As the seasons begin the transition from summer into autumn there were plenty of harriers competing in races over a wide variety of distances and terrains. It was great to see so many fine performances, a testament to the hard work and training over the summer months.
Andrew Milligan continued his fine form of recent weeks to win the 800m race at the Bangor Sportsplex on Tuesday evening in the track meeting promoted by North Down AC. His time of 2:01.20 gave him a comfortable win by over 5 seconds from Adam Hughes of Loughview AC in second place. At the same meeting Michael McCormick produced a fine sprint finish to pip Terry Eakin of North Down AC for 10th place in the 3000m race.
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time | Race |
| 1 | Andrew Milligan | M20 | 2:01.20 | 800m |
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time | Race |
| 10 | Michael McCormick | M55 | 11:38.10 | 3000m |
The picturesque North Coast was the setting for the Specsavers Portrush 5 mile road race on Friday evening. The weather was mixed as the competitors started and finished close to the East Strand. At the front Mark McKinstry was first home of the 273 runners, taking the tape in 26:45 about 30 seconds ahead of 2nd placed Chris McGurk of Glasslough Harriers. Full results for NBH runners competing were:
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time |
| 1 | Mark McKinstry | M35 | 26:45 |
| 210 | Linda Beggs | F45 | 46:46 |
| 221 | Sharon Hobbs | F45 | 47:33 |
The 10m race took place over a challenging out and back circuit starting and finishing at Church Bay at the centre of Rathin island. Although it is technically a road race, many of the climbs would not be out of place in a mountain race, making it a good test of both strength and fitness. The 5k race offered a shorter option with a few climbs thrown in to ensure a good challenge. In the 10m race, Philip Goss had a fine run to claim second place behind Neil Weir of Willowfield while Helen Weir took 2nd place in the F45 category.
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time | Race |
| 2 | Philip Goss | MO | 01:00:14 | 10mile |
| 43 | Helen F Weir | F45 | 01:19:38 | 10mile |
| 53 | Anthony Fleming | M45 | 01:21:32 | 10mile |
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time | Race |
| 12 | Colin Simpson | M50 | 00:24:18 | 5k |
The popular 10k race promoted by Seapark AC took place in wet and windy conditions in Carrickfergus on Sunday afternoon. The North Belfast Harriers were out in force with no fewer than 38 athletes competing in a large field of over 800. Congratulations to Grainne Stephens and Ciara Lyons for whom this was their first 10k race. In a fast race won by St Malachy’s Ben Branagh (31:54) the club’s strength in depth was evidenced by a strong showing across the board, with 3 finishers in the top 4 (John Black, Joe Malone and Kent Swann) and April Clarke 2nd lady. There were also age category winners (Kent Swann M35, David Clarke M55, Laurence Johnston M60) and runners up (James Wallace M50, Carol Clarke F50 and Marilyn Foster F65).
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time | Note |
| 2 | John Black | MO | 0:32:38 | |
| 3 | Joe Malone | MO | 0:34:21 | |
| 4 | Kent Swann | M35 | 0:35:03 | 1st M35 |
| 9 | David Clarke | M55 | 0:36:20 | 1st M55 |
| 12 | James Wallace | M55 | 0:37:03 | 2nd M50 |
| 14 | Laurence Johnston | M60 | 0:37:29 | 1st M60 |
| 43 | Paul Butcher | M40 | 0:39:58 | |
| 94 | April Clarke | FO | 0:44:06 | 2nd FO |
| 132 | Carol Clarke | F50 | 0:45:36 | 2nd F50 |
| 147 | Maurice Palmer | M55 | 0:46:21 | |
| 158 | Gerry Anderson | M50 | 0:46:46 | |
| 182 | Terence McAtamney | MO | 0:48:04 | |
| 256 | Philip McIlwrath | M40 | 0:50:11 | |
| 292 | Lorraine Hibburt | F45 | 0:50:56 | |
| 335 | Fiona Magill | F35 | 0:52:39 | |
| 355 | Brian Wallace | M55 | 0:53:19 | |
| 384 | Lynn McKenna | F45 | 0:53:56 | |
| 386 | Catherine Seawright | F40 | 0:54:03 | |
| 413 | Karlene Graham | FO | 0:55:00 | |
| 418 | Joanne McAllister | F40 | 0:55:21 | |
| 457 | Paul Armstrong | M50 | 0:56:42 | |
| 468 | Francesca McAreavey | F35 | 0:57:06 | |
| 549 | Ciara Magennis | F35 | 0:59:23 | |
| 623 | Laura Lovett | F35 | 1:01:51 | |
| 630 | Joanne Curran | F40 | 1:02:20 | |
| 697 | Sonia Millar | F40 | 1:05:41 | |
| 708 | Grainne Stephens | FO | 1:06:23 | |
| 714 | Gail Hill | F35 | 1:06:39 | |
| 730 | Angela Greenhill | F45 | 1:07:42 | |
| 746 | Joanne McGurk | F35 | 1:08:44 | |
| 747 | Megan Beggs | FO | 1:08:43 | |
| 770 | Ciara Lyons | FO | 1:10:19 | |
| 781 | Elizabeth Campbell | F40 | 1:11:25 | |
| 783 | Marilyn Foster | F65 | 1:11:23 | 2nd F65 |
| 796 | Mick Murray | M50 | 1:12:33 | |
| 797 | Emma Emsley | F40 | 1:12:36 | |
| 840 | Nicola Simpson | F40 | 1:21:35 | |
| 849 | Rosy Ryan | F40 | 1:27:44 |
Armagh was also wet and windy on Sunday morning as the annual marathon took place over four tough laps. Louise Smith was the club’s representative in this one and she maintained her usual high standard to win the ladies race with a fourth place finish overall.
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time | Note |
| 4 | Louise Smith | FO | 3:07:32 | 1st lady |
parkrun (Sat 25 Aug)
parkrun tourists Rosy Ryan and Phil McIlwrath had two weeks ago managed to complete all 27 parkruns in Northern Ireland. When the latest new parkrun started in Dungannon it just had to be added to their list ! That’s what happened on Saturday. Their proud record is now 28 out of 28 parkruns!
Catching up fast, mother and daughter Philomena and Eadaoin Donaldson completed their 23rd different NI parkrun in Enniskillen.
| Waterworks parkrun, Belfast # 409 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 5 | Paul CURLEY | 00:18:28 | PB stays at 00:17:40 | 125 |
| 7 | Simon REEVE | 00:19:19 | PB stays at 00:17:48 | 209 |
| 11 | Drew KNOX | 00:20:09 | PB stays at 00:18:42 | 254 |
| 18 | Max REID | 00:20:40 | PB stays at 00:19:45 | 54 |
| 19 | Ray CAMERON | 00:21:30 | PB stays at 00:19:15 | 121 |
| 35 | Kevin MCCANN | 00:22:34 | PB stays at 00:21:54 | 81 |
| 36 | Greg MCCLURE | 00:22:35 | PB stays at 00:18:41 | 333 |
| 51 | Gary BLYTHE | 00:23:53 | PB stays at 00:21:14 | 125 |
| 58 | Tony REID | 00:24:47 | PB stays at 00:21:50 | 376 |
| 81 | Lyle CARLETON | 00:26:18 | PB stays at 00:21:22 | 92 |
| 82 | Philip MAGEE | 00:26:19 | PB stays at 00:23:25 | 26 |
| 97 | Matthew HIGGINS | 00:27:20 | PB stays at 00:24:26 | 121 |
| 109 | Gerry ANDERSON | 00:27:55 | PB stays at 00:22:13 | 102 |
| 125 | Padraigin BINGHAM | 00:28:45 | PB stays at 00:26:38 | 82 |
| 135 | Stella HARRISON | 00:29:10 | PB stays at 00:26:30 | 262 |
| 153 | Eimear NUGENT | 00:30:35 | PB stays at 00:26:53 | 36 |
| 154 | Gemma LOWE | 00:30:36 | PB stays at 00:28:59 | 60 |
| 160 | Trisha MURRAY | 00:32:13 | PB stays at 00:28:39 | 80 |
| 166 | Jacqueline LAWLOR | 00:32:33 | PB stays at 00:28:48 | 153 |
| 167 | Michael LAWLOR | 00:32:34 | PB stays at 00:25:44 | 121 |
| 175 | Paula O’REILLY | 00:33:20 | PB stays at 00:32:17 | 21 |
| 177 | Catherine CARLETON | 00:34:20 | PB stays at 00:31:42 | 57 |
| 204 | Gabrielle MALLAGHAN | 00:44:38 | PB stays at 00:27:25 | 109 |
| 205 | Bernadette DUFFY | 00:44:39 | PB stays at 00:29:29 | 179 |
| 206 | John BURNS | 00:44:40 | PB stays at 00:21:37 | 131 |
| 207 | Roisin RODGERS | 00:49:19 | New PB! | 3 |
| Queen’s parkrun, Belfast # 331 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 17 | Ciaran HUNTER | 00:21:29 | PB stays at 00:20:24 | 248 |
| Falls parkrun, Belfast # 308 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 7 | John MCCONNELL | 00:22:24 | PB stays at 00:19:26 | 253 |
| Portrush parkrun # 317 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 136 | Holly BENNETT | 00:26:35 | First Timer! | 3 |
| Enniskillen parkrun # 267 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 81 | Eadaoin DONALDSON | 00:32:32 | First Timer! | 165 |
| 82 | Philomena DONALDSON | 00:32:37 | First Timer! | 189 |
| Ormeau parkrun # 265 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 23 | Paul WILLIAMS | 00:21:14 | PB stays at 00:20:49 | 269 |
| 81 | Damien GILL | 00:23:34 | PB stays at 00:20:05 | 227 |
| Castlewellan parkrun # 47 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 6 | Philip Patrick DONNELLY | 00:19:11 | PB stays at 00:19:01 | 140 |
| 23 | Jack MCCREADY | 00:22:51 | PB stays at 00:21:59 | 69 |
| Larne parkrun # 239 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 8 | Matt SHIELDS | 00:23:18 | PB stays at 00:22:44 | 296 |
| 12 | Trisha CAMPBELL | 00:24:16 | PB stays at 00:21:04 | 37 |
| Ardgillan parkrun # 235 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 7 | Sam CARR | 00:21:26 | New PB! | 110 |
| 44 | Sandy CARR | 00:26:24 | PB stays at 00:25:07 | 207 |
| Valley parkrun, Newtownabbey # 206 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 30 | Joe WILSON | 00:26:48 | PB stays at 00:25:32 | 65 |
| Falcarragh parkrun # 137 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 4 | John Gerard MURPHY | 00:19:39 | PB stays at 00:19:08 | 370 |
| 32 | Jim CLINTON | 00:25:23 | PB stays at 00:22:59 | 384 |
| 63 | Kevin LAVERY | 00:29:35 | PB stays at 00:23:02 | 93 |
| 83 | John LAVERY | 00:33:06 | PB stays at 00:23:04 | 164 |
| Orangefield parkrun # 4 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 2 | Laurence JOHNSTON | 00:19:43 | First Timer! | 86 |
| Dungannon Park parkrun # 2 – 25/08/2018 | ||||
| Pos | parkrunner | Time | Note | Total runs |
| 50 | Philip MCILWRATH | 00:26:06 | First Timer! | 153 |
| 129 | Rosy RYAN | 00:43:31 | First Timer! | 153 |
