Alan shines at Seeley 10

Alan shines at Seeley 10

29 November 2017

THERE is always a guaranteed elite field of runners at Seeley 10km every year. 

This year was no different with international athlete Gideon Kipsang of Kenya, Commonwealth athlete Emma Mitchell and Belfast marathon winner Laura Graham among the 893 athletes at the start. 

On what was a cold three degrees, they all were lined up ready to go at the Lagan Embankment when somebody was heard saying: “Are they going to hurry up and start this race, or will we just all stand around here like a bunch of penguins?” 

MAC numbers are usually high in this race, but this year there were only five members present. Alan Johnston was in fine form, completing the 2.5 laps of Ormeau park in 36:13, next home was Hugh Oram, who was delighted with another personal best of 41:39.

Dave Fulcher was next in with a time of 45:34, which was especially good considering he ran the Castlewellan Park Run in the morning. Nicola Mathers was next and only five seconds outside her best 10km, being paced by Joe McCann in 47:20. 

Hazel Crudgington followed in 50:38 which was yet another personal best, which has drawn a close to an amazing year of running in 2017 for her.

Paula McKibbin, Cindy Rush, Dave Fulcher, Denise McAlarney and Caitriona Carr completed the Home Start Santa 10k in Downpatrick on Sunday. This was the third event Dave took part in this weekend — Park Run, Seeley Cup and Santa 10k. There’s certainly no stopping him. Caitriona and six year-old nephew Oisin did the 2k option. 

It was a cold morning, but the sun shone for this fundraising event. The runners enjoyed a pleasant run with nice scenery along the river.

It was well organised and a great opportunity for kids to race and for families to do something together, while raising money for charity. Many thanks to East Down for organising and Tesco for the post race refreshments which went down a treat.

Jackie Moore and her sister, Linda Cunningham, from East Down AC, continued their one marathon a month by taking part in the Loop of the Lough Marathon and Ultra at the weekend.

Ultra runners started at 6am in Portaferry while the marathon runners started at Castle Espie, both finishing in Strangford. It was a very scenic coastal route over the rolling drumlins of County Down. Everyone was rewarded with a medal of the lough. Atlas organisers are planning this again for summer next year. This event is certainly one to consider for the future.

Judith Robinson took part in Run the Line in association with the Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team.

It was a lovely cold crisp day for Run the Line. Judith travelled to Glencullen, 25 miles South of Dublin, to this 26K run with an elevation of over 1000m across the Dublin Mountains to help raise money for the Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team.

A tough technical course in icy conditions. Weather was good and the marshals were great. Judith certainly enjoyed this brilliant challenge.

On the other side of the world, MAC member Joseph Power ran in the Ho Chi Minh International Marathon, representing MAC all the way out in Vietnam.

An early start for this marathon, 4.30am to avoid the daytime heat. Joseph enjoyed the event and is no stranger to running marathons around the world, well done to him on this unique addition to his marathon list.