
The Harriers saw out the old year and ushered in the new by doing what they do best: racing.
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Tues 28th Dec 2021: Castlewellan Christmas Cracker
Those familiar with this race will know that it has two unique selling points. Firstly, you have to run with a partner and you are only ever as good as your other half. Secondly, and perhaps more uniquely only a select few know the course in advance and they are sworn to secrecy. This is unusual in that most of us go to a race knowing what to expect in terms of distance, terrain and elevation: not so with this one! The only information is that it begins and ends in Castlewellan and it is between 8.5 and 9 miles.
That didn’t stop the Harriers having fun (or not!)
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Position | Barcode | Runner 1 | Runner 1 Club | Runner 2 | Runner 2 Club | Finish Time | |
4 | 510 | David McNeilly | Newcastle and District AC* | Gareth Lyons | North Belfast Harriers* | 01:00:30 | |
44 | 677 | Michael Sinton | Lisburn Triathlon Club | Paul Hutchinson | North Belfast Harriers* | 01:08:27 | |
58 | 304 | Timothy Johnston | Mourne Runners* | Martsje Hell | North Belfast Harriers* | 01:10:07 | |
185 | 26 | Ryan Armstrong | North Belfast Harriers* | Ray Cameron | North Belfast Harriers* | 01:23:20 | |
284 | 731 | Stephen Walker | North Belfast Harriers* | Paul Williams | North Belfast Harriers* | 01:32:57 | |
286 | 22 | Gerry Anderson | North Belfast Harriers* | Chris Callaghan | North Belfast Harriers* | 01:33:03 | |
303 | 414 | Peter McClelland | North Belfast Harriers* | Trevor Martin | Unattached | 01:34:01 | |
367 | 404 | Ita McCambridge | North Belfast Harriers* | Paddy McCambridge | North Belfast Harriers* | 01:38:05 | |
374 | 403 | Catriona McCambridge | North Belfast Harriers* | Orla McCambridge | North Belfast Harriers* | 01:38:42 | |
528 | 298 | Fergus Jamison | North Belfast Harriers* | Lorraine Hibbert | North Belfast Harriers* | 01:57:45 |
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Fri 30th Dec, Sat 31st Dec 2021: EAMS New Year Back 2 Back 2021
The traditional EAMS B2B event returned in 2021 and attracted regulars and newcomers alike. Taking place on the last 2 days of the year, runners had options for 10k, half marathon or marathon on each day.
Day 1: Carrickfergus Castle to Gideon’s Green
The route took runners around the marina, and via the Belfast Road and the Loughshore path to the turn point at Gideon’s Green. Two complete loops made up the marathon distance. Conditions were unseasonably mild and the outbound headwind became a nice tailwind on the return to Carrick. Greg McClure represented the harriers, completing the marathon distance in 3:53:58.
Day 2: Greenisland
Conditions were again mild for the tough Greenisland route on New Year’s Eve. The route comprised the 6.5m loop familiar to EAMS regulars, via Upper Road, Monkstown Road & Wood, the Shore Road and Greenisland Station Road, with the marathon runners completing the loop 4 times with the extra 0.22m added on at the start. Greg McClure again tackled the marathon distance, completing in 4:08:13.
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Photo credits: Dermot Boyd / Dawn McClure
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Sat 1st Jan 2022: Race over the Glens
Eleven members of North Belfast Harriers got the New Year off to a good start by competing in the six mile Race over the Glens. This iconic race took the athletes around the Glenariff Forest Park deep in the Glens of Antrim.
Organised by Ballymena Runners, proceeds went to Air Ambulance NI.
Martsje Hell was crowned Queen of the Glen by being the first female to cross the line. Well done Martsje.
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Race Rank | Class Rank | No | Name | Club | Sex | Class | Chip Time | Gun Time |
14 | 3 | 336 | Simon Reeve | North Belfast Harriers | M | MV 45-49 | 00:41:26 | 00:41:30 |
17 | 5 | 77 | Martin Rea | North Belfast Harriers | M | MV 45-49 | 00:41:42 | 00:41:46 |
20 | 7 | 40 | Arran Rutledge | North Belfast Harriers | M | MV 45-49 | 00:42:05 | 00:42:09 |
42 | 1 | 384 | Martsje Hell | North Belfast Harriers | F | Female Open | 00:45:03 | 00:45:06 |
67 | 6 | 282 | Natasha Henderson | North Belfast Harriers | F | Female Open | 00:47:34 | 00:47:38 |
87 | 8 | 436 | Ciaran Sloan | North Belfast Harriers | M | MV 35-39 | 00:49:04 | 00:49:17 |
92 | 24 | 111 | Peter Reed | North Belfast Harriers | M | Male Open | 00:49:27 | 00:49:31 |
123 | 9 | 199 | Fionnuala O’Hare | North Belfast Harriers | F | Female Open | 00:51:21 | 00:51:34 |
130 | 2 | 298 | Helen F Weir | North Belfast Harriers | F | FV 50-54 | 00:51:43 | 00:51:56 |
183 | 21 | 30 | Peter McClelland | North Belfast Harriers | M | MV 35-39 | 00:54:59 | 00:55:22 |
241 | 25 | 91 | David Hurst | North Belfast Harriers | M | MV 35-39 | 00:58:36 | 00:59:00 |
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Sat 1st Jan 2022 PARKRUNS
A total of 44 North Belfast Harriers took part in 15 parkruns this week.
Well done to Mark McKINSTRY on finishing first at Orangefield parkrun.
Congratulations to Alex REID, Matthew CARLETON and Sandy CARR, on achieving PBs this week.
Well done to everybody who took park in this week’s parkruns and a big thank you to the army of volunteers.
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South Manchester parkrun | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
92 | Ray CAMERON | 00:25:18 | ||||
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Belfast Victoria parkrun | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
4 | Conor O’RAWE | 00:17:03 | ||||
9 | John McGUIGAN | 00:18:00 | ||||
11 | Max REID | 00:18:11 | ||||
22 | David CURRAN | 00:19:15 | ||||
44 | Alex REID | 00:21:34 | New PB | |||
50 | Matthew CARLETON | 00:22:18 | New PB | |||
105 | Senan STEELE | 00:26:56 | ||||
108 | Lyle CARLETON | 00:27:08 | ||||
114 | Joe WILSON | 00:27:51 | ||||
121 | Heather WILSON | 00:28:27 | ||||
143 | Sé STEELE | 00:31:26 | ||||
144 | Oisin STEELE | 00:31:36 | ||||
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Portrush parkrun | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
111 | Paul JENKINS | 00:27:07 | ||||
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Citypark parkrun, Craigavon | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
4 | Colin McDOWELL | 00:17:56 | ||||
61 | John McCONNELL | 00:23:29 | ||||
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Ormeau parkrun | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
142 | Jim CLINTON | 00:27:38 | ||||
180 | Philip McILWRATH | 00:29:59 | ||||
238 | Jack WASSON | 00:34:30 | ||||
239 | Caroline WASSON | 00:34:32 | ||||
303 | Rosy RYAN | 00:55:54 | ||||
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Antrim parkrun | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
5 | Gavin McCAFFREY | 00:18:50 | ||||
18 | Thomas COY | 00:21:25 | ||||
19 | Dermot COY | 00:21:26 | ||||
33 | Brian STEWART | 00:22:23 | ||||
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Castlewellan parkrun | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
8 | Piaras McSHANE | 00:18:58 | ||||
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Letterkenny parkrun | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
36 | Paul LAVERY | 00:36:29 | ||||
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Valley parkrun, Newtownabbey | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
19 | Paul WILLIAMS | 00:23:18 | ||||
36 | Tony REID | 00:25:03 | ||||
76 | Stella HARRISON | 00:29:54 | ||||
102 | Philomena DONALDSON | 00:33:38 | ||||
107 | Martin McLARNON | 00:34:17 | ||||
115 | Bernadette DUFFY | 00:35:43 | ||||
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Stormont parkrun | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
189 | Jason REID | 00:30:38 | ||||
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Colin Glen parkrun | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
25 | Sandy CARR | 00:27:25 | New PB | |||
71 | Margaret STEPHENS | 00:38:17 | ||||
72 | Michael LAWLOR | 00:40:11 | ||||
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Orangefield parkrun | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
1 | Mark McKINSTRY | 00:16:20 | First Finisher | |||
12 | Kevin McCANN | 00:23:35 | ||||
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Deerpark Forest parkrun, Virginia | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
19 | Kieran CALLAGHAN | 00:25:50 | ||||
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Crawfordsburn Country parkrun | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
50 | Gerry ANDERSON | 00:24:20 | ||||
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Knockbracken Reservoir parkrun | ||||||
Position | parkrunner | Run Time | Notes | |||
12 | John Gerard MURPHY | 00:20:01 | ||||
19 | Matt SHIELDS | 00:21:13 | ||||
132 | Greg McCLURE | 00:33:09 |