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KINSELLA BREAKS COVER – AND PERSONAL BESTS ALL ROUND

There was some impressive racing down on the Embankment at the Queen’s 5K (April 26).

Brian Kinsella has kind of slipped under the radar to date – but he broke cover to finish 16^th overall in 16:37.

Vaughan Purnell shattered his PB to win his age-group. Peter Morrison was credited with the same chip time as he also demolished his best by some distance – and it was good to see partner Emma on the start-line.

In fact there were several partnerships out there with Dave Lonnen reversing Sunday’s result on Judith Lowry – who took second in the women’s race.

And, the Hanratty family of Colm and Kate weighed in with PBs  - Kate finishing second in her age group.

There were also Pbs for Johnny Boylan, Ryan McHenry, David Calvert, Mark Heron – who took 2 minutes off his best time, and Carla Magill.

And, age group wins for Ruth Magill and Maureen Oliver.

 RESULT: 16th Brian Kinsella 16:37,  28th(2^nd) Dave Lonnen 17:10,  34th(1^st)Vaughan Purnell 17:36,  37th Peter Morrison 17:36,  43rd Johnny Boylan 17:53, 45th(2^nd)Judith Lowry 17:57, 47th Neville O’Neill 17:58,  54th Ryan McHenry 18:22,  63rd Robert Wilson 18:37,  69th Colm Hanratty 18:53, 96th(1^st)Ruth Magill 19:49, 120th(2^nd)Finn McCourt 20:33,  133rd David Calvert 20:46,  136th Doug Smyth 20:54,  150th Mark Heron 21:14,  168th Carla Magill 21:59,  191st(2^nd) Kate Hanratty 22:39, 241st(1^st)Maureen Oliver 24:37, 245th Emma McWilliams 24:54.

CARROLL IRISH CHAMP

Paul Carroll retained his Irish Duathlon Championship title at Burnfoot at the week-end (April 22). But he was made to work for it by Mark Morgan.

Paul led with a 31:11 10K run split but Morgan went past him with a 58 min bike clocking for the 40K. However, order was restored on the final 5K which Paul covered in 15:58 to win by over a minute.

Judith Lowry was crowned women’s champion. She  covered the 10K in a sizzling 35:41 and was never caught – not even by her fiancée Dave Lonnen.

Eamon Hill won his age group  in 24^th overall and Vaughan Purnell was 3^rd in his age group in 3oth.

PBs AT TITANIC.

There were several PBs at the Titanic 10K on Sunday(April 22)

Peter Morrison led them home in 53^rd overall taking a huge 1 minute chunk off his best time. Jonny Hooper shaved 23 secs. off his PB . Michael McCormick set new figures as he prepares for the Belfast Marathon and Kieran McVeigh was just 10 secs off his best.

It was also good to se Joey Miles back racing – and in a new age group!

MRI CHANNEL SWIM A SUCCESS

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or text  KIDS66 £5 to 70070.

    

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There were some mighty performances in the Queen’s pool this week (March 6) and lots of money raised for the Helping Hand charity which  is looking to raise a whopping £2 million for an MRI Scanner at the RVH for Sick Children.

It was all the idea of Cormac McGrath to get the Legends to swim in relay the equivalent of the English Channel (21 miles). In fact they went 7 miles further in the 12 hours with Ed Smith – who contributed the least number of lengths – making French landfall at 4.20pm in the afternoon.

Cormac looks after scanners for the Belfast Trust and his young nephew recently underwent a heart transplant and would have benefited greatly from an MRI in the Royal.

Among the swimmers who put in an hour, Daniel Brown knocked out an impressive 162 lengths with Fraser Buchanan reaching his target of 2.4 miles( the first leg of an Ironman).

Marty Curran dusted down the full-body shark suit to record 146 lengths and was back in for a further 78 lengths in the last half-hour.

To date some £3,500 has been collected – so well done to Cormac and his helpers.