Most readers will be aware that the National Trust has withdrawn permission from the Enniskillen parkrun to use the Castle Coole grounds for its weekly event.
The last parkrun at Castle Coole took place last Saturday after 171 weeks at the venue and 2023 runners taking part during that time.
The National Trust’s manager for Co. Fermanagh, Jim Chestnutt, had cited the expense of hosting the weekly run as being the reason for the decision to evict the parkrunners.
"The cost of maintaining Castle Coole to its present standard of care is significant and the Trust needs to sustain the property`s long term future through the support of all visitors to the property who come to enjoy its developing facilities," said Mr Chestnutt.
However, parkrun volunteer and National Trust member Heather Harper is not going to take the decision lying down.
The Ballinamallard woman has started a petition on www.change.org asking the National Trust to review its decision.
She has also pointed out that the National Trust encourages people to join their local parkrun and its website even states:
“Families that run together have fun together. At least that’s the idea behind parkrun, a free weekly run for adults and juniors.”
“Local parkrunners have been encouraged to become members of the National Trust and visitors to the county, indulging in some "parkrun tourism", discovered that Enniskillen parkrun was proud to be the only parkrun in Northern Ireland hosted by the National Trust,” wrote Heather in support of her petition.
“We the parkrunners of Enniskillen would love to retain our parkrun at Castle Coole. Many of the parkrun family, who are also members of the National Trust, are very disappointed by the decision of the National Trust in Fermanagh to withdraw support for parkrun.
“I am committed to my inclusive parkrun family and I am also a member of the National Trust. My husband and three adult children are all members of the National Trust, visiting properties throughout the UK.
“We are now all parkrunners and are proud of the association between the two groups, especially at our closest property of Castle Coole. Both the National Trust and parkrun benefit from this partnership and we want to see it continue,” concluded Heather.
The petition had close on a 1,000 signatures earlier this week. If you want to support the return of the Enniskillen parkrun to Castle Coole you can sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/national-trust-to-restore-enniskillen-parkrun-to-the-national-trust-property-at-castle-coole.
In the meantime the Enniskillen parkrun moves tomorrow morning to a temporary home at the Lakeland Forum, a far cry from the timeless splendour of Castle Coole, with Castle Archdale currently being considered as a future venue.
STORY 2 (403): RIO PARALYMPICS OPEN DESPITE NEGATIVE PORTENTS
PHOTOS: Michael McKillop and Jason Smyth
After all the bad news – Zika virus, Russia ban, poor ticket sales, funding cuts – the Paralympics open in Rio next Wednesday with Ireland’s sportsmen and women looking again to be among the medals.
Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop are again set to be stars of the track after the pair amassed no less than seven gold medals in Beijing and London. Both have had their thunder stolen a bit this time with only one event available to each of them in a slimmed down programme.
Smyth will have to concentrate on the T13 100m while McKillop’s sole focus is on the T37 1500m but Ireland’s throwers are expected to make an impact as Derryman David Sweeney’s expert coaching is starting to pay dividends.
“As defending champion you always have a target on your back,” said McKillop. “All I can do is focus on my own performance. Jason and I usually room together, we always have. He’s very calm. I’m more uptight than him, possibly because, over 100m, he’s in his own lane and no one else can influence him.”
Both Smyth and McKillop have decided to by-pass the Irish holding camp and go straight into the Paralympic village so that they can settle in well before Smyth kicks off the action with a 100m heat on the opening day of competition next Thursday.
His final is scheduled for Friday. McKillop has longer to wait and is not competing until September 11 when his 1500m will be a straight final.
Meanwhile a campaign has been launched to get Brazilian children to fill empty seats at the Games and has received the official backing of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The campaign, launched by former London 2012 marketing director Greg Nugent, officially began with donations from wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden, a three-time Paralympic Games gold medallist and multiple world champion.
The IPC have also announced that ticket sales have surpassed one million, with 95 sessions at the Games now sold out. Ticket sales for the event had been a prominent concern for organisers after Rio 2016 announced during the Olympics that just 12 per cent were sold.
"We are very pleased to have passed the one million mark, it really shows that Brazilians are engaging with the Paralympic Games," Rio 2016 ticketing director Donovan Ferreti said. "There have been queues at our ticket offices and you can feel the excitement building around the city."
STORY 3 (243): ULSTER JUVENILES SHINE IN BEDFORD AT ENGLISH CHAMPS
Photo: Davicia Patterson won a silver medal on her debut in the 300m
"This is likely the strongest Ulster performance at these championships in recent years," was the assessment of team manager Tom Reynolds after nine of Ulster's 14 athletes took medals at last weekend’s England Athletics U17 Championships in Bedford.
Finn Valley athletes got the ball rolling on the first day with Sommer Lecky winning the High Jump and James Kelly the Shot Putt. Lecky cleared 1.79m before a narrow failure at 1.82m. Kelly concluded an excellent summer season with a fourth round effort of 16.64m to see off the opposition.
Ballymena & Antrim’s Lauren Roy added a bronze medal in the 100m while Fon Steel was also third in the Ambulant 100m. Beechmount Harrier Davicia Patterson, who was featured on this page recently, concluded the first day with a fine silver medal in the 300m despite never having competed at the distance previously.
The second day opened with a silver medal for Wrexham-based Jade Willams in Hammer before North Down’s Aaron Sexton sprinted to a deserved bronze in the 200m. Ballymena & Antrim’s Shane Martin overcame a nasty crosswind to finish third in the Pole Vault.
Wheelchair racer Jack Agnew had an up and down weekend. The Torque Racing Club athlete crossed the finish line first in the 100 but was only given second place on the Razza point system. Agnew disqualified for a lane infringement in the 400m for contact with competitor in the 1500m before claiming the gold medal in the 200m.
STORY 4 (159)
Photo: Bobbie Irvine of Seapark AC at last year’s SURF’n’TURF race.
If you are not one of the 50,000 runners who have had their entry accepted for the Great North Run on September 11, you can still register for a far more scenic alternative taking place right here the previous day.
The Surf’n’Turf Half Marathon & 10K are set to go ahead on September 10 at Benone, near Limavady and follow a multi-terrain course with most of the route on country roads as well as a small section on Benone Strand.
The sand is firm and ideal for running and the runners will be able to enjoy the spectacular scenery with views across Lough Foyle of the Inishowen Peninsula
All finishers will receive a beautiful commemorative medal and will be treated to a post race BBQ. It should be another ‘great race in a great place’ from the Born2Run Events Co.
Online entry remains open until 11:00pm on Wednesday, September 7. For further details and to register go to www.born2runevents.com
