NBH Race Report 28 Oct – 3 Nov 2019

Plenty of variety for North Belfast Harriers who ran in local cross country, 5K parkrun and 10K events as well as competing in marathons in both Carrickfergus and New York!

85^th McConnell Shield (Saturday 2 November)

Hosted by East Antrim Harriers AC, the latest event in the Cross-Country League took place in Sixmilewater River Park at the weekend.  North Belfast Harriers put in some excellent performances in advance of next week’s Bobby Rea International.  A special mention also to John McKeag of Ballydrain Harriers who at 97 years of age who came to the race with the medals he won in 1939 as a 17-year old!

Results for North Belfast Harriers…

Born 2 Run – Minnowburn 10K (Saturday 2 November)

No club results listed for this event which took place on Saturday but NBH member Roisin Hughes finished in a great time of 41:54.

10     Róisín Hughes     41:54

Carrickfergus Marathon and Half Marathon (Sunday 3 November)

This unique event organised by ‘We Run Wild NI’ was advertised as a “step back in time…along lanes, trails and roads steeped in history dating back to the early 1700s in one of Northern Ireland’s oldest towns.”  Participants started at 9am at Carrickfergus Castle and finished at the same venue, both courses offering trails, lanes and forest and spectacular views of Belfast Lough.  Harrier Simon Reeve finished in second place with a great time of 3:48.14.  Congratulations!  (No clubs listed in results, info from Facebook page)

Decathlon 10K (Sunday 3 November)

Known for being fast and flat, this race starts and finishes outside the Belfast store.  It is a one lap out and back route with a turn point near the Bombardier Factory on Airport Road West.  (Facebook) Another podium finish for North Belfast with Lawrence O’Hara in second position with a very comfortable sub-34 (33:47).  Well done! 

Also, congratulations to all stags who participated:

2         Lawrence O’Hara  33.47

231     Maurice Palmer     49:55

420     Evelyn Palmer       57:53

446     Leanne O’Hara      58:48

491     Fergus Jamison    1:00:37

542     Ita Weir                     1:04:46

New York Marathon (Sunday 3 November)

On Sunday two yellow jerseys were amongst more than 53,000 other runners on the 26.2-mile course in the Big Apple.  This was the 49^th annual event and is the largest marathon in the world.  Initially required to repeat laps of Central Park, the route was changed in 1976 to take in the five boroughs of New York, including inclines and bridges throughout.  Not an easy one!  Congratulations to Thomas McKinstry (4.32:15)and Mia McDowell (4.12:32) who both had fantastic runs this year.

Parkrun

Our local parkrun venue, Waterworks celebrated their 9^th birthday this weekend.  Members of North Belfast Harriers were there back then at the inaugural event and again this Saturday to help enjoy the cake provided by sponsors, Vitality.

South Manchester parkrun

Waterworks parkrun, Belfast

Belfast Victoria parkrun

Queen’s parkrun, Belfast

Ormeau parkrun

Avondale Forest parkrun