North Belfast Harriers Race Report 26th August – 1 September 2024

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The Ladies from North Belfast Harriers Shine at the Laganside 10k, Sunday 1st September.  

Gladys Ganiel and Louise Smith on the podium at the Laganside 10k on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Bernie McAllister, Argyll Images.

The first Sunday in September saw the return of the annual Laganside 10k race, and there were some impressive performances with Gladys Ganiel and Louise Smith lifting gold and bronze, respectively in the ladies’ race, with impressive times of 36 min: 26 sec and 40 min: 12 sec. Louise was also first in the F50 category. Meanwhile Matthew Lavery narrowly missed a podium position, finishing fourth in 31 min: 15 sec.  

There were over 1000 entries in the race organised by North Belfast Harriers, that started and finished in Ormeau Park, and saw the runners making a relatively flat circuit of the banks of the Lagan, taking in the Ormeau Embankment, Ravenhill Road, Albert Bridge, Lagan Towpath and Ormeau Bridge. The weather was kind, as the rain that threatened, never materialised, whilst the sunshine and heat of previous years, that can impact adversely on distance running, was not an issue. The absence of sunshine did not detract from the carnival atmosphere in the park as participants of all ages and abilities enjoyed the occasion on Sunday afternoon. Well done to all the runners, organisers and volunteers, who contributed to making this year’s event such a great success. 

Above photos by J Gallagher.
Position Bib Name Category Gun Time Chip Time 
4 550 Matthew Lavery MO 31:15 31:15 
10 714 Eoin McCann MO 33:48 33:48 
12 772 Hugo Reilly-Stewart MO 33:55 33:53 
23 721 Eoin McConnell MO 35:27 35:25 
25 706 John Kearney MO 35:50 35:47 
31 705 Oscar Purvis MO 36:17 36:14 
33 704 Gladys Ganiel F45 36:27 36:26 
53 676 Arran Rutledge M45 38:14 38:10 
75 712 Laurence Johnston M65 39:26 39:24 
81 691 Matthew Carleton MO 39:34 39:21 
83 1301 Conor Curran MO 39:37 39:25 
97 683 Louise Smith F50 40:15 40:12 
102 124 Holly Collins FO 40:39 40:33 
147 689 Simon Reeve M45 42:28 41:58 
178 18 Dara Cassidy MO 43:45 43:30 
222 90 Bo Morrison M40 45:10 44:44 
226 702 Brian Stewart M70 54:20 45:12 
246 715 Lorcan McCann MO 46:08 45:53 
251 720 Una McConnell F45 46:16 45:57 
295 713 Niamh McAuley FO 47:59 47:36 
296 710 Patrick McAuley M45 47:59 47:36 
298 677 Martin Rafferty M45 48:00 47:37 
394 675 Aodh Rafferty MO 50:40 50:26 
408 701 Mark Brooks M55 51:03 50:21 
421 692 Thomas Norton M45 51:49 51:05 
431 687 Alina Biskupska F40 52:18 51:46 
432 696 Estelle Lowry F35 52:18 51:46 
493 686 Maurice Palmer M60 54:23 53:40 
505 1306 Colin Dunne MO 54:35 53:50 
601 681 Ann Craven F55 57:22 56:30 
700 1159 Jim Clinton M60 1:00:03 0:59:27 
703 275 Liam Smyth M60 1:00:09 0:58:57 
726 679 Patrick Hamill M55 1:00:53 0:59:56 
828 719 Nuala Mahon F60 1:06:09 1:05:15 
829 1302 Monica O’Kane F60 1:06:10 1:05:15 
836 690 Claire O’Shaughnessy F45 1:06:32 1:05:19 
855 724 Neve Johnston FO 1:07:26 1:06:51 
862 703 Aoife McCaughey F35 1:07:55 1:07:02 
871 680 Paul McCusker M55 1:08:23 1:07:17 
885 700 Martin McLarnon M45 1:08:41 1:07:29 
913 717 Bernadette Duffy F65 1:10:47 1:09:53 
914 697 Christine Rainey F35 1:10:52 1:09:57 
922 723 Philip McIlwrath M50 1:11:43 1:10:00 
928 718 Graham Foster M50 1:12:15 1:10:24 
952 698 Catherine Beatty F45 1:14:55 1:14:00 
964 685 Kierinda Stanfield F40 1:15:55 1:14:09 
969 682 Oonagh McGinn FO 1:16:33 1:14:50 
981 707 Emer O’Brien F40 1:19:38 1:18:52 
At the start of the Laganside 10k. Photo courtesy of Bernie McAllister, Argyll Images.
Matthew Lavery vying for position, as the front four break clear in the race. Photo by J Gallagher.
Louise Smith crosses the finish line. Photo courtesy of Bernie McAllister, Argyll Images.
Gladys Ganiel running strongly in the lead in the ladies’ race. Photo J Gallagher.

Above photos by J Gallagher.

Fast Finishes at the GRC Costal 5k Race, Friday 30th August 

On Friday evening seven members of North Belfast Harriers made the journey to the scenic Antrim coast, to take part in the GRC Coastal 5k. The race, which is organised by Glenlough Running Club, is advertised as a fast, flat, point to point race, and certainly lived up to this epithet, with some fast finishes all round. Ian Keys ran a great race to finish third, in a superb time of 16 min: 39 sec. David Clarke, fresh from competing in the World Masters Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, was second home for the club, finishing in seventh place, in 17 min: 16 sec, which is truly impressive for an athlete at the top end of the over 60 age group. Meanwhile, April Clarke was the third lady home, with a time of 18 min: 59 sec. The race started on the Branch Road, on the northern outskirts of Carnlough and took runners through the town and along the scenic coastal road, towards the finish, adjacent to the harbour in Glenarm, where welcomed refreshments awaited. Well done to all the runners. 

Position Bib Name Gun Time Chip Time 
3932Ian Keys16:4116:39
7 395 David Clarke 17:18 17:16 
24 916 Paul Hutchinson 18:31 18:28 
30393April Clarke19:0118:59
45 1041 Tom Nicholl 19:41 19:38 
56 1044 Fionnuala O’Hare 19:58 19:50 
91 1049 Janice Plumb 21:21 21:11 


Mallusk Harriers Night of Friendly 5000s, Friday 30th August 
Gerry Anderson was the sole representative from North Belfast Harriers to participate in the inaugural hosting by Mallusk Harriers of this inter club track race. With a congested fixture schedule and the focus of many North Belfast Harriers club members on the Laganside 10k, the normal cohort of participants from North Belfast was absent. However, a very successful event was staged by the Mallusk club at the Boys’ Model Track. Gerry, running in the first race of the evening, finished in fourth place, in 24 min: 48 sec, within his targeted time. Well done Gerry on a great race. 
Gerry Anderson at the Night of Friendly 5000s. Photo courtesy of Mallusk Harriers Facebook.

Waterside Half Marathon, Sunday 1st September  

Two Harriers made their way to the banks of the Foyle, for the Waterside Half Marathon, with both athletes running impressively. Ryan Moore, in his home city finished 6th overall, 3rd in the M40 category, in 1 hour: 16 min: 05 sec. Matthew McCombe finished in 12th place in 1 hour: 19 min: 38 sec. Well done to both. 

Ryan Moore and Matt McCombe at the Waterside Half Marathon. Photo courtesy of North Belfast Harriers Twitter/X.

Position Bib Name Category Gun Time Chip Time 
6 1075 Ryan Moore M40 1:16:05 1:16:05 
12 834 Matthew McCombe MO 1:19:38 1:19:38 

Killarney Hardman Triathlon, Saturday 31st August

Samuel Carr made the journey to Co Kerry to take part in the Killarney Hardman Triathlon. Out of the 109 competitors, who started the event, Sam finished 9th, in a time of 11 hours: 19 min: 49 sec. Well done Sam on a tremendous achievement.

Parkruns, Saturday 31st August 

As the last day of August heralded the end of a less than ideal summer, in terms of the weather, there were nonetheless many runners in evidence at parks and outdoor spaces locally, and further afield, to enjoy the camaraderie, craic and convivial collective engagement, that are at the core of every Saturday 5k Parkrun.   

Worth a special mention this week are Colin McDowell, Michael Lamont and Matthew McCombe, who were first finishers, Natasha Henderson and Emily McRitchie, who were first female finishers, Martin Rea and Conor O’Rawe, who were third finishers, and Janice Plumb, who was a third female finisher. Congratulations to Stephanie Coy, Neil Carty, Michael Lamont and Emily McRitchie, who set new PBs on their respective courses.

Also, congratulations to the major champion of the institution of Parkrun on the island of Ireland, Matt Shields, on completing his 500th Parkrun on Saturday, at the Waterworks. Well done Matt for all your insight, initiative, inspiration, encouragement and hard work! 

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

Matt Shields completes his 500th Parkrun at the Waterworks on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Waterworks Facebook.

Waterworks ParkRun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
3 Martin Rea 78.19% 18:34 Third Finisher 
4 Oscar Purvis 71.24% 18:57  
10 Thomas McLaughlin 70.53% 20:25  
25 Brendan McCambridge 57.93% 22:16  
26 Odhran Conal Rafferty 59.16% 22:17  
31 Fionnuala O’Hare 65.63% 22:33  
32 Matthew Carleton 57.21% 22:33  
37 Martin Raffeerty 62.61% 23:00  
44 Seamus Leheny 61.41% 23:27  
57 Milo Purvis 65.13% 24:14  
59 Ray Cameron 60.10% 24:21  
60 John Gerard Murphy 63.02% 24:23  
65 Alina Biskupska 63.22% 24:31  
68 Sean McShane 60.43% 24:36  
76 John Casey 69.37% 24:52  
94 Greg McClure 66.30% 25:46  
96 Michele McLoughlin 60.08% 25:48  
115 Helen F Weir 63.80% 26:56  
118 Kevin McCann 56.28% 27:04  
132 Stephanie Coy 57.13% 27:48 New PB 
133 Matt Shields 63.24% 27:53 500th Parkrun 
137 Thomas McKinstry 56.18% 28:04  
146 Gerry Anderson 54.51% 28:26  
156 Frances Stroud 53.63% 28:54  
157 Catherine Seawright 53.63% 28:54  
158 Sabrina Nulty 55.16% 29:04  
161 Patrick Hammill 54.45% 29:12  
164 Senan Steel 49.49% 29:12  
181 Ann Craven 61.56% 30:13  
183 Maurice Palmer 54.81% 30:19  
184 Jack Carberry 70.69% 30:29  
189 Gillian Roden 50.73% 30:47  
193 Katie-Louise Goodfellow 56.64% 30:59  
194 Derek Goodfellow 45.78% 30:59  
207 Philip McIlwrath 46.31% 31:51  
210 Lyle Carleton 50.39% 32:07  
211 Sandy Carr 48.91% 32:10  
212 Margaret Stephens 63.01% 32:10  
218 Evelyn Palmer 60.72% 32:53  
253 Bernadette Duffy 57.31% 36:28  
261 Stella Harrison 53.66% 37:46  
267 Catherine Carleton 51.21% 38:26  
300 Elizabeth French 34.53% 49:08  
311 Philomena Donaldson 39.25% 53:15  
312 Eadaoin Kelly 28.25% 53:17  
316 Donna McLaughlin 30.58% 55:29  
317 Tony Reid 29.16% 55:30  
318 Rosy Ryan 29.52% 56:48  

Belfast Victoria Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
4 John Black 84.68% 15:40  
30 Niall Armstrong 72.88% 17:42  
33 Neil Carty 86.37% 18:06 New PB 
220 Paul Jenkins 47.32% 31:25  

Queen’s Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
91 Vincent Bradley 55.85% 29:29  

Portrush Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
122 Jack Wasson 53.28% 26:24 First Timer 

Citypark Craigavon Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
1 Colin McDowell 89.34% 17:12 First Finisher 

Ormeau Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
123 Mannix McAlister 51.05% 25:18  
168 John Davidson 58.64% 26:26  
376 Malachy McKenna 39.26% 32:54  

Antrim Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
13 Natasha Henderson 74.01% 20:08 First Female 

Larne Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
7 Paul Hutchinson 58.77% 24:42  
20 Janice Plumb 67.68% 26:24 Third Female 
30 David Clarke 60.39% 27:31  
31 April Clarke 53.87% 27:32  

Valley Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
1 Michael Lamont 71.42% 18:22 First Finisher and New PB 
38 David Johnston 55.26% 28:03  

Orangefield Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
6 James Trainor 59.73% 22:31  
59 Fergus Jamison 39.28% 40:29  

Sixmilewater Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
3 Emily McRitchie 74.65% 20:15 First Female and New PB 

Crawfordsburn Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
64 Gordon Glenn 44.55% 33:56 First Timer 

Finsbury Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
3 Conor O’Rawe 70.43% 18:19 Third Finisher 

Letterkenny Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
1 Matthew McCombe 67.44% 19:21 First Finisher 

Falcarragh Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
107 Paul Lavery 33.99% 50:16  

Stadtpark Parkrun, Graz 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
13 Glenn Beattie 38.03% 33:55 First Timer