Sub 15 5k for Martin in Armagh

A relatively quiet week of competition saw Bury athletes travel around the UK seeking races.  Most notably, Martin Clark ran in the Armagh International Road Race in Northern Ireland on Thursday evening.  Renowned as one of the fastest road races in the world, it certainly lived up to its billing.  In a race featuring numerous international athletes, Clark ran a rapid 14:47, just missing his PB despite being full of a cold.   A time that would often win local races, this was good enough for him to finish 99th out of 206 runners in Armagh.  A superb performance.

At the weekend, Sophie Hill travelled to Wales to compete in the Ruthin 5k.  Continuing her return to form after a few years out, Hill scorched round in 21:08 to easily win the ladies race.

Closer to home, Craig Sykes and Sinead Burns ran in the Hale 10k on Sunday.  Sykes finished in 39:02, good enough for 161st overall, and a very creditable 4th in his V50 age category.   Burns meanwhile was delighted to set a new personal best, finishing in 43:02, to finish 23rd female.

Finally, Alia Braithwaite and Zara Hudson competed in the Media City Half Marathon.  In her first race since her rapid Valencia Marathon in December, Braithwaite ran a rapid 1:23:21 to finish 5th lady and win her V35 age category.   Meanwhile Hudson took a huge 13 minutes off her PB, finishing in 2:02:06, showing the benefits of her consistent attendance at club training sessions since joining last year.