ON THE RUN…Some local runners taking past in the 5km Park Run
On Monday 3rd June the Ballinamallard 10k & 5k Runs were held as part of the villages annual festival.
In the very warm condition 114 entrants turned up to make it a very enjoyable and sociable evening.
Enniskillen Running Club athletes turned out in numbers to show their support for this local race with over one third of the 10k field being affiliated to the Club and no fewer than six athletes finishing in the overall top 10 results.
Following up his recent first place in the Jengana 10k, Stephen Prentice produced another dominant run to take the victory in 34:45.
Second place was also secured for ERC by Ballinamallard’s Adam Cooke in 36:58. James Johnston and David Somerville paced together for the majority of the race and took 6th and 7th places in 41:21 and 41:23.
8th position and first Male Veteran was Richard Mason in 41:57. Tara Malone finished in 9th overall and 2nd in the Female Open category with 42:33.
Other times for ERC runners were: Neil Elliott 43:15, Paul Somerville 44:26, Adrian Burns 44:50, Martin Carey 46:37, Dessie Elton 47:25, Niamh Walsh 47:49, Ronnie Johnston 47:54, Bronagh Fox 47:57, Oonagh Fitzpatrick 49:16, Albert Little 49:21, Denise McElroy 49:28, Gary Kernaghan 49:48, Gordon McKenzie 51:50, Sandra Barnett 52:47, Aaron Higgins 54:01, Brendan McKeogh 55:20, Una McKeogh 58:30, Heather Curley 59:03 and Kim Hassard 1:05:38.
Paul Carron pulled up in the 10k distance but still managed to persevere on to record a finish in the 5k with 9th place in 26:09.
On Saturday 1st June, some ERC athletes took on the challenge of the 70 Wild Miles event being held at the Share Centre in aid of Clic Sargent. It involved a 47mile cycle, 10mile kayak and 13mile run.
This event allowed both team and solo entries. Michael Walsh and David Somerville took up the role as runners for two team entries. Running for a very competitive local team, David Somerville, (pictured with Lakeland Cycling teammate William Dunlop) knowing that Michael Walsh would be hot on his heels gave him the determination to push on and record the fastest run of the day with 1hr:25 mins over a very hilly route.
Michael Walsh indeed did push hard and recorded a time of 1:29 but this also included a little ‘excursion’ when Michael made a wrong turn along the way.
With teammates, William Dunlop and Gerry Murphy already winning their respective events earlier, David’s run cemented a clean sweep and the overall team award.
Tara Malone completed two events for the only all female entry on the day by cycling in the morning and then running the 13miles either side of Erne Paddlers Chloe Hamilton completing the kayak.
Having ranked high in the cycle, Tara then finished the run in a brilliant time of 1:35. James Johnston completed the whole event as a solo entry and placed very high in the cycling, kayaking and running events.
In fact he ran an excellent 1:41 for the 13mile run. Having already pedalled 47 miles and kayaked 10 miles in tough Lough Erne conditions, this was a tremendous effort!
After an absence of 28 years, the marathon distance returned to the 2013 City of Culture on Sunday 2nd June 2013.
Thousands of athletes and spectators from all over the world descended on the Maiden City to show their support for the Walled City Marathon.
Athletes were greeted with perfect running conditions as 1300 runners made their way through the city centre, across the city’s three bridges and along the banks of the River Foyle to the finish at Guildhall Square.