On the approach to the final weekend of 2016 our club runners continued to race in events ranging from 1k to marathon.
In Lanzarote Nigel Playfair took part in the San Silvestre Conejara 5k while his son and park run regular, Oliver, took part in the 1k, 8 – 11 years event which he won.
Closer to home several of our club members endured the back to back marathon events hosted by East Antrim Marathon Series. On 30th and 31st December the athletes covered an out and back run from Carrick castle to Loughshore 3 times, and then the next day around Whiteabbey, Monkstown and Greenisland. On day 1 Sean Nickell recorded 3:34:12 while Rab Martin crossed the line in 4:12:19 and Donald Smith 4:21:03.
Full results are not available yet but Andy Belshaw completed day 2 in 3:22 with Sean Nickell and Donald Smith also completing day 2.
Not content with the hills of Castlewellan last week, 5 of our runners took on the race over the glens at Glenariff forest park where there were similar levels of climbing. Frankie Rea, who was successful with his partner Les Wilkinson at the Cracker last week, won his age category again.
Finishing the 6.5 mile loop in 46:01 Frankie was 10 seconds behind our first runner home, Brian Geddis in 45:51. Les Wilkinson was next in recording 47:50 and Donald Smith, who not only ran the Castlewellan Cracker but back to back marathons on Friday and Saturday, made it home in 54:58.
Andrew Muir completed the North Down finishers crossing the line in 55:19.