Run Reports & parkrun Round-ups
Maratón Las Galletas – Tenerife
Sunday 12 April 2026
Saintfield Striders were proudly represented at the Maratón Las Galletas this weekend, with Mairead Andrew taking on the half marathon in seriously testing conditions.
Mairead delivered a superb performance, finishing in 1:46:50 to claim 2nd place in the F55 category and an impressive 13th female overall. The course is known for its gruelling hills and relentless heat, but she handled both with trademark grit and composure.
A brilliant international result and a fantastic showing for the club.
Zoo 5k
Sunday 12 April 2026
Two of our Striders took on the brilliantly quirky Zoo 5K, set in the unique (and famously hilly) grounds of Belfast Zoo.
Catherine Ross made a strong return to racing, choosing a seriously tough course for her comeback run and tackling those climbs with real determination. Julie Clendinning continued her impressive recent form, powering through the gradients and enjoying another excellent performance.
Anyone who’s walked those hills knows they’re no joke, never mind running them, but the atmosphere was fantastic and Monkstown Spartans delivered a superbly organised event with great support throughout.
A brilliant morning out for both ladies and a great showing for the club.
Larne AC Coast Road 10 Miler
Saturday 11 April 2026
A big well done to David Knox, our sole Strider taking on the Larne AC Coast Road 10 Miler. It was his first time tackling the event, and he delivered a strong debut performance, crossing the line in 76:27.
The famous Coast Road might be flat, but it’s certainly no easy ride — exposed stretches and long straights make it a real test of grit. David handled it brilliantly and came away with a performance to be proud of.
A huge thank‑you to Larne AC for hosting another fantastic event and looking after all the runners so well.
Great work, David — superb running and great representation for the club.
Endurance Life Causeway Coastal
Saturday 11 April 2026
David Kean took on the Endurance Life Causeway Coastal (20.4 miles) on Saturday, finishing in a solid 4:18. His third time tackling the course, showing great resilience to get it done despite carrying a niggly calf injury.
The stunning coastal scenery and fantastic atmosphere once again made it a memorable day. Conditions were tough—freezing at the start, very windy throughout, and even a bit of windburn by the finish!
A strong and determined effort - well done David 👏
parkrun Round-Up
Saturday 11 April 2026
A brilliant 61 Striders were out across Ireland this weekend, covering 14 different parkrun locations and delivering everything from PB breakthroughs to cross‑country adventures.
🔥 Malcolm smashes the sub‑24 barrier!
At Belfast Victoria, Malcolm McMillan delivered the standout performance of the week, clocking 23:51 — his first ever sub‑24 parkrun. A superb milestone on one of the fastest (but deceptively tough) courses around. Huge congratulations, Malcolm!
🗺️ Brian’s All‑Ireland parkrun quest rolls on!
Brian Miskelly continued his mission to tick off every Irish parkrun, this week travelling to Donegal for Falcarragh parkrun. He completed the scenic coastal course, adding another stamp to his growing parkrun passport.
📍 Where Striders Ran This Week
Striders were out in force across the country this weekend, with a strong turnout at Montalto Estate for their second birthday celebration and solid representation at Comber, Dunleath, Ormeau, Victoria Park, Stormont, Queen’s, Hillsborough Forest, Orangefield, Castlewellan, Portrush and Wallace. Further afield, we had members at two Donegal events — Falcarragh and Dungloe — showcasing everything from home‑course consistency to adventurous parkrun tourism.
Well done Striders! 🎽
Huge thanks to all the fantastic volunteers who make parkrun possible. 🙏👏🩷
parkrun Round-Up
Saturday 4 April 2026
Storm Dave didn't deter our Striders on Saturday as we had 62 Striders running at 27 parkruns!
Top Performances
- Ali Moore – 1st overall at Montalto
- James Moore – 1st overall at Dungloe
- Ben McCaughtry - 1st overall at Lough Head
- Victoria Kelly – 1st female at Hillsborough Forest
- Elaine Emo – 1st female at Enniskillen
- Kirsty Harshaw – 1st female at Falcarragh
Milestones
- Violet Spence celebrated her 200th parkrun
- Kathryn Glover hit the 100 parkrun milestone
Two fantastic achievements — well done both!
Where We Ran
A big weekend of tourism this week with Saintfield Striders out in force across Hillsborough Forest, Bangor, Lough Head, Wallace (Lisburn), Montalto Estate, Newry Greenway, Knocknacarra, Comber, Dungloe, Carlow Town, Stormont, Belvoir Forest, Belfast Victoria, Castlewellan, Derry City, Bundoran Promenade, Haverfordwest, Queen’s (Belfast), Vandeleur, Castleblayney, Enniskillen, Ormeau, Falcarragh, Portrush, and Orangefield, covering an impressive spread across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and even Wales.
Thank You, Volunteers
A huge thank‑you to all the volunteers who made every event possible. Special shout‑out to Joan Telford, who continued her brilliant “voluntour” by volunteering at Limavady parkrun this week — flying the Striders flag in style.
Ballyliffin Coastal Challenge
Saturday 4 April 2026
Lesley Edgar (left) along with runniing buddy Sandra at the Ballyliffin Coastal Challenge on Saturday
Huge congratulations to Lesley Edgar, who completed the 7‑mile Ballyliffin Coastal Challenge yesterday — a spectacular but notoriously tough route made even more dramatic by the full force of Storm Dave.
With roaring winds, rain, and wild coastal conditions, Lesley powered along beaches, dunes and cliff paths with incredible determination. It was a day when many runners stayed home, but she showed true Striders spirit by taking it on and finishing strong.
A brilliant achievement in epic weather. Well done, Lesley
Berlin Half Marathon
Sunday 29 March 2026
Two Saintfield Striders took on the world‑class Berlin Half Marathon this weekend, earning another stamp in the SuperHalfs passport and soaking up the incredible atmosphere of one of Europe’s most iconic races. With perfect conditions and great support along the route, the ladies delivered brilliant performances.
Katrina Godfrey continues her strong run of form, pacing the Berlin course with determination and finishing in 02:34:14. Another superb international outing and a memorable day shared with family.
Ann Wilson had a standout day in the German capital, powering to a new PB of 02:04:47. A fantastic achievement on such a big stage and a well‑earned reward for her consistency and hard work.
Omagh Half Marathon
Sunday 29 March 2026
It was a wet and cool start in Omagh this morning, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of our brilliant Saintfield Striders crew. The route was fantastic as always, and our runners embraced every mile with trademark determination and good humour.
We had a superb turnout, with strong performances right across the field:
Alan McCaughtry – 1:38:42, Brian Swain – 1:41:09, Ben McCaughtry – 1:41:22, Gregory Conway – 1:45:59, Jenny Fitzsimons – 1:51:47, Julie Healy – 1:55:27 – PB!, Philip Jordan – 1:57:30, Zoe McMaster – 2:12:24, Laura Carson – 2:14:37, Joy Whitley – 2:19:55 – First Half Marathon!, Stephen Glover – 2:38:46, Gillian McCaughtry – 2:42:46
A special shout‑out to Joy Whitley, who completed her first ever half marathon – an incredible milestone. And huge congratulations to Julie Healy on a fantastic PB on a challenging day.
Brilliant running from everyone who made the trip.
Prague Half Marathon
Saturday 28 March 2026
We had four members travel to the beautiful city of Prague to take part in the iconic Prague Half Marathon on Saturday:
Dawn Bannatyne 1:48:55
Brian Sloan 2:02:21
Ann Strain 2:06:51
Lorraine Sloan 2:07:05
The race held special significance for Lorraine and Brian Sloan, as this marked their final event in the SuperHalfs series—a remarkable achievement and a testament to their dedication, consistency, and passion for running. Completing the series is no small feat, and the club is incredibly proud of their accomplishment.
Congratulations to all four runners on representing Saintfield Striders so well on an international stage!
parkrun Round-up
Saturday 28 March 2026
A brilliant morning for the Striders with 67 members taking part across 18 parkruns — huge energy, great performances, and fantastic support throughout the club.
🌟 Highlights
Ali & Ross Moore delivered a superb 1st and 2nd finish at Buncrana, crossing the line together in 20:05. Was it a sibling sprint at the end?!
Top‑10 finishes for Ben McCaughtry (2nd Comber, 18:46), Peter Davison (Bangor, 20:00), Eoin McClelland (Hillsborough, 21:16) and Barry Green (Dunleath, 24:44). Elaine Emo claimed 3rd female at Comber with a strong 23:43.
🌍 Striders Far & Wide
Special shout‑out to Ann Wilson and Trevor, who added a 200‑mile round trip to get her parkrun fix at Ziegelwiese, Germany, while over for the Berlin Half Marathon. That’s dedication.
Great to see Caroline Kearney enjoying her parkrun on the stunning Donegal coastline at Narin Beach and Alan Jordan flying the flag in Liverpool.
🟩 Community Spirit
Comber was buzzing as our C25K runners crossed the line. Huge well done to every graduate and to the clubmates who made it such a supportive milestone.
Another Saturday full of running, encouragement, and Strider spirit.
As always huge thank you to the volunteers that make it all possible.
Couch to 5k Graduation at Comber parkrun
Saturday 28 March 2026
What a brilliant morning at Comber parkrun as our latest Couch to 5K group officially graduated! 🎉🏃♀️🏃♂️
The morning provided a bit of a mixed bag of weather—a sharp shower just before the start to beautiful blue skies during the run—nothing could dampen the spirit and determination of this fantastic group. You should all be so proud of what you’ve achieved! 👏
A huge thank you to our amazing coaches for their dedication, encouragement, and support every step of the way—you made this journey possible. 💙
And to all our members who came along to cheer on the graduates, thank you for creating such a supportive and welcoming atmosphere. It truly means a lot. We also enjoyed some well-earned tea, coffee, and cake afterwards ☕🍰—the perfect way to celebrate!
A big thank you to Comber parkrun for the warm hospitality and for hosting such a special milestone for our group.
Well done again to all our graduates—you smashed it 💪👏