Pegasus AC speeds through a busy few weeks!

The busy autumn/winter season is now in session, with many runs being squeezed in during the more “mild month” we call September. We have held another successful Bell's Conservatories 10km Forest Race on 23 rd September, with over 90 entered runners embarking on the tough Springwell Forest course. We also had some of our “runners” kayaking 50km up the River Bann all in the aid of charity (I think I would of gave them the money and run!) and brought home some silverware all in the same week! Quite marvellous!

Starting with one of our main races of the year, the Bell's Pegasus AC 10km Forest Race attracted another high class entry, with many top veteran category runners deciding to embark on the adventure. Heavy, heavy showers occurred over the first 2km as the pack headed towards some of the hateful uphill climbs, but with 3km running, a similar story was continuing on from last year. Matt Wray, Declan McCarthy, Jonny Steed and Paul McCafferty formed a break away group, each wary of the others winning potential. Omagh’s Martin McLaughlin followed the group, a number of seconds down with visiting Scottish runner Helen Stuart 1 st Female Open, putting in a spirited performance to hang on in 6 th overall. At the half way mark, cracks started to appear in the strategy of some of the leading athletes, with swift veteran Matt Wray (Ballymena & Antrim) running away from the rest and eventually coming home unchallenged in 35:21, 42 seconds ahead of City of Derry’s Declan McCarthy, a super effort from 2 veterans of the sport. 1 st Male Open was Ballymena’s Jonny Steed in 36:36, but performance of the day came from the Scottish visitor, claiming 6 th overall in the race and 1 st Female runner home. Pegasus AC had only 2 runners pushed to their limits (not including the marshals), with Linda Gillen and Tess McComb relieved of their pre race duties to do the club proud. With little Linda pumping her arms and legs to the max she managed a speedy 49:00 to claim 6 th place overall, with obvious improvements being made every race she takes part in. Tess crossed the line wrecked after the long race but still managed a victory in the Female Vet 40 category, another victory in which Tess is making it her own! Thanks to all those who raced on the day (thanks to Springwell RC for their huge participation), the sponsors (especially Bell’s of Portstewart) and those affiliated to Pegasus AC who helped make the race run smoothly on the day.

A special mention must go to Shirley Park, Ivan Park, and Steve Curry (the avid adventurers) who took part in the 50km kayak on the same day. Times of well below 6 hours proved better than their expectations, and Shirley also got a lot of BBC Newsline coverage for some strange reason (could it be the large pink stripe across her hair….?)

Lastly, another charity run took place last Saturday in aid of Miscarriage Society Northern Ireland, with Chris Denton, Jason Wilson, Linda Gillen and Shirley Park racing at the well organised 10km road race run by Red Triangle Amateur Boxing Club. Physiotherapists were waiting to attend to every competitor’s needs before AND after the race, and a large number of trophies available to the winners. Pegasus men proved the cream of the field, with Mr Denton and Wilson taking 1 st and 3 rd places in the Male Open category, with 37:15 and 39:52 their sharp times, trailing winner Matt Wray (where have we heard that name before?) but beating well over 15 Springwell RC runners in the process (no inter club rivalry of course…). Linda again finished within the top 10 females, but Shirley battled home well down after incurring an injury near the start of the race. Heal soon Shirley!