Born 2 Run Loughgall 10k
Louise Smith secured a consecutive 2nd spot on the podium in the “Run Forest Run” Series on Saturday. Following on from a freezing run in Gosford two weeks ago, it was a stormy Saturday in Loughgall Country Park for the third event of the series. With some flooding on the original route, the course was shortened slightly but still took in most of the winding paths through the estate. Louise finished 8th overall crossing the line in 33:36 to take 2nd in the Ladies race.
Malcolm Cup XC
Saturday afternoon in a soaked Sixmilewater Park, saw several Harriers take on the cross country course in wet and windy conditions for the latest fixture in the Athletics NI Cross Country League. With many having run the Seeley Cup last week, the conditions underfoot in Ballyclare were always going to be more testing following the recent downpours. After several junior races, it was the Ladies and Veteran Men’s 3 mile with the first 3 to score in the Womens team event. With a strong headwind for about 1/3 of the course, Janice Plumb 21:42 and Penny Lindsey 21:45 both finished well within the top 20. In the Men’s Vet race, Philip Donnelly placed 26th in 19:53, Joe Smith ran 21:37 for 59th and Greg McClure finished 84th with 23:36 to also place in the top half of the field.
The Senior and Under 20 Men’s race ran 4 miles on the churned up course, with mud and rain now flying everywhere, Mark McKinstry and Andrew Annett took up places at the front of the pack. With a field of 120 runners, it would be the first four from a club to score in the team event. Lindsay Gordon, John Black, Tommy Simmons, Marc Jennings, Edward Cooke and Greg Lavery were all running well ensuring that the Harriers were in contention for another team prize. Entering into the final lap, each position was being fiercely contested. At the front, Mark McKinstry crossed the line in 22:34 taking 2nd place, just two seconds ahead of 3rd. Andrew Annett then ran into the top 10 with 23:42 for 9th. Lindsay Gordon was the next Harrier with 24:30 for 20th place and John Black 24th in 24:57 was the next scorer in the team event. Thirty seconds later half a dozen runners streamed into the finishing funnel which included Tommy Simmons taking 30th place in 25:29 and Marc Jennings 31st with 25:31. Edward Cooke placed in the top 40 with 25:48 for 37th and also with a strong finish, Greg Lavery came tearing into the finish and was given 57th place in 27:23. In the Men’s team event, only a single point separated each of the three podium clubs with North Belfast Harriers placing 3rd.
Action on Hearing Loss NI 5 Mile
Conditions on Sunday morning couldn’t have contrasted more from Saturdays wind and rain as the sun shone on the Santa hats and runners in Hazelbank Park. Following on from a 1 mile fun run, over 170 athletes including Santas, Elves, Reindeer and the Action on Hearing Loss Bear took on the mostly flat and fast course along the seafront in Newtownabbey. With an out and back route, the sight of sweaty Santas speeding past surprised those out on their Sunday stroll. Simon Reeve was first across the finish in 29:24. John McGuigan was 4th in 29:45 and John Johnston finished 45th in 41:32. Philip McIlwrath was 75th in 45:31. Thomas McKinstry placed 87th with 46:28, Padraigin Bingham finished in 51:27, Nisha Sharma crossed the line in 53:14 and Rosy Ryan with 01:03:53 were the other Harriers who enjoyed the festive running.
parkrun Results
Antrim
1st Stephen WALKER 18:44
16th Paul WILLIAMS 22:20
Belfast Victoria
8th Colin SIMPSON 19:59
Colin Glen
5th Helen WEIR 22:49
Carrickfergus
30th Philip MCILWRATH 28:02
51st Rosy RYAN 40:29
Ormeau
1st Simon REEVE 18:41
22nd Eva KISSENPFENNIG 22:51
162nd Drew CRAWFORD 36:15
Queens
1st Brendan GREW 18:18
25th Damien GILL 24:13
26th John LAVERY 24:35
Valley
6th Ray CAMERON 21:31
Wallace
1st John MCCONNELL 19:21
Waterworks
1st Paul CURLEY 18:20
7th John Gerard MURPHY 19:57
8th Conor O’RAWE 20:15
12th Jack CARBERRY 21:53
21st Tony REID 22:58
27th Ita MCCAMBRIDGE 24:07
28th Paddy MCCAMBRIDGE 24:08
36th Piaras MCSHANE 24:42
37th Niall ARMSTRONG 24:44
42nd Paul BRENNAN 25:34
45th John O’HARE 25:44
74th Eadaoin DONALDSON 27:58
75th Sandy CARR 28:05
85th Bronagh CONLON 28:51
89th Philomena DONALDSON 29:42
90th Gabrielle MALLAGHAN 29:43
91st Lyle CARLETON 29:51
99th Dermot MCGRATH 30:13
100th Margaret STEPHENS 30:14
112nd Bernadette DUFFY 31:30
