Each week our Junior Stags like to keep themselves busy between training at the track under the watchful eye of our dedicated coaches and attending local park runs. But at the club we realise that not only is fitness important, but so is the well-being of our young athletes. On Tuesday we were delighted to have Lynn, one of the clubs’ safeguarding officers attend the training session and speak to the children and some of the parents about bullying, respect and safeguarding.
Thank you Lynn for a very informative session.
Clonliffe Schools XC – Dublin
Wednesday saw some of our junior stags represent St Malachy’s College and compete in the schools cross country event in Clonliffe, Dublin.
In the Junior race (Year 10), Cormac Leheny led the field from the start taking the win in great style. Close behind was Thomas Coy taking the final podium spot, finishing in third place. Ruarcc Sheridan finished in an amazing 12 place ensuring a strong team win for St Malachy’s.
The Senior race, was a closely fought battle with our young stags all digging deep to ensure another success for St Malachy’s. Eoin McConnell and Lorcan McCann finished in 4th and 5th place respectively with Dara Cassidy following close behind to ensure a team win. Well done lads.
Waterworks Parkrun – 5K
Saturday morning saw 13 of our juniors taking on the Waterworks Park Run to complete the 5k and celebrate 20 years of Park Run. With several journalists floating about, some of our “not so shy” junior stags were seen brushing their hair before running towards the photographers to ensure they got the best angle.
But this week, a special mention must go to the O’Saughnessy siblings, Luke and Georgia who both ignored the gaze of the paparazzi and focused on their running, coming in with two very impressive PB’s. Excellent running.
| Waterworks 5k | |||||
| Position | parkrunner | Gender | Age Group | Club | Time |
| 10 | Dara CASSIDY | Male | JM15-17 | North Belfast Harriers | 20:34 |
| 13 | Cormac LEHENY | Male | JM11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 20:52 |
| 14 | Alex REID | Male | JM11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 20:54 |
| 18 | Thomas COY | Male | JM11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 21:26 |
| 24 | Isaac MOONEY | Male | JM10 | North Belfast Harriers | 21:47 |
| 43 | Milo PURVIS | Male | JM10 | North Belfast Harriers | 22:59 |
| 44 | Oscar PURVIS | Male | JM15-17 | North Belfast Harriers | 22:59 |
| 53 | Eimear O’REGAN | Female | JW11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 23:50 |
| 58 | Luke OSHAUGHNESSY | Male | JM11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 24:04 |
| 111 | Niamh MCMILLAN | Female | JW15-17 | North Belfast Harriers | 27:04 |
| 123 | Georgia OSHAUGHNESSY | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers | 27:36 |
| 151 | Nola RAFFERTY | Female | JW11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 28:43 |
| 152 | Eimear COY | Female | JW11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 28:44 |
Hillsborough Forest Park
Franky Mooney ran the Hillsborough Forest Park run for the first time and was the only Junior Stag represented. Franky finished in a super time of 19:51.
| Position | parkrunner | Gender | Age Group | Club | Time | |
| 4 | Franky MOONEY | Male | JM11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 19:51 | |
Paisley Park
Neve Johnston was the only junior to attend Belfast’s newest Park Run, located at Paisley Park just off the West Circular Road. Neve finished in a great time of 29:59. Well done Neve.
| Position | parkrunner | Gender | Age Group | Club | Time |
| 76 | Neve JOHNSTON | Female | JW15-17 | North Belfast Harriers | 29:59 |
Waterworks Junior Parkrun – 2K
Despite the damp and dreary conditions that greeted us on Sunday Morning, 17 Juniors stepped forward to tackle the 2k course.
Our harriers shone bright taking the top three positions.
Special mention must go to Ruarcc Sheridan, Tom McLoughlin, Olivia Boyd, Annie Cullen and Lucy Dickson who all achieved PB’s at this event. Great running everyone.
| Position | parkrunner | Gender | Age Group | Club | Time |
| 1 | Alex REID | Male | JM11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 07:16 |
| 2 | Ruarcc SHERIDAN | Male | JM11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 07:19 |
| 3 | Tom MCLOUGHLIN | Male | JM11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 07:37 |
| 5 | Isaac MOONEY | Male | JM10 | North Belfast Harriers | 07:51 |
| 6 | Olivia BOYD | Female | JW11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 08:21 |
| 9 | Nola RAFFERTY | Female | JW11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 08:27 |
| 16 | Annie CULLEN | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers | 09:24 |
| 18 | Ellen CULLEN | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers | 09:49 |
| 20 | Eva MCCARNEY | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers | 09:52 |
| 25 | Fóla O’KANE | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers | 10:38 |
| 28 | Ronan O’NEILL | Male | JM10 | North Belfast Harriers | 10:43 |
| 29 | Lucy DICKSON | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers | 10:52 |
| 35 | Lucy CRONIE | Female | JW11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 11:39 |
| 36 | Betsy TAYLOR | Female | JW11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 11:40 |
| 37 | Eva MOONEY | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers | 11:42 |
| 49 | Penny DICKSON | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers | 13:27 |
| 50 | Eva MCLOUGHLIN | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers | 13:28 |
A video of all this week’s athletes running at the Junior Park run can be seen by pressing here.
Victoria Park Junior Park run – 2K
Only two stags represented at Victoria Park Junior Park run with a special shout out to Taanya Yakkanti who finished with a very impressive new PB. She is obviously taking inspiration from her older brother Tanoj. Well done Taanya.
| Position | parkrunner | Gender | Age Group | Club | Time |
| 6 | Tanoj Reddy YAKKANTI | Male | JM11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 08:06 |
| 53 | Taanya YAKKANTI | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers | 14:06 |
Announcements
If anyone is interested in ordering any new club training kit as shown in the pictures below, there will be a fitting session on Thursday night in the Club House from 19:30hrs.
Payment will be taken on Thursday so that a bulk order can be made which will ensure that items arrive in December.
I hear Santa is looking at what’s available!!!
Clothing for training
As the darker, cooler nights are closing in please ensure that all children attending the training sessions are dressed appropriately. There is no shelter at the track and weather can be very changeable.
Dark nights
The dark nights are making a return and the mobile lights will be back in operation soon. If anyone is available to help set up and take down the lights, please talk to the coaches. It only takes a couple of minutes but is a great help to our volunteer coaches and allows them to get home a little earlier.
Running spikes
As we enter cross country season, we are asking, if anyone has spikes that their child has grown out of and are willing to donate, please bring them to the training sessions so that another child can make use of them.