Owen Roes will host their 4th annual 5K road race next Thursday evening 27^th July. This year’s race will be run over a new faster course which is designed to give runners a chance to break personal best times on the evening.

Over 140 runners took to the line last year and the club is aiming to push that towards the 180 mark this year with a host of prizes on offer. Shay Carlin in a time of 17.11 and Claire McGuigan in 19.14 took the respective honours last year setting event records. Paul Houston, part of the event organising team, is in little doubt that those records will go this year.

“The course this year starts high above Glenmornan on the Crockan Road and loops downhill past Moorlough towards the GAA pitch in the village dropping a total of 60m in total from start to finish. This contrasts with the route that we had the last few years which had some hills coming home. Based on that alone, I would suggest that the event records from last year will go on the night.”

Club chairman Jude Kelly explained why the 5K is an important part of the calendar at Owen Roes. “It takes a lot of money to run a GAA Club these days as we provide football for children from U6 right through to adult football. As such we are always seeking small ways of helping to generate some revenue, and if it’s via a community event even better. All money raised as usual will get recycled back into the club to allow us to continue to fund underage activities in the Club and keeps children playing GAA and being active.”

“Last year our senior footballers all completed the run, and the young people of the area tend to look to them, and copy their habits. Therefore good habits like exercising and running are great examples to be setting. As well as the main race we’ve a 1K for U12s as well, which will take place on the pitch.”

The Leckpatrick chairman explained that the number one aim on the night is to get people out, active and have some fun. However he acknowledged that road racing does bring a competitive edge. “We’ve added to the prize fund this year with top prizes for the first male and female home standing at £100. In addition we will have prizes for 1^st and 2^nd in U20, senior, 40+, 50+ and 60+ categories with a number of spot prizes on offer as well thanks to many generous sponsors. In addition all the runners are invited back to the Clubrooms post-race for complimentary barbeque and prize giving. It should be a great night.”

Registration is from 6.00pm to 7.15pm at the Owen Roes Clubrooms with runners off at 7.30pm. The cost is £6 for adults, £3 for U16s and U12s costing £1 with running open to all levels of runner.