North Belfast Harriers Race Report 28th October – 3rd November 2024
As Hollowe’en week passed, the runners of North Belfast Harriers were not deterred by the shortening hours of daylight, and as usual were much in evidence at races and Parkruns locally and further afield, turning in some spectacular performances and lifting silverware and podium positions in the process.
Podiums and Silverware at McConnell Shield/ McConnell Cup Cross Country Race Meet at Ballyclare, Saturday 2nd November
There was a good turnout of Harriers at the McConnell Shield and Cup cross country meet at the Sixmilewater Park in Ballyclare, with some impressive performances evident. Finn McNally lifted gold in the 5 mile men’s open race, in a time of 25 min: 54 sec, out of sight of any rivals, with the second placed runner 35 sec behind him. In the same race Eamon White was first in the M55 category in 28 min: 51 sec. With some great running all round, the men’s team finished second in the McConnell Shield.
In the 3 mile race for ladies and male vets over 60, David Clarke lifted the Bertie Grimason Trophy, finishing first in the men’s race and first in the M60 category, in 18 min: 56 sec, just ahead of Laurence Johnston in second place in 19 min: 20 sec. Laurence also came first in the M65 category. Brian Stewart was 3rd in the M70 category, in 23 min: 00 sec.
The ladies from North Belfast were in great form, lifting the Cross Country Shield in the team race, with Elisoa Crawford, the first of the club’s scoring ladies to finish, lifting gold in the F50 category, fifth overall, in a superb time of 18 min: 19 sec. Congratulations to Elisoa and all of the ladies, on some fantastic running.
Male 5 Mile Race
| Position | Number | Name | Class | Class Rank | Time |
| 1 | 242 | Finn McNally | MO | 1 | 25:54 |
| 12 | 240 | Eamon White | M55 | 1 | 28:51 |
| 17 | 239 | Matthew McNutt | MO | 12 | 30:13 |
| 22 | 243 | Ian Keys | MO | 15 | 30:41 |
| 32 | 244 | Michael Lamont | MO | 18 | 31:58 |
| 33 | 241 | Niel Carty | M55 | 4 | 31:58 |
| 41 | 238 | Declan Liggett | MO | 21 | 33:25 |
| 61 | 245 | Tom Nicholl | MO | 28 | 37:20 |
Female 3 Mile Race
| Position | Number | Name | Class | Class Rank | Time |
| 5 | 138 | Elisoa Crawford | F50 | 1 | 18:19 |
| 6 | 137 | Sarah McNutt | FO | 5 | 18:39 |
| 10 | 147 | Natasha Henderson | FO | 8 | 20:04 |
| 12 | 144 | April Clarke | FO | 9 | 20:13 |
| 31 | 146 | Fionnuala O’Hare | FO | 16 | 22:15 |
Above photos from the McConnell Shield/Cup courtesy of East Antrim Harriers Facebook, Fionnuala O’Hare and Joe Gallagher.
Male Vet 3 Mile Race
| Position | Number | Name | Class | Class Rank | Time |
| 1 | 139 | David Clarke | M60 | 1 | 18:56 |
| 2 | 142 | Laurence Johnston | M65 | 1 | 19:20 |
| 11 | 140 | Joe Gallagher | M65 | 4 | 21:56 |
| 16 | 143 | Brian Stewart | M70 | 3 | 23:00 |
| 23 | 141 | John Casey | M65 | 5 | 25:04 |
Photo courtesy of Kev Crossley.
White Rose 30 Mile Ultra Marathon, Rastrick, Yorkshire, Saturday 2nd November
Kev Crossley was the sole representative of the club to take on the not insignificant challenge of an ultra marathon around the scenic roads of the West Riding of Kev’s native Yorkshire. Kev finished in 28th place in 7 hours: 39 min: 38 sec. The course took runners through a mix of terrains, including rugged trails, steep climbs, and scenic country lanes that the organisers described as diverse and exhilarating. However, at the time of engaging in the challenge, exhilaration may not have been the epithet on the minds of the competitors. The route that that took runners around the outskirts of Halifax, started and finished in Rastrick, which was made famous by the iconic Brighouse and Rastrick brass band. Well done Kev on a great achievement, and no doubt a great weekend.
Photo and information courtesy of Maurice Palmer.
Born to Run Minnowburn 10k Race, Saturday 2nd November 2024
Maurice Palmer and Simon Reeve ran in the Minnowburn 10k race on Saturday. Maurice finished this mixed terrain race in 1 hour: 01 min: 13, while Simon ran a great race to finish in 42 min: 44 sec, first in the M45 category and 30th overall.
This was the first of the Born 2 Run Winter 10k series comprising six races. The course started and finished on the Mary Peters track and took runners over forest tracks, trails and country roads. The weather was good which contributed to a carnival atmosphere at the start and finish of the race. Well done to Simon and Maurice.
Born to Run Minnowburn 10k Race
| Position | Number | Name | Class | Gun Time | Chip Time |
| 30 | 194 | Simon Reeve | M45 | 42:51 | 42:44 |
| 413 | 325 | Maurice Palmer | M60 | 1:01:48 | 1:01:13 |
Parkruns, Saturday 2nd November
The overcast, but nonetheless favourable weather for running, enticed many into outdoor spaces and parks both locally and further afield, on Saturday. And as always, members of North Belfast Harriers turned out in force, at many a Parkrun course locally and in more distant locations, to partake in the camaraderie, craic and convivial collective engagement, that are at the core of every Saturday Parkrun.
Worth a special mention this week are Sarah-Jane McFadden, who was a second finisher and also a first female, Alina Biskupska, who was a first female finisher, Ita McCambridge, who was a second female finisher and Fionnuala O’Hare, who was a third female finisher. Well done to Conor O’Rawe, Neil Mercer, Colin McDowell and Glenn Beattie, who all were third finishers on their respective courses. Also, congratulations to Conor O’Rawe, who also set a new PB on his course.
Well done to all those who participated, the runners and especially the volunteers, without whom the events could not be staged.
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 4 | Sam Carr | 66.87% | 19:22 | |
| 7 | Dara Cassidy | 69.25% | 19:47 | |
| 19 | Matthew Carleton | 61.72% | 20:54 | |
| 38 | Thomas McLaughlin | 65.70% | 21:55 | |
| 48 | Frank Hughes | 66.57% | 22:53 | |
| 56 | Ita McCambridge | 83.29% | 23:38 | Second Female |
| 58 | Gerry Anderson | 65.45% | 23:41 | |
| 60 | Fionnuala O’Hare | 62.27% | 23:46 | Third Female |
| 67 | Nicky Hagan | 55.73% | 24:08 | |
| 81 | Emmett Sullivan | 65.83% | 24:35 | |
| 82 | Greg McClure | 69.70% | 24:45 | |
| 91 | Conal McCambridge | 51.02% | 25:17 | |
| 93 | Brendan McCambridge | 50.95% | 25:19 | |
| 98 | David Hurst | 53.96% | 25:29 | |
| 100 | David Curran | 59.66% | 25:32 | |
| 140 | Thomas McKinstry | 57.47% | 27:26 | |
| 143 | Sabrina Nulty | 57.99% | 27:39 | |
| 157 | Liam Daniel | 52.07% | 28:33 | |
| 180 | Gordon Glenn | 52.10% | 29:01 | |
| 190 | Catherine Seawright | 57.42% | 29:12 | |
| 191 | Laura Connolly | 56.02% | 29:13 | |
| 195 | Chris O’Donoghue | 47.51% | 29:24 | |
| 196 | Paddy McCambridge | 55.44% | 29:26 | |
| 197 | Matt Shields | 59.88% | 29:27 | |
| 202 | Jack Carberry | 71.91% | 29:58 | |
| 203 | Patrick Hamill | 53.00% | 30:00 | |
| 206 | Stella Harrison | 68.16% | 30:12 | |
| 209 | Katie-Louise Goodfellow | 57.35% | 30:36 | |
| 212 | Frances Stroud | 50.63% | 30:37 | |
| 213 | Derek Goodfellow | 46.33% | 30:37 | |
| 237 | Grainne Stephens | 46.01% | 32:12 | |
| 238 | Sandy Carr | 48.84% | 32:13 | |
| 245 | David Waugh | 54.03% | 32:38 | |
| 246 | Margaret Stephens | 62.04% | 32:40 | |
| 247 | Kevin McCann | 47.02% | 32:41 | |
| 252 | Paul McCusker | 48.35% | 32:53 | |
| 261 | Bernadette Duffy | 62.05% | 33:41 | |
| 263 | Jim Clinton | 48.79% | 33:45 | |
| 267 | Eadaoin Kelly | 43.96% | 34:14 | |
| 281 | Tony Reid | 44.56% | 36:19 | |
| 287 | Matthew Purvis | 35.62% | 37:26 | |
| 295 | Cathy Scullion | 40.65% | 39:51 | |
| 298 | Elizabeth French | 49.35% | 43:07 | |
| 309 | Paul Williams | 30.84% | 51:59 |
Waterworks Parkrun
Belfast Victoria Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 3 | Conor O’Rawe | 77.48% | 16:36 | Third Finisher and New PB |
| 204 | Paul Jenkins | 44.85% | 33:09 |
Queen’s Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 12 | Ray Cameron | 68.65% | 21:19 | |
| 97 | Peter McClelland | 51.49% | 26:54 | First Timer |
| 169 | Vincent Bradley | 53.84% | 30:35 |
Valley Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 2 | Sarah-Jane McFadden | 70.08% | 21:50 | Second Finisher and First Female |
| 69 | David Johnston | 52.31% | 29:38 |
Paisley Park Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 3 | Neil Mercer | 78.39% | 18:40 | Third Finisher and First Timer |
Citypark Craigavon Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 3 | Colin McDowell | 89.34% | 17:11 | Third Finisher |
Enniskillen Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 44 | Georgia O’Shaughnessy | 68.11% | 26:36 | First Timer |
| 47 | Claire O’Shaughnessy | 60.16% | 26:39 | First Timer |
| 60 | Joanne Curran | 57.36% | 28:32 | First Timer |
Ormeau Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 146 | Terence McAtamney | 53.81% | 25:11 | |
| 187 | John Davidson | 58.90% | 26:19 |
Larne Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 23 | James Topping | 47.14% | 27:22 | |
| 67 | Greg Lavery | 33.14% | 44:30 |
Falcarragh Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 10 | John Gerard Murphy | 68.59% | 22:26 | |
| 67 | John Lavery | 52.89% | 31:08 | |
| 106 | Paul Lavery | 36.32% | 47:02 |
Gorzów Wielkopolski Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 18 | Alina Biskupska | 64.23% | 24:08 | First Female and First Timer |
Orangefield Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 87 | Fergus Jamison | 33.23% | 47:51 |
Terme Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 3 | Glenn Beattie | 56.05% | 23:01 | Third Finisher and First Timer |
Limepark Playing Fields Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 58 | Mannix McAlister | 20.96% | 1:01:38 | First Timer |
The Fisherman’s Walk Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 66 | Sinéad Russell | 47.06% | 34:04 | First Timer |
Athlone RSC Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 117 | Philomena Donaldson | 39.56% | 52:50 | First Timer |
Parkrun Vingis
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 31 | Philip McIlwrath | 50.83% | 29:01 | First Timer |
| 59 | Rosy Ryan | 28.58% | 58:40 | First Timer |