Victory for East Coast AC’s McManus in Glenarm 5k race

East Coast Athletic Club members at the Great North Run in Newcastle upon Tyne. INLT-38-706-con

Mark McManus cruised to victory at the WilderBEAST 5k in Glenarm Castle grounds in a time of 19:19 on Saturday.

Mark’s son, Rhys McManus, also took a first-place finish in the junior race, followed by club-mates Rachel Urwin and Keilan McManus, who both ran well.

In the main 10-mile event at Glenarm, Corey Urwin finished sixth in an impressive time of 1:06:53.

John Steele was next to finish, crossing the line in an impressive 1:18:07 (25th), followed by Lee Stirling in 1:28:21 (48th) and Sandy Plumb in 1:33:32 (59th).

Also on Saturday, Stephen Kennedy completed the popular Ballinderry Bridge 10k race in 41:13, coming 16th overall.

On the same day, Louise McAllister took part in the Giant’s Causeway Coast Sportive, a unique event based on the iconic North Coast.

Louise covered the 126k course, including 4,390ft of ascent, which started and finished in Ballycastle in a time of 5:58:06.

Four East Coast AC members took part in Sunday’s Great North Run which starts in Newcastle in England and finishes 13.1miles later in the coastal town of South Shields.

In warm conditions, Rowena Davis was the first member home in 1:53:45 .

This was a new personal best for Rowena, who was last year’s most-improved athlete at East Coast.

Running with Rowena was her husband Chris Davis who followed one second later in 1:53:46.

Friends and training partners Lionel Date and Jacquie Craig followed together in 2:24:09.

Also on Sunday, three of the club’s triathletes took part in the first ever Green Glens of Antrim Triathlon based in Cushendall.

Danny Hylands was the first member to complete all three disciplines, finishing in a total time of 1:23:25 to take 16th place.

Stephen Whelan was the 31st finisher in a time of 1:27:00, followed by Callum Sittlington who impressed with a 1:28:09 finish time to come 35th.