Spring beckoned this week as the temperatures started to rise and the clocks sprung forward. It was appropriate then that there was a plethora of races on offer for the harriers to check on their fitness after the winter’s training.
Queen’s 5k (Thursday 23rd March)
On a wet and windy evening the Queen’s 5k nevertheless attracted 700 runners for the annual, eyeballs out 3 and 3-quarter lap dash round the embankments; amongst them were 27 harriers running strong and achieving some fantastic times.
Some of the harriers after the Queen’s 5k
Posn
Athlete
Cat
Time
10
Matthew Lavery
U20M
15:09
12
Cathaoir Purvis
SM
15:21
14
Peter Donnelly
M35
15:23
41
Brendan McCambridge
SM
16:30
45
Hugo Reilly-Stewart
U17M
16:34
53
Conor O’Rawe
SM
16:42
61
Ian Keys
SM
16:48
64
Conor Curran
M45
16:53
66
Matthew McCombe
SM
16:54
90
James Trainor
M35
17:11
95
Odhran Rafferty
U20M
17:19
96
Eoin McConnell
U17M
17:19
114
Neil Carty
M55
17:35
187
Laurence Johnston
M60
18:39
205
Fionnuala O’Hare
SW
18:54
222
Dermot Coy
M40
19:12
261
Natasha Henderson
SW
19:46
278
Roma Doherty
W35
20:02
326
Declan McGinley
U17M
20:47
352
Joe Gallagher
M65
21:18
354
April Clarke
SW
21:23
366
Una McConnell
W45
21:38
372
Christopher Callaghan
M60
21:47
409
Ray Cameron
M45
22:31
414
Carol Clarke
W55
22:36
625
Patrick Hamill
M55
29:28
658
Robbie Speers
SM
32:26
NBH Results at Queen’s 5k
City of Lisburn 5K (Friday 24th March)
The inaugural City of Lisburn 5k was organised by the Jog Lisburn club on Friday night. The course consisted of one short lap of the city centre followed by 3 longer laps. Like the previous evening at Queen’s, conditions were wet and windy at times, but with the city centre closed to traffic there was a fine evening of racing. A series of 5 races took place, one over a single short lap for juniors, then 5k races for athletes who chose to enter either sub-20 mins/20-24mins/24-30mins/over 30 mins. Greg McClure took on the 20-24mins race, finishing 48th of the 56 finishers in that race in a time of 23:02.
Larne 10mile Road Race (Saturday 25th March)
Conditions were favourable on Saturday morning for this one with little wind or rain, giving athletes an opportunity for fast runs or PBs on the relatively flat course. The race attracted 12 NBH athletes. Congratulations to Conal McCambridge on 2nd place overall in 51:51 and to Elisoa Crawford who was 2nd lady and 46th overall in 63:12.
Photos by Jamie Brennan (Larne AC Facebook page)
Posn
Athlete
Cat
Time
2
Conal McCambridge
MO
0:51:51
38
David Curran
M50
1:01:41
41
Neil Mercer
M45
1:01:48
46
Elisoa Crawford
F50
1:03:12
70
John McGuigan
M50
1:06:31
73
Rory Kane
M45
1:06:38
93
Paul Hutchinson
M45
1:07:42
138
John Davidson
M50
1:13:48
143
Janice Plumb
F50
1:14:42
343
Jason Reid
M35
1:29:31
428
Sonia Millar
F45
1:39:00
470
Bernadette McAteer
F55
1:47:50
NBH results at Larne 10m road race
NIMRA Mourne Marauder (Saturday 25th March)
This race was the NI race in the British mountain running championships, and as such attracted a high quality field of local athletes as well as many from the mainland. The race was run in memory of the airmen who lost their lives in WW2 plane crashes around the race route. The route started in Donard Park, then took in Slieve Donard summit, Chimney Rock Mountain summit and Slieve Commedagh summit before returning to Donard Park for a distance of approx. 16km and at least 1200metres of climbing.
Martsje Hell competed in this one, finishing 18th lady and 112th overall of the 214 finishers in a time of 2:17:32.
The Zoo 5k was a new race offering from Monkstown Spartans. It was billed as one of the toughest 5k’s in Ireland given the elevation of the course but it nevertheless attracted over 250 runners on Sunday morning, including 8 harriers (photos from Monkstown Harriers Facebook page).
Posn
Athlete
Cat
Time
10
Odhran Rafferty
U20M
0:21:11
33
Nicky Hagan
M35
0:24:18
166
John Davidson
M50
0:32:25
171
Colm Smyth
M45
0:32:41
187
Fionnuala O’Hare
SW
0:33:26
201
Stella Harrison
W60
0:34:33
245
Alison Dickson
W50
0:44:42
258
Robbie Speers
SM
0:52:03
259
Elisabeth French
W45
0:52:03
NBH results at the Zoo 5k
Liverpool Half Marathon (Sunday 26th March)
The popular Liverpool half marathon took place on Sunday and attracted a dozen NBH athletes who enjoyed a predominately flat course which is run over a single loop taking in Sefton Park before joining the Promenade for the last few miles and finishing near the Marina (photo by Maurice Palmer).
Harriers with their well earned medals at Liverpool half marathon
Posn
Athlete
Cat
Time
82
Gabriel McAvoy
5/233(M45+)
1:23:24
110
Declan Liggett
79/1560(MOPEN)
1:25:26
1496
Maurice Palmer
25/84(M60+)
1:51:50
2498
Lucinda McAvoy
49/144(F45+)
2:05:33
2537
Ann Craven
19/68(F55+)
2:06:12
2809
Catherine Seawright
62/145(F45+)
2:10:34
3398
Evelyn Palmer
19/34(F60+)
2:18:41
3553
Brendan McConnell
278/295(M40+)
2:22:53
3554
Leanne McConnell
111/145(F45+)
2:23:05
3606
Paul Mc Cusker
141/149(M55+)
2:27:48
3737
Bernadette Duffy
12/17(F65+)
2:35:52
3789
Eadaoin Kelly
145/149(F35+)
2:38:25
NBH results at Liverpool half marathon
Omagh Half Marathon (Sunday 26th March)
Now in it’s 33rd year this popular race was sold out before Christmas this year and on a fine morning the 2,200 finishers had 22 harriers amongst them. Highlights were Matty Carleton’s PB and Joe Gallagher winning the M65 category (photos by Joe Gallagher).
Posn
Athlete
Cat
Time
8
Adam SMYTH
MS
1:10:43
36
Ian KEYS
MS
1:17:58
62
Arran RUTLEDGE
M45
1:20:37
255
Kevin CROSSLEY
M50
1:30:52
341
Matthew CARLETON
MS
1:33:41
433
Joe GALLAGHER
M65
1:36:53
489
Diane TAYLOR
F40
1:38:01
612
Una MCCONNELL
F45
1:40:59
907
Lorraine HIBBURT
F50
1:47:51
917
Michelle MCLOUGHLIN
F40
1:48:02
944
Andrew TAYLOR
M40
1:48:50
955
Peter MCCLELLAND
M40
1:48:51
1108
Emma TAYLOR
F35
1:52:52
1110
Thomas TAYLOR
M40
1:52:53
1186
Donna MCLAUGHLIN
F50
1:54:15
1349
Cheryl SHAW
F35
1:56:17
1455
John DAVIDSON
M50
1:59:05
1487
Elaine HOLMES
F55
2:00:20
1873
Erin MCAULEY
FS
2:12:06
2140
Martin MCLARNON
M45
2:32:58
2142
Monica O’KANE
F60
2:33:03
2143
Nuala MAHON
F60
2:33:03
NBH results at Omagh Half Marathon
parkrun (Saturday 25th March)
Many harriers turned out for their weekly parkrun fix on Saturday morning and their results were:
