
North Belfast Harriers take to the field at the International Cross Country
A number of members from North Belfast Harriers were selected to run for Northern Ireland and Ulster, at the Athletics NI International Cross Country meet, at the Billy Neill MBE Country Park. Running for N Ireland and Ulster in the Under 20 Women’s Race was Rosie Roberts, with Matthew Lavery running for N Ireland and Ulster in the Under 20 Men’s Race. Gavin McCaffrey and Conan McCaughey both represented N Ireland and Ulster in the Senior Men’s Race, whilst Peter McGarry, Luke Kelly, and Joe Gallagher sported the iconic yellow vests of North Belfast Harriers in the 10k, 6k and 4k races, respectively.
The event was part of the World Athletics Silver Cross Country Tour and incorporated The Celtic Games, Home Countries and British Cross Challenge. This was the first time that this international cross country meet had been staged since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, and it was attended by a host of international teams and individual runners from across Europe and further afield, with the star of the show being the current women’s world champion, double Olympic silver medallist and double 5,000m world champion, Helen Obiri. The 32 year old Kenyan runner, who finished her race 19 seconds ahead of her closest opposition described the course as, “difficult, but good, as it challenged everyone”, a sentiment, with which, the runners for North Belfast Harriers, would no doubt concur. There were a variety of distances over which the participants were tested, however all had to master the infamous main hill and patches of soft ground, where the benefit of wearing long spikes was made obvious. The under 20 women ran over 4,000m, the under 20 men over 6,000m, the senior women over 8,000m, the senior men over 10,000m and the mixed senior and masters ran over 4,000m. Well done to all who participated, on a crisp winter day, when the sun shone in patches and the rain never threatened.
Photos courtesy of Steve Donegan Photography, Facebook and J Gallagher.
Under 20 Women (4,000m)
Position | Bib | Name | Category | Club | time |
15 | 632 | Rosie Roberts | G20 | N Ireland & Ulster U20 | 15:07 |
Under 20 Men (6,000m)
Position | Bib | Name | Category | Club | time |
18 | 754 | Luke Kelly | B20 | North Belfast Harriers | 19:26 |
22 | 751 | Matthew Lavery | B20 | N Ireland & Ulster U20 | 19:37 |
Senior Men (10,000m)
Position | Bib | Name | Category | Club | time |
13 | 45 | Conan McCaughey | Sen | N Ireland & Ulster | 30:45 |
40 | 49 | Gavin McCaffrey | U20 | N Ireland & Ulster U23 | 34:05 |
42 | 53 | Peter McGarry | Sen | North Belfast Harriers | 34:32 |
Senior and Masters Open (4,000m)
Position | Bib | Name | Category | Club | time |
34 | 1040 | Joe Gallagher | M60 | North Belfast Harriers | 18:03 |
All the races were streamed live to an audience around the world. A recording can be viewed on Youtube at World Athletics Northern Ireland International Cross Country LIVE
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North Belfast Harriers shine at the British Masters Indoor Championships
North Belfast Harriers were represented at the British Masters Indoor Championships at Sheffield, with Paul Horan and David Clarke achieving podium positions, finishing second in the 3,000m in the M45 and M60 categories. Paul was running in the M45 category and finished in a time of 9min; 19.41sec, whilst David, running in the M60 category finished in a time of 9min; 52.72sec. Well done to both on fantastic performances!
ParkRuns
A strong contingent of Harriers continued to share their love for running through participation in, and support for the wonderful institution that is ParkRun. As is always the case, when circumstances permit, the majority of participants from the club, opted to run at their home course in the Waterworks. Nonetheless, the club also had representation in a variety of locations, including counties Donegal and Cavan. Worth a special mention are Fionnuala O’Hare (2nd Female Finisher), John Black (1st Finisher) Aaron Rush (2nd Finisher), Natasha Henderson (1st Female Finisher), and Janice Plumb (3rd Female Finisher) in their respective ParkRuns. Congratulations to David Curran, Alex Reid, Chris Callaghan, Paul Lavery, Vincent Bradley, John Black, Aaron Rush, Natasha Henderson and Fergus Jamison, who all recorded new personal best times in their respective ParkRuns. Well done to all who turned out to run the traditional Saturday morning 5k.
Waterworks ParkRun
Position | Name | Time | Remarks |
6 | Stephen Walker | 18:00 | |
11 | David Curran | 18:33 | New PB |
14 | Mark McAvoy | 19;13 | |
15 | Joe Norney | 19:21 | |
17 | John Gerard Murphy | 19:35 | |
25 | Alex Reid | 20:24 | New PB |
38 | Fionnuala O’Hare | 21:28 | 2nd Female |
41 | Chris Callaghan | 21:31 | New PB |
43 | Paul Williams | 21:38 | |
50 | Gerard McNamara | 22:28 | |
52 | Greg McClure | 22:38 | |
53 | Ita McCambridge | 22:40 | |
55 | Paddy McCambridge | 22:52 | |
58 | Orla McCambridge | 23:04 | |
80 | Michelle McLoughlin | 24:15 | |
88 | Tony Reid | 24:27 | |
96 | Anthony Steel | 25:04 | |
97 | Jack Carberry | 25:04 | |
99 | Ray Cameron | 25:11 | |
108 | Orán Steel | 25:58 | |
117 | Gerard Sowney | 26:09 | |
140 | Chris O’Donaghue | 27:19 | |
141 | Matt Shields | 27:20 | |
150 | Lyle Carleton | 27:46 | |
152 | Catherine Seawright | 28:02 | |
154 | Seanan Steel | 28:08 | |
164 | Sabrina Nulty | 28:39 | |
176 | Thomas McKinstry | 29:01 | |
182 | Stella Harrison | 29:05 | |
183 | Heather Wilson | 29:05 | |
198 | Philip McIlwrath | 29:20 | |
244 | Sandy Carr | 31:10 | |
245 | Margaret Stephens | 31:12 | |
253 | Philomena Donaldson | 31:40 | |
259 | Jim Clinton | 32:02 | |
269 | Bernadette Duffy | 32:19 | |
281 | Grainne Stephens | 33:00 | |
282 | Paul Lavery | 33:02 | New PB |
317 | Grace McKenna | 36:08 | |
318 | Lynn McKenna | 36:10 | |
330 | Jason Reid | 38:28 | |
363 | Sean McShane | 48:40 | |
366 | Gerry Anderson | 49:38 |
Belfast Victoria ParkRun
Position | Name | Time | Remarks |
6 | Colin McDowell | 16:36 | |
8 | Conor O’Rawe | 16:46 | |
44 | Vincent Bradley | 20:25 | New PB |
140 | Joe Wilson | 27:20 | |
220 | Catherine Carleton | 40:24 | |
221 | Paula O’Reilly | 40:24 |
Ormeau ParkRun
Position | Name | Time | Remarks |
1 | John Black | 16:11 | 1st Finisher & New PB |
2 | Aaron Rush | 17:28 | 2nd Finisher & New PB |
Antrim ParkRun
Position | Name | Time | Remarks |
31 | Brian Stewart | 22:27 |
Larne ParkRun
Position | Name | Time | Remarks |
4 | Natasha Henderson | 20:49 | 1st Female & New PB |
11 | Janice Plumb | 21:52 | 3rd Female |
17 | Carole Clarke | 24:03 |
Letterkenny ParkRun
Position | Name | Time | Remarks |
11 | Frankie Smyth | 23:12 | First Timer |
41 | Liam Smyth | 27:19 |
Valley ParkRun, Newtownabbey
Position | Name | Time | Remarks |
4 | Colin Willetts | 20:31 | |
108 | Angela Rogan | 39:09 |
Falcarragh ParkRun
Position | Name | Time | Remarks |
17 | Joe Drain | 24:56 |
Orangefield ParkRun
Position | Name | Time | Remarks |
19 | David Hurst | 23:46 | First Timer |
39 | Fergus Jamison | 28:17 | New PB |
Deerpark Forest ParkRun, Virginia
Position | Name | Time | Remarks |
21 | Kieran Callaghan | 25:08 |