Race Report w/e Sunday 20th May 2018

NBH RACE REPORT w/e Sunday 20^th May 2108

The Belfast Marathon done and dusted for another year, so in search of a different challenge North Belfast Harriers took to the  Mountains in Derbyshire; around the streets of Ballybeen, the cycle paths of the Brandywell, the Hills and Dales of the Mournes, the Lagan and Newry Canal Towpaths and the grounds of Scavagh House Estate.

Inter-Counties Mountain Running Championships 2018 (Saturday 19^th May 2018)

Martsje Hell was a member of the Northern Ireland’s ladies team which secured a podium place at the Inter-Counties Mountain Running Championships, at Lads Leap, Derbyshire, England. The team produced excellent performances in soaring heat to claim 3rd place in the team competition. Martsje completed the 9.5km course, with 518m of ascent crossing the line 1:02:13 for 21st place. Many congratulations to Martsje on her great result.

Ballybeen 5km (Tuesday 15^th May 2018)

Among the athletes who headed to East Belfast to take part in the Ballybeen 5km earlier in the week were 3 North Belfast Harriers. 159 runners took part in the race and Joe Malone was in great form finishing in second place.

Foyle Valley’s Wilkies Run 5 Miler (Thursday 18^th May 2018)

Foyle Valleys’ annual five-mile classic in memory of their late colleague Colm ‘Wilkie’ Wilkinson took place on May 18th. The five-mile course followed the cycle path by the River Foyle at Brandywell. The accurately measured, flat and fast course appealed to Mark McKinstry (M35) as he led the 252 runners home in winning position in the time of 24:54.

Hill & Dale Series Race 5 – Rocky (Thursday 18^th May 2018)

Neil Carty and Colin Simpson headed to the Mournes to take part in Newcastle AC Race 5 in the Hill and Dale series. They were among 259 runners signed on for the annual haul into the hills of one of most picturesque parts of the Mournes. The runners set-off with the imposing climbs to Altnatagart, Tournamrock, across to Pierce’s Castle onwards to the final climb up Rocky before embarked on the fast, technical descent off Rocky towards the finish. Congratulations to Neil who finished in 10^th position and was first in his age category in 35:10. Colin Simpson was 203^rd in 54:08.

Les Jones Memorial 10km

The Athletics NI hosted event is a popular annual fixture, organised in memory of late athlete, team manager and Athletics NI Chairman Les Jones, who sadly passed away in 1992. The race, which attracted 350 runners, started at the Mary Peters Track and took competitors onto the Lagan Towpath towards Shaws Bridge.  Athletes negotiated the infamous climb in Barnetts Demesne on their way back to the finish line on the Mary Peters Track. Congratulations to David Clarke who, in 10^th place, led the NBH contingent home.

Scarva Trail 10km (Saturday 19^th May 2018)

Simon Reeve was the only NBH runner who headed to Scava to participate in one of two completely new trail races.  The 5K and 10K Trails were held at Scarvagh House Estate, just outside Scarva village in Co Down. The races were possible thanks to the Buller family, who kindly granted permission to host them in the grounds of Scarvagh House Estate. The races were entirely off-road, though the 10K will include a couple of km of the tarmac-surfaced Newry Canal towpath. The 10K and 5K courses were very scenic, taking in parts of the Newry Canal, the shore of Lough Shark, numerous old horse gallops around the estate and other little woodland trails. The 10K was a single lap course, not merely 2 laps of the 5K course. The courses had a few, but not particulary challenging, hills. Simon was 2^nd man home out of a field of 120 runners in 00:40:52.

parkrun results (Saturday 19^th May 2018)

Congratulations to Patrick McAuley, Robbie Speers, Padraigin Bingham and Brenda Mckeever who achieved PBs in the Waterworks parkrun and to Joe Wilson whose PB tool place in Valley parkrun.