North Belfast Harriers Junior Report 17th – 23rd October 2022

For fans of cross country athletics, there was only one show in town this weekend. The Even age group Ulster’s were held in Comber and the club had a very strong showing at this major event. In addition, some great park run performances at the usual venues. Let’s start with the racing and firstly thanks to all the mentors, coaches, parents, supporters and not least, the runners for making it another great event.

NI & Ulster Even Age Group Championships

Girls Under 10

The girls lined up with big smiles in the rain for their race. They all embraced the mud and ran really well and had so much fun, gaining great experience to bring to future races.

They then enjoyed the craic in the tent afterwards, staying on to cheer on their teammates in later races.

Athlete	Event	Place	Time
Emily Gamble	U10 Girls	24	04:13
Phoebe Reid	U10 Girls	34	04:26
Eva McLoughlin	U10 Girls	47	04:49
Clodagh Fahy Duckett	U10 Girls	56	05:52

Boys Under 10

We had 5 boys run in the U10 section with the majority making their big race debut. As a team they placed 4^th.

Mason Mercer led the team home finishing 6^th overall and also qualified for Antrim and Ulster in the All Irelands.

Issac Mooney wasn’t far behind with a very impressive run. Over the finish line next were Milo Purvis and Cillian McConnell, both finishing strongly and only 1 second apart.

Max Curry completed the quintet with all boys doing themselves and the club proud.

Athlete	Event	Place	Time
Mason Mercer	U10 Boys	6	03:34
Isaac Mooney	U10 Boys	36	04:00
Milo Purvis	U10 Boys	58	04:17
Cillian McConnell	U10 Boys	59	04:18
Max Curry	U10 Boys	81	05:28

Girls Under 12

In the U12 girls race the club had three runners – Eimear Coy, Rachel Curry, and Cassie Curran.

After a good warm up and quick lace check the girls were off. There were 102 athletes in this race which started with the usual stampede along the 100m straight and into the long incline.

Cassie started steadily as did Rachel and Eimear, avoiding elbows and fallers in the mud.

By the downhill section Cassie was starting to work her way through the field and with half the race gone was in the top 20. She continued her strong running and produced a very strong finish to come home 4^th place (04:40), 3 seconds behind the winner, Kate Kelly from Enniskillen (04:37), gaining automatic selection for Ulster and Antrim at the All Ireland Finals in Donegal on Sunday 20^th November.

Behind her, clubmates Eimear and Rachel were also running strong – with Eimear finishing in 79^th position (06:06) just ahead of Rachel in 81^st place (06:12).

The girls all ran fantastically and hopefully there is more to come from each of them this season.

Athlete	Event	Place	Time
Cassie Curran	U12 Girls	4	04:40
Eimear Coy	U12 Girls	79	06:06
Rachel Curry	U12 Girls	81	06:12

Boys Under 12

The U12 boys race had 112 runners in a very competitive field of 14 teams. Our boys managed to score 126 points and finished in 6^th place in a race dominated by some strong Donegal teams. However our boys scored higher than local clubs such as North Down and Willowfield.

First home was Cormac Leheny in 10^th place in a very tight pack of runners and only 6 seconds off a podium spot. Cormac automatically qualified for the All Ireland final for both Antrim and Ulster.

Second home was Finlay Mercer in 31^st place also qualifying for the All Irelands representing Antrim.

We had a lot of debutants in this race and every boy gave it 100%, especially on the home straight doing themselves and the club proud. At the finish area the boys were in great spirits and we hope to see them all back racing again soon.

Athlete	Event	Place	Time
Cormac Leheny	U12 Boys	10	04:38
Finley Mercer	U12 Boys	31	04:55
Ruarcc Sheridan	U12 Boys	40	05:02
Senan McConnell	U12 Boys	45	05:05
Tom McEvoy	U12 Boys	47	05:06
Dualta McGleenan	U12 Boys	60	05:15
Ethan Wiltshire	U12 Boys	66	05:17
Lorcan O’Kane	U12 Boys	84	05:35
Niall McAuley	U12 Boys	86	05:37
Finley McCloy	U12 Boys	92	05:44
Theo Haigh Aragao	U12 Boys	98	05:52
Pearse Leheny	U12 Boys	100	05:58
Jude McMaster-King	U12 Boys	109	06:21

Girls Under 14

Congratulations to all the girls taking part in the u14 girls race. Everyone stuck top the task and really battled through this tough course showing how their hard work is paying off against the best talent in Ulster.

Athlete	Event	Place	Time
Isla Wiltshire	U14 Girls	37	10:00
Erin J McAuley	U14 Girls	64	10:39
Cliona McGinley	U14 Girls	66	10:45
Eabha Conway	U14 Girls	72	11:18
Aoife Sharkey	U14 Girls	80	11:36
Orlaith Fahy Duckett	U14 Girls	85	11:45
Eimear O’Regan	U14 Girls	88	11:59

Boys Under 14

The U14 boys contingent consisted of Alex Reid, Thomas Coy, Jack O’Neil, and Odhran Browne. This was a very tough race for these four year 8 boys who were racing a longer distance of 2.5km alongside year 9s and year 10s. They all ran really well and will only get better at this new age group which they can all run again next year.

Athlete	Event	Place	Time
Thomas Coy	U14 Boys	23	08:55
Alex Reid	U14 Boys	68	09:32
Jack O’Neil	U14 Boys	91	10:04
Odhran Browne	U14 Boys	98	10:46

Girls Under 16

Athlete	Event	Place	Time
Holly Collins	U16 Girls	34	13:38
Treasa McConnell	U16 Girls	42	14:15
Niambh McAuley	U16 Girls	59	14:52

Boys Under 16

The U16 boys race saw 12 entries from the club in the 3.5km race which consisted of 1 lap of the lower lake followed by 1 longer lap including the hill. The boys were brought through the usual track warm up routine with discussion on course tactics before heading down to the starting pens.

As expected, the race began at pace with Max, Eoin and Oscar securing positions close to the front before the first ramp. The remaining boys opted to hang back at the start and save their energy for the harder 2^nd lap and the opportunity to pick off runners as they made their way through the pack.

And so it unfolded, by the end of the first lap, the very determined Max, Eoin and Oscar had maintained their positions close to the front whilst the rest of the boys looked in control having steadily progressed up the pecking order.

A good hill, soft under foot, offers no forgiveness to anyone that has gone out too hard and the hill at Comber, deceptive at first glance, has seen many earn its respect. The incline at the start of the 2^nd lap signalled the unofficial start line for this race as the runners gritted their teeth and persevered until the downhill section and a moment of recovery. With the runners disappearing out of view behind the tree line the spectators were left in suspense for several minutes as the drama unfolded out of sight.

Then emerging into view at the far side of the lower lake, the NBH vests were clearly visible close to the front with approximately 800m to go as the course levelled off. The experienced heads knew there was one final twist in this plot but would the newcomers recall the race brief and have enough for the final kick up the finishing ramp? Spectators lined the course with 200m to go. Cheering, applauding, roaring the runners to one final effort. Faces etched in fatigue and desire, duelling with each other to the line. Bodies bent double, hunched and gasping, offering congratulations to strangers yet comrades at the finish.

Max, Eoin and Oscar secured automatic qualification whilst Ryan’s finish was enough to see the team place 4^th (2 points of a podium finish) and earn a team qualification slot for the All Irelands in Downings, Donegal on November 20^th.

Well done to all the runners and in particular the first timers. Some great battles throughout the race and particularly at the finish. You did yourselves proud.

Athlete	Event	Place	Time
Max Reid	U16 Boys	6	11:02
Eoin O’Connell	U16 Boys	13	11:25
Oscar Purvis	U16 Boys	19	11:48
Ryan Donaldson	U16 Boys	58	12:53
Charlie McLarnon	U16 Boys	63	13:05
Lorcan McCann	U16 Boys	64	13:11
Aidan Owens	U16 Boys	76	14:00
Cathal McManus	U16 Boys	77	14:02
Oscar O’Connor	U16 Boys	80	14:12
Cillian Browne	U16 Boys	82	14:19
Nathan McKeown	U16 Boys	85	14:24
Oran Steele	U16 Boys	89	16:14

Girls Under 18

Brilliant effort from Orlagh, our sole representative in this category. Worked diligently throughout and came home to great applause from the NBH faithful.

Athlete	Event	Place	Time
Orlagh McComb	U18 Girls	34	22:27

Boys Under 18

Having waited around patiently for a few hours it was over to the eldest juniors in the squad. Hugo, Odhran and Matthew waited in the pens for the whistle to sound then the cavalry charge commenced up the straight.

Hugo got the best start and held his position well heading up the first small incline and stayed with the leading group throughout the 1^st lap. By the time the 2^nd lap started he had dropped a few places however he hung in to secure a 10^th place and an automatic qualifier to the All Irelands.

Odhran had a good start also and was mid pack heading into the 2^nd lap but slowed a bit on the heavy underfoot conditions and came home in 47^th place.

Matthew was so excited about his first ever cross-country race and was admittedly nervous on the start line. As the whistles went, he charged up the first straight after his 2 teammates. He enjoyed the cheers from the crowds as he made it to the home hill and threw his hands in the air as he passed the finish line. Well done!

Athlete	Event	Place	Time
Hugo Reilly-Stewart	U18 Boys	10	18:31
Odhran Rafferty	U18 Boys	47	22:32
Matthew Purvis

Phew! If that wasn’t enough there was also the Park runs…

2km Junior Parkrun – 23^rd October 2022

Well done to all who ran this weeks 2km Parkruns, congratulations especially to Tom, Isaac, Eimear, and Carter for their well deserved new personal best times.

Athlete	Event	Place	Time
Tom McLoughlin	Waterworks	3	08:04 PB
Isaac Mooney	Waterworks	7	08:31 PB
Eimear O’Regan	Waterworks	11	08:50 PB
Sadie Sullivan	Waterworks	16	09:57:00
Carter McClay	Waterworks	18	10:08 PB
Cormac Leheny	Ormeau	1	07:24:00
Pearse Leheny	Ormeau	11	09:38:00
Ronan O’Neill	Musgrave	19	12:47:00