North Belfast Harriers Race Report 22nd-28th January 2024

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North Belfast Harriers Race Report 22nd-28th January 2024 

As January drew to a close, members of North Belfast Harriers demonstrated their intent for 2024 with some impressive running performances on the road, on cross country and at Parkruns, with both the men and women picking up silverware in the process.

North Belfast Harriers Storm to Success at a Blustery Billy Neill Park, for the N Ireland and Ulster Intermediate and Masters Cross Country, on Sunday 28th January 

North Belfast Harriers stormed to victory at the cross country meet on Sunday. Both the Ladies and the Men picked up silverware, with both winning their respective Masters Team Races. To make the success complete, Eloisa Crawford picketed up gold, Laurence Johnston won silver and John Black lifted bronze in their respective events. The races were run over the bespoke cross country course, at the Billy Neill playing fields, near Dundonald, on a day when the strong winds prohibited the pitching of club tents, customary at cross country races, whilst the very soft terrain added and extra challenge to all involved.

Masters Men’s Race, 8km

Place Bib Name Category Time 
394 John Black M35 28:21 
4 95 Philip Goss M35 28:43 
6 96 Gareth Lyons M45 29:20 
8 97 Christopher Hutchinson M35 29:23 
29 98 Patrick McAuley M45 31:34 
56 101 Matthew McNutt M35 33:45 
68 99 James Trainor M35 34:31 
96 110 Peter Dolan M35 40:10 
101 103 Kevin Crossley M50 41:24 
104 106 Andy Taylor M40 42:58 

Masters Women’s Race, 4km 

Place Bib Name Time 
1 224 Elisoa Crawford 16:22 
6 225 Martsje Hell 17:24 
8 229 Debbie McConnell 17:51 
13 226 Louise Smith 18:21 
14 228 Sarah-Jane McFadden 18:29 
43 219 Diane Taylor 20:22 
46 220 Emma Taylor 20:40 
47 230 Helen F Weir 21:04 
54 223 Sabrina Nulty 22:36 
62 232 Lorraine Hibburt 24:21 
65 222 Ann Craven 26:06 
66 231 Gillian Roden 28:29 

Masters Men’s Race, Over 65, 4km 

Place Bib Name Category Time 
2 218 Laurence Johnston M65 17:05 
8 217 Brian Stewart M70 20:53 
11 216 Joe Gallagher M65 21:56 

Above photos courtesy of John T Glover, Matthew Carleton, Roma Doherty and J Gallagher.

Intermediate Men’s Race, 8km

Place Bib Name Category Time 
7 288 Hugo Reilly-Stewart U20M 29:38 
26 289 Matthew McCombe SM 31:38 
42 292 Michael Lamont SM 34:08 
43 290 Aaron Rutledge M45 34:38 
47 291 Niall Armstrong SM 35:24 

Raheny 5 Mile Race, Sunday 28th January 

North Belfast Harriers were represented at the end of January 5 mile road race staged by Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club, on the northeastern Dublin suburbs. As usual there were some impressive performances in this sellout race of over 5000 entrants. Cathaoir Purvis placed in the top ten, assisting the men’s team to finish in 9th place out of a field of 91 teams. 

Place Name Chip Time Gun Time Bib Category 
8 Cathaoir Purvis 25:07 25:07 335 MS 
35 Mark Cornett 26:23 26:26 816 MS 
109 Colin McDowell 28:23 28:26 154 M50 
758 April Clarke 34:40 34:54 2948 FS 
808 Ray Cameron 34:43 35:16 169 M45 
918 Carol Clarke 35:59 36:13 2990 F55 

Run Forest Run 10k, Saturday 27th January 

Two members of North Belfast Harriers took part in this off-road 10k in Antrim Castle Gardens on Saturday morning. Organised by “Born to Run”, this was the latest in a series of races staged over forest paths and other off-road venues, by the organisers. Well done to Simon, Colm and all the finishers. 

Photo courtesy of Colm Smyth.
Place Name Chip Time Gun Time Bib Category 
55 Simon Reeve 0:42:09 41:40 7022 M45 
510 Colm Smyth 1:00:55 1:00:22 2820 M45 

ParkRuns, Saturday 18th  November 

In the relative quiet, following the impact of two named storms during the week, many a public park locally, and further afield, saw a gathering of runners of all ages and abilities, for the weekly communal event that is ParkRun.  As usual, North Belfast Harriers were well represented amongst the masses of runners, who partake in the camaraderie, craic and convivial collective engagement, that are at the core of every Saturday 5k ParkRun.  

Worth a special mention this week are Holly Collins, who was a first finisher, with a new PB on her course, Nat Glenn, who was a second finisher, Fionnuala O’Hare and Martsje Hell, who were first female finishers, Eimear O’Regan, Janice Plumb and Rebecca Wallace, who were second female finishers, and Erin Beattie and Clare Boyle, who were third female finishers on their respective courses. Also, congratulations to Sam Carr and Elizabeth French who both set new PBs on their course. 

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 
2 Nat Glenn 88.49% 17:49 Second Finisher  
4 Paul McAllister 77.65% 18:16  
6 Thomas McLaughlin 74.20% 19:15  
9 Sam Carr 66.18% 19:34 New PB 
18 John Gerard Murphy 72.60% 21:10  
23 Seamus Leheny 66.26% 21:44  
25 Thomas Coy 66.41% 21:50  
28 Matthew McCombe 58.96% 22:08  
29 Conal McCambridge 58.24% 22:09  
30 Simon Reeve 64.52% 22:30  
38 Milo Purvis 70.04% 23:05  
41 Sean McShane Jr 55.33% 23:20  
45 Greg McClure 72.85% 23:27  
54 Eimear O’Regan 66.67% 23:57 Second Female  
58 Brendan McCambridge 53.55% 24:11  
59 Odhran Conal Rafferty 55.13% 24:11  
61 Michelle McLaughlin 63.92% 24:15  
62 Tony Reid 65.89% 24:20  
67 Chris Callaghan 65.74% 24:37  
77 Peter Dolan 53.42% 25:22  
99 Nola Rafferty 63.92% 26:42  
100 Martin Rafferty 53.50% 26:42  
106 Orán Steele 51.16% 27:12  
121 Conor Mulvenna 46.47% 27:50  
130 Patrick Hamill 55.94% 28:11  
133 Philip McIlwrath 51.59% 28:22  
137 Lyle Carleton 56.72% 28:32  
140 Paddy McCambridge 56.52% 28:38  
142 Thomas McKinstry 54.47% 28:42  
147 Sabrina Nulty 54.86% 28:57  
151 Gerry Anderson 53.33% 29:04  
160 Catherine Seawright 55.35% 29:56  
161 Ann Craven 61.27% 29:57  
163 Stephanie Coy 53.00% 29:58  
166 Brendan McConnell 47.09% 30:07  
176 Joanne Curran 53.46% 30;37  
177 Lynn McKenna 55.76% 30:49  
196 Stella Harrison 64.44% 31:28  
207 Margaret Stephens 61.31% 32:34  
208 Gillian Roden 47.78% 32:41  
210 Matthew Purvis 41.28% 32:42  
214 Laurence Rogers 45.24% 33:07  
224 Cathy Scullion 45.96% 35:15  
239 Liam Daniel 40.36% 36:33  
249 Kathleen Montgomery 51.97% 39:00  
253 Elizabeth French 41.92% 40:00 New PB 
254 Catherine Carleton 47.81% 41:10  
255 Paula O’Reilly 46.12% 41:24  
259 Paul Jenkins 33.90% 43:31  
266 Denis Loughran 45.20% 46:30  
276 Rosy Ryan 28.72% 57:41  

Belfast Victoria ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
63 Paul Williams 70.27% 22:49  
77 Terence McAtamney 56.16% 23:57  
134 Vincent Bradley 59.80% 27:17  
204 Jason Reid 42.07% 31:44  

Queen’s ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
115 John Lavery 47.76% 34:10  

Falls ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
43 Neve Johnston 45.61% 33:59 First Timer 
58 Jim Clinton 40.56% 40:36  

Portrush ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
11 Brandon McMinn 55.76% 23:08 First Timer 

Wallace ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
6 Fionnuala O’Hare 76.09% 19:26 First Timer and First Female 

Citypark Craigavon ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
8 Colin McDowell 78.93% 19:18  

Ormeau ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
12 Niall Armstrong 66.78% 19:19  
124 Ray Cameron 59.76% 24:47  
315 Mannix McAlister 43.69% 29:34  
556 Paul Lavery 37.39% 45:17  

Larne ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
11 Janice Plumb 74.14% 23:46 Second Female 
13 Erin Beattie 60.61% 24:25 Third Female 
31 Kevin McCann 54.70% 27:51 First Timer 
56 Greg Lavery 35.67% 41:21  

Comber ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
11 Matthew Carleton 63.44% 20:20 First Timer 

Valley ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
22 Senan McConnell 58.96% 25:13 First Timer 
23 Una McConnell 63.50% 25:15  
30 Alina Biskupska 57.44% 26:59  
46 David Johnston 53.79% 28:34  
54 Frances Stroud 53.05% 29:13  
59 Liam Smyth 52.86% 30:20  

Stormont ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
119 John Davidson 57:23% 26:51  

Sixmilewater ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
1 Holly Collins 79.55% 19:14 First Finisher and New PB 

Hillsborough Forest ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
8 Martsje Hell 73.88% 20:29 First Female 
11 Rebecca Wallace 69.16% 21:24 Second Female 

Narin Beach ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
10 Clare Boyle 37.59% 41:33 Third Female 

Kignston ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
44 Matt Shields 75.80% 23:00  

Neckarufer, Esslingen ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
19 Glenn Beattie 48.93% 26:22