North Belfast Harriers Race Report 24th –30th October 2022

North Belfast Harriers Race Report 24th –30th October 2022 

With Hallowe’en approaching, and the hours of daylight dwindling, the number of racing options this week diminished for the members of North Belfast Harriers. However, as always, the club’s runners were not deterred and donned their running gear, to test themselves on marathon, 5k and 10k races and ParkRuns at a variety of locations. 

Gladys Ganiel takes another podium place, at the National Championships at the Dublin Marathon, as runners from the club continue to perform in style, on Sunday 30th October. 

Gladys Ganiel (left) takes third place in the National Championships in the women’s marathon. Photo courtesy of Irish Life, Twitter.

After a two year absence, the annual Dublin City Marathon returned to the streets of the capital, and members of North Belfast Harriers celebrated the return with some very impressive performances. Gladys Ganiel continued a superb run of form, with yet another podium place at a prestigious marathon, taking third place in the National Championships in the women’s race. Gladys was first in her category, in a time of 2 hours: 42 min: 17 sec. Fellow North Belfast Harrier, Conal McCambridge also ran a great race coming 7th in his category, 22nd overall, finishing in 2 hours: 30 min: 39 sec. On a good day for running there were a number of very commendable performances from members of the club. 

The 2022 marathon was staged on its tradition date, on the Sunday of the bank holiday weekend in October. Some 15,000 entrants were scheduled to participate, and as would be expected, members of the North Belfast Harriers were certainly not frightened by a Hollow’en weekend 26.2 mile race.  

Starting amongst the stylish Georgian terraces, around Fitzwilliam Square, in southern central Dublin, the runners went out in waves, which were assigned based upon past performances and predicted finishing times. Running past St Stephen’s Green, towards Ushers Quay, the runners crossed the Liffey for the first time and made the gentle climb up towards Stoneybatter, one of the renowned districts of old Dublin. From there the runners entered Phoenix Park, circumventing the Zoo, before exiting the park on the west side and turning back towards the city centre. At Chapelizod Bridge the runners crossed the river again, heading east, then south, and east again, as they made their way towards, and then round University College Dublin. The final three miles saw the runners making their way back towards the location from where they started, finishing in the splendour of the Georgian architecture in Merrion Square, in close proximity to Leinster House and the National Gallery. Well done to all the finishers. 

Photos courtesy of Paddy McCambridge, Ryan Moore, Facebook. 

Place	Name	Division	Gun Time	Chip Time	Category Position	Gender Position
22	Conal McCambridge	MS	2:30:41	2:30:39	7	20
101	Gladys Ganiel	F45	2:42:17	2:42:15	1	6
130	Michael McKillop	MS	2:45:33	2:45:30	33	123
205	Ryan Moore	M35	2:49:50	2:49:43	36	194
244	Arran Rutledge	M45	2:52:13	2:52:04	41	232
530	Ryan Armstrong	M35	2:59:16	2:59:06	105	511
1109	Christopher Murray	M40	3:12:22	3:11:41	319	1035
1370	Patrick McAuley	M45	3:16:51	3:14:19	269	1262
1516	John McGuigan	M50	3:18:53	3:18:23	129	1395
1797	Neil Mercer	M45	3:23:05	3:23:03	375	1636
2258	Seamus Leheny	M45	3:28:17	3:27:46	456	2027
2675	Christopher Lennon	M50	3:31:58	3:31:17	249	2383
2804	Thomas McLaughlin	M45	3:33:36	3:32:38	556	2491
5071	Paul Williams	M55	3:54:14	3:53:30	227	4209
5476	Greg McClure	M65	3:57:13	3:55:47	22	4497
6813	Jim Clinton	M60	4:07:22	4:03:34	97	5448
9631	Karen McClean	F50	4:31:35	4:26:25	318	2398
10072	Lynn McKenna	F50	4:36:08	4:30:57	342	2568

 

It’s another First Place for Andrew Milligan, in the Podium 5km “A” Race at Barrowford, Lancashire, on Saturday 29th October.

Photos courtesy of Podium 5k Twitter, Gavin McCaffrey.

There were only 34 entrants in this fast elite 5k race. Continuing on with his amazing run of form this year, Andrew Milligan stormed to first place, finishing in the superb time of 14 min: 23 sec, some 7 sec ahead of his nearest challenger. Andrew covered the course running at 2:53 per km, or 4:38 per mile. With the form that Andrew is in at the minute, it’s intriguing to speculate what the future holds. Also running in the “A” race was Gavin McCaffrey. Gavin, running in the Stirling University vest, finished in 11th place, in a very fast time of 14 min: 49 secs. Congratulations to Andrew on another great performance and achieving a gold, also well done to Gavin. 

 

Conan McCaughey Wins the Enniskillen Spooktacular 5km Race, on 28th October. 

Photo courtesy of Conan McCaughey, NBH Twitter.

Conan McCaughey led the field to win the Enniskillen Spooktacular 5k race, finishing in 15 min: 01 sec, some 8 secs ahead of his nearest challenger. Almost 1000 runners entered this annual festive 5k race, which is in its 10th year. Conan was accompanied by fellow North Belfast Harrier, Colin McDowell, who was running in the M50 category, finishing 1st in his category, and 8th overall in 17 min: 07 sec. Great running by Conan and Colin. Congratulations to both.  

 

Gareth Lyons takes Siver in the 10k, as North Belfast Harriers race in the 5k and 10k at Sanitfield, on Sunday 30th October. 

Gareth Lyons ran a great race at Saintfield on Sunday, finishing the 10k race in 34 min: 15 secs, and was neck and neck with the first placed finisher. North Belfast Harriers were represented in both the 10k and 5k races, and as always, the runners embraced the challenge of testing themselves against their peers, and their own potential, with their customary exuberance and enthusiasm. Well done to all the runners. 

Race Distance	Position	Name	Gun Time	Chip Time
10k	2	Gareth Lyons	34:15	34:15
10k	40	Chris Callaghan	45:55	45:48
10k	132	Lucinda McAvoy	56:58	56:51
10k	150	Sonia Millar	59:28	59:20
10k	182	Bernadette McAteer	1:05:22	1:05:15
10k	190	Paul Armstrong	1:07:07	1:06:52
10k	196	Sarah Brady	1:12:28	1:12:21
5k	12	Matthew Carleton	21:07	21:06
5k	104	Paula O’Reilly	39:36	39:26
5k	105	Catherine Carleton	39:36	39:27

 

ParkRuns 

As the leaves lay littering thickly the walkways of many a public park and footpath, and the rain and overcast conditions gave an ambience, commensurate with a late autumnal morning, the members of North Belfast Harriers continued to turn out in force to partake in, and enjoy the convivial camaraderie and craic that accompanies every 5k ParkRun. 

Congratulations to Hugo Reilly, who was the first finisher on his course. Also well done to Moira Leheny, April Clarke and Martsje Hell, who were first female finishers in their respective ParkRuns. Moira also set a new PB. Natasha Henderson was a second female finisher, with a new PB. Janice Plumb was a third female finisher. Nat Glenn was a third finisher, with Nat also setting a new PB on his course. Also worth a mention are Thomas Coy, Charlie McLarnon, Chris Callaghan and Paul Lavery, who all set new PBs on their respective courses. 

 

Well done to all those who participated, the runners and especially the volunteers, without whom the events could not be staged.  

 

Waterworks ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
5	Thomas Coy	76.44%	19:27	New PB
9	Cormac Leheny	74.51%	20.:32
11	Moira Leheny	75.08%	20:48	First Female & New PB
15	Charlie McLarnon	67.06%	21:09	New PB
20	Joseph Gallagher	75.70%	21:57
27	Matthew Carleton	56.41%	22.52
30	Dermot Coy	60.51%	23.05
34	Cathal McManus	61.31%	23:39	First Timer
43	Tony Reid	64.55%	24:38
58	Jack Carberry	78.62%	26:07
77	Sandy Carr	57.30%	27:03
79	Oscar Purvis	51.38%	27:05
87	Matthew Purvis	48.84%	28:03
98	Lyle Carleton	55.51%	28:53
116	Martin McLarnon	47.39%	30:23
117	Stella Harrison	65.64%	30:25
118	Greg McClure	55.55%	30:29
119	Thomas McLaughlin	46.53%	30:29
121	Jim Clinton	52.97%	30:33
130	Jason Reid	42.07%	31:32
142	Paul Lavery	49.53%	33:51
147	Lorna McGrath	56.75%	34.41
155	Bernadette Duffy	54.825	36:58
157	Catherine Carleton	50.90%	38:07
158	Paula O’Reilly	48.29%	39:04
161	Milo Purvis	43.47%	39:09
165	Michelle Harkley	39.09%	40:15
169	Jansje LeMahieu-Lamb	36.03%	48:20
170	Margaret Stephens	38.93%	50:34

 

Valley ParkRun 

ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
1	Hugo Reilly	72.36%	18:56	First Finisher
45	David Johnston	53.51%	28:28

 

Orangefield ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
2	Paul McAllister	73.83%	18:55	First Timer
53	Eadaoin Kelly	46.62%	32:04	New PB
55	Philomena Donaldson	62.20%	32:35

 

Belfast Victoria ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
31	Chris Callaghan	74.07%	21:28	New PB

 

Falls ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
38	Paul Lavery	46.77%	35:51	New PB

 

Queen’s ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
44	Vincent Bradley	57.72%	27:06
48	John Lavery	59.46%	27:13

 

Knockbracken Reservoir ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
39	Ray Cameron	57.56%	25:01

 

Antrim ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
5	April Clarke	76.16%	19:26	First Female & First Timer
9	Natasha Henderson	75.94%	19:33	Second Female & New PB
32	Brian Stewart	79.27%	22:31

 

Larne ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
3	Nat Glenn	75.71%	20:39	New PB
17	Janice Plumb	68.39%	25:28	Third Female

 

Citypark Craigavon ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
11	Colin McDowell	76.15%	19:51

 

Hillsborough Forest ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
4	Martsje Hell	73.59%	20:23	First Female

 

Castlewellan ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
60	Eimear O’Regan	60.38%	26:58	First Timer

 

Dunleath Playing Fields ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
2	Nicky Hagan	60.30%	22:00	New PB

 

 

Falcarragh ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
63	Angela Rogan	42.49%	43:11

 

Donaupark ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
75	Philip McIlwrath	53.67%	27:03	First Timer
122	Rosy Ryan	29.88%	54:47	First Timer

 

Wöhrder See ParkRun 

Position	Name	Age Grade	Time	Remarks
53	Glenn Beattie	34.32%	37:35	First Timer