Springwell athletes compete in local and international races

There have been a lot of major running events over the past fortnight, with Springwell members in attendance both locally and internationally.

On the roads, there were three runners donning the purple vest in the sizzling heat of Berlin for one of the World Marathon Majors. On that same morning, over thirty Springwell runners took on the ever-popular Belfast Half Marathon in ideal racing conditions. The 10km club record was threatened by Ciaran Ferris in Knutsford, while David Shiels and Fiona Prue both came close to age category wins in the NI & Ulster 10km Championship in the Seaton Classic 10k.

On the trails, 26Extreme returned to the Northwest for the Giants Causeway Coast Races with a variety of race distances available. Meanwhile, the Seven Sisters Skyline Mountain Running Festival had 30km and 16km race options available for the mountain runners.

Belfast Half Marathon

With blue skies and temperatures just about creeping into double figures, conditions were perfect on Sunday morning for the Belfast Half Marathon. The autumnal conditions helped produce fantastic performances across the board, with many personal bests being recorded on the route that starts and finishes on Ormeau Embankment.

IN PICTURES: Springwell represented at local and international race events

Starting in the South of the City, the race then delves into the East Belfast before passing City Hall en route to the West of the City, before returning to the banks of the Lagan via Queens Quarter.

Aaron Moffatt led the club home as he continues to get back to full fitness finishing in 1:22:37 for 163rd place. Jenny Chartres was the first Springwell lady back to Ormeau Embankment in a fast 1:31:23 for 529th place, this was also a personal best for Jenny. Jenny was closely followed by Tina McQuillan, home in 1:33:05 for 606th position.

There were several personal bests today among the 34 Springwell members who took part in the half marathon. Reggie Colville (1:29:49), Jenny Chartres (1:31:23), Dara Watterson (1:39:18), Deborah McPhee (1:42:41), Alan Platt (1:42:46), Kate Allison (2:02:20), Ryan Campbell (2:04:20) and Fiona Walker (2:06:36) all seeing their consistency and efforts in training coming to fruition to put in personal best performances.

163rd Aaron Moffatt 1:22:37; 280th Mark Gardiner 1:26:00; 308th Maurice Walker 1:26:40; 482nd Reggie Colville 1:29:49 (PB); 529th Jenny Chartres 1:31:23 (PB); 606th Tina McQuillan 1:33:05; 632nd Rhys Walker 1:33:43; 1022nd Brian Moore 1:39:06; 1042nd Dara Watterson 1:39:18 (PB); 1066th Fergus Thompson 1:39:36; 1205th Paul Quinn 1:41:25; 1303rd Deborah McPhee 1:42:41 (PB); 1346th Alan Platt 1:42:46 (PB); 1853rd Jim Bradley 1:48:01; 2069th Ryan Pierce 1:50:10; 2398th Helena Dornan 1:53:17; 2470th James Evans 1:53:57; 3433rd Janet McNicholl 2:01:46; 3520th Kate Allison 2:02:20 (PB); 3605th Adam Henderson 2:03:37; 3666th Karen Campbell 2:04:15; 3716th Ryan Campbell 2:04:40 (PB); 3906th Fiona Walker 2:06:36 (PB); 4034th Vickie Eakin 2:07:43; 4159th Leisa McKenna 2:08:45; 5033rd Amanda Scott 2:19:20; 5303rd Lynn Stewart 2:23:45; 5353rd Paula Chartres 2:24:43; 5639th Heather McLaughlin 2:30:26; 5783rd Noelle Watterson 2:35:02; 5918th Anne Marie McKenna 2:40:46; 6016th Monica McClenaghan 2:46:02; 6151st Joanne McClenaghan 2:58:34

Berlin Marathon

While running conditions in Belfast on Sunday morning where ideal for racing, they were a lot more challenging for those lining up to take on one of the World Marathon Majors in Berlin.

Before the race started temperatures were already up over 20°C, rising to the mid-twenties through the race. The high temperatures were compounded by a high humidity, so it was a day to run wise instead of running fast.

Three Springwell Runners made the trip to Berlin for this one. Gary Hegarty made a first race appearance in nearly a year after suffering a couple of injuries. Gary ran a rapid 2:40:39 to finish in the top 500 in a race that also seen his return to Springwell. Next home was John Butcher in 4:12:27, a solid effort from John after struggling with injuries this year. Roisin Walker, who had her grandchildren cheer crew there to keep her going to the finish line, finished in 5:14:17.

Well done to Gary, John and Roisin on a day that looked like a challenging one for a marathon, one that even the elites found it difficult to overcome!

467th Gary Hegarty 2:40:39; 21377th John Butcher 4:12:27; 38919th Roisin Walker 5:14:17

Seaton Classic Bangor 10km

The Bangor 10k, renamed the Seaton Classic 10k after North Down AC stalwart David Seaton, took place on what was a wet and breezy Saturday morning. The race hosted by North Down AC was also the race chosen for the 2026 NI & Ulster 10k Championship, with over 1300 finishers on the day.

Three Springwell members got on the road early on Saturday morning to make way for Bangor for this one. First home from the club was David Shiels in a fantastic 0:41:48 for 139th position, and second in his age category. Not far behind David came Fiona Prue in 0:42:33 for 154th place, who also got an age category 2nd place. Louise Hanna had a great run to finish in 595th position in a time of 0:52:45.

139th David Shiels 0:41:48 (2nd M60); 154th Fiona Prue 0:42:33 (2nd F55); 595th Louise Hanna 0:52:45

Knutsford 10km

Ciaran Ferris was in racing action this morning in Knutsford, a small Cheshire market town found to the south-west of Manchester.

Ciaran had a super run, finishing 4th of 2100 runners, in a rapid personal best time of 0:31:10 – just seconds off the club record for the 10k!

Seven Sisters Skyline

The Seven Sisters Skyline Trail & Mountain Running Festival is one of Ireland's premier mountain running events with options of 16km, 30km & 55km races.

The weather in Donegal is always a lottery, and over this race weekend was no exception. Friday evening was beautiful for our squad of runners making their way down, but with heavy rain overnight the soft, boggy, heathery ground was extra heavy - and that's not forgetting the exposed loose rock and scree on the technical sections.

30km Race

The 30km and 7,000ft of elevation course is an A-to-B starting at the base of Muckish. The route takes in all the major peaks of the Derryveagh mountain range, including Muckish, Aghla Beg, Ardloughnabrackbaddy, Mackoght (Wee Errigal), and the iconic Errigal itself.

Bernadette Quinn had a fantastic day in the mountains picking up a podium place finishing 2nd lady and 23rd overall in 5:19:54. Adele Tomb must know every step of the course as this was her 5th consecutive year competing in the 30km race and finished 59th in 6:17:28. Sarah Milligan finished 102nd in 6:46:05.

16km Altan Castle

The Altan Castle race may be the “short” option of the Seven Sisters weekend, but at 16 km with over 3,000ft of elevation it’s still certainly not easy. The course is an out and back to Altan Castle before tackling the final two mountains of Mackoght and Errigle.

Carolyn Crawford having conquered the 30km race multiple times fancied a change of scenery this year and finished 27th overall in 2:46:06. Kate O'Loan in what some might say is arguably her toughest mountain race (to date) rolled with it & finished 32nd in 2:56:45. James Hughes hit another PB with a heart rate of 208 on the Errigle ascent. James finished 34th 2:57:03.

Honourable shout out to Blaine Quinn stepped in to race a technical & demanding course having been so used to being the support crew!

Giants Causeway Coast

It was that time of year again, the 2025 Causeway Coast Races. The event offers four distances of Ultra Marathon, Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10km to anyone willing to take on the undulating coastal path with its extremely varied terrain and the inevitable elements that come with it.

Race headquarters was at the usual spot in the Village Hall in Portballintrae, which was also the finish for all the events from their various start points. There was a strong Springwell turnout this year with members competing in three of the four race distances - Marathon, Half Marathon & 10km.

The Marathon started at 9:00am at race headquarters, sending runners east over the coastal path to Larrybane Quarry where they would turn and head for home. On the day that took the runners straight into a strong headwind for the second half of the race.

All Hannah Lau's training for the Munich Marathon seems to be paying off as she put in a strong performance to finish 2nd Female in an impressive 4:16:17. Jonathan Huddlestone had a strong run to finish in 5:22:41, as did Andrew Wilmot finishing in 7:16:26.

There were some great runs from Springwell Members in the Half Marathon, which started in Larrybane and was into a headwind in its entirety to Portballintrae.George Brien finished in 2:25:14, Winston Donnell in 2:55:01, Gemma Wray in 2:59:19 & Pauline Duke in 3:21:59.

In the 10km event from Portmoon to Portballintrae, David McGaffin ran a 55:37 and we had the duo of Angeline Platt & Hannah McCaw who evidently clung to each other for shelter from the elements, as they both finished in 1:24:59.