trevor Lamb (17)
Antrim, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Comber, Ecos, Enniskillen, Falls, Larne, Limavady, Ormeau, Portrush, Queens, Stormont, Valley, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Karen Waring (17)
Antrim, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Colin Glen, Comber, Craigavon, Ecos, Enniskillen, Falls, Ormeau, Portrush, Queens, Stormont, Valley, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Robert Murray (17)
Antrim, Armagh, Carrickfergus, Colin Glen, Craigavon, Derry, Ecos, Enniskillen, Falls, Larne, Limavady, Portrush, Queens, Valley, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Alan Poag (15)
Antrim, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Colin Glen, Craigavon, Ecos, Falls, Larne, Portrush, Queens, Stormont, Valley, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Allan Grant (14)
Antrim, Carrickfergus, Colin Glen, Comber, Cookstown, Larne, Ormeau, Portrush, Queens, Stormont, Valley, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Alison Welsh (13)
Bangor, Carrickfergus, Comber, Ecos, Enniskillen, Falls, Limavady, Ormeau, Queens, Stormont, Valley, Victoria & Waterworks.
Rebecca Tester (12)
Antrim, Armagh, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Colin Glen, Craigavon, Ecos, Enniskillen, Falls, Larne, Ormeau & Victoria.
Michael Kane (10)
Bangor, Carrickfergus, Comber, Ecos, Enniskillen, Limavady, Ormeau, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Julie Kelly (10)
Bangor, Carrickergus, Comber, Ecos, Enniskillen, Queens, Stormont, Valley, Victoria & Waterworks.
Geraldine Kane (9)
Ecos, Enniskillen, Limavady, Ormeau, Queens, Valley, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Mark Welsh (9)
Bangor, Comber, Ecos, Enniskillen, Falls, Limavady, Ormeau, Valley & Victoria.
For those that don’t know there’s been a new development in the 22 parkrun challenge.
There’s a 2nd part to the challenge.
There’s 15 people (leaving Colin off the list as he wasn’t sure if will finish) so everyone’s been put into one or two groups.
The boys vs the girls (wanting to pit couples against each other).
The winning group will be the one in which every member has completed all 22 parkruns first.
The winners will get a prize while the losers will do a forfeit (decided by the winners, within reason of course).
Team Blue
Derek 1, Bobbie 3, Trevor 5, Robert 5, Alan 7, Allan 8, Michael 12, Mark 13 = 54 parkruns to do.
Team Pink
Glenda 1, Nicola 4, Karen 5, Alison 9, Rebecca 10, Julie 12, Geraldine 13 = 54 parkruns to do.
The two charities are Brainwaves NI and Macmillian Cancer Support. Remember that if each of the two charities reaches the £2500 target then Michael Kane and Trevor Lamb will get their legs waxed and then run a 10K with nice waxed legs. You know that the suffering of others will make you feel better so dig deep.
https://www.justgiving.com/teams/seapark
Official hashtag #AllNIparkruns2016.
Andy’s parkrun challenge 2016.
March saw the return of Andy’s parkrun challenge. Between 26/03/16-29/10/16 participants have 32 weeks to complete three different parkruns, plus volunteer at Carrickfergus (and wear a hi viz vest) at least once. The parkruns are Carrickfergus, Larne and the third one will be any of the participants own choosing. Age grade percentage will decide the winner.