North Belfast Harriers Race Report 10th – 16th February 2025
As February progressed through its second week, with wintery chills still evident, the members of North Belfast Harriers continued to challenge themselves against their peers, racing on the roads, cross country courses, Parkruns and at indoor athletics tracks, at home and further afield. As ever, there were some great examples of running with podium places and silverware lifted in the process.
Armagh International Road Races, Thursday 13th February
Several Harriers made their way to the city of Armagh on Thursday evening for the annual Armagh International Road Races. Undertaking laps of the Mall, in Armagh city centre, the athletes raced over distances of 3k and 5k. Three Harriers raced in the 5k elite race, with its international field of exceptionally fast runners. Congratulations to Colin McDowell, who was second in his M55 age category in the 3k race. In the 3k team race the Harriers were 7th out of 19 teams who entered the race. Well done to all who took on the challenge. The results are detailed below.
Men’s 5k Race
| Place | Bib | Name | Gun Time | Chip Time |
| 35 | 43 | Andrew Milligan | 14:07 | 14:07 |
| 103 | 143 | Matthew Lavery | 14:41 | 14:40 |
| 217 | 261 | Mark Cornett | 16:09 | 16:04 |
Women’s 3k Race
| Place | Bib | Name | Gun Time | Chip Time | Category |
| 100 | 433 | Candice Hamilton | 11:12 | 11:10 | FJB |
Men’s 3k Race
| Place | Bib | Name | Gun Time | Chip Time | Category |
| 35 | 637 | Brendan McCambridge | 9:17 | 9:19 | MO |
| 69 | 672 | John Kearney | 9:39 | 9:38 | MO |
| 98 | 621 | Andrew Newell | 9:52 | 9:49 | MO |
| 111 | 622 | Niall Armstrong | 9:57 | 9:57 | MO |
| 119 | 682 | Stephen Walker | 10:00 | 9:57 | MO |
| 121 | 568 | Colin McDowell | 10:01 | 9:59 | M55 |
| 137 | 644 | Michael Lamont | 10:10 | 10:07 | MO |
Eoin McConnell Lifts Gold at the Irwin Spiers Memorial Cross Country Race, Saturday 15th February
Eoin McConnell lifted gold at Cookstown on Saturday, finishing first overall. Running in the U18 category, Eoin led from the start, putting clear distance between himself and the rest of the field as he powered up the infamous hill for the first time. By the end of the race Eoin was out of sight, over a minute and a half ahead of the nearest runner. Well done Eoin on some exemplary running.
Also, well done to ladies’ team and the three other men who, at the third attempt got to run on a course blighted by weather imposed postponements. On a mainly firm but frequently rutted and somewhat uneven XC course, the event was not without its challenges.
Under 18 Men’s Race (3 Laps)
| Position | Bib | Name | Category | Time |
| 1 | 278 | Eoin McConnell | U18 | 17:21 |
Ladies’ Race (3 Laps)
| Position | Bib | Name | Category | Time |
| 5 | 602 | Natasha Henderson | FO | 20:07 |
| 7 | 605 | Sarah Jane McFadden | F40 | 20:29 |
| 12 | 959 | April Clarke | FO | 21:30 |
| 14 | 606 | Fionnuala O’Hare | FO | 21:57 |
| 19 | 604 | Una McConnell | F45 | 22:40 |
| 27 | 603 | Estelle Lowry | F35 | 24:25 |
| 32 | 598 | Alina Biskupska | F40 | 25:37 |
| 35 | 599 | Sandy Carr | F40 | 26:14 |
| 36 | 610 | Helen F Weir | F50 | 26:19 |
Over 60 Men’s Race (3 Laps)
| Position | Bib | Name | Category | Time |
| 4 | 601 | Joe Gallagher | M65 | 22:08 |
| 10 | 609 | Brian Stewart | M70 | 25:30 |
Men’s Race (4 Laps)
| Position | Bib | Name | Category | Time |
| 18 | 781 | Ian Keys | MO | 25:42 |
It’s Gold and Bronze for David Clarke and Bronze for James Trainor, at Lee Valley in the Masters Inter-Area Indoor Athletics Championships, Sunday 16th February
David Clarke lifted gold in an exciting 1500m race, at the inter-area indoor athletics meet at Lee Valley in England. Representing Northern Ireland Masters in the M65 category, David ran an intelligent race, in third place, in the group of three runners that had put substantial distance between themselves and the rest of the field. As the bell sounded for the last lap David moved up a gear and covered the move of leader, Jonathan Burrell, as the two of them broke from Simon Anderson, the other runner in the leading group. David sat on the leader’s shoulder until the final metres of the home straight, before accelerating past him to cross the line in first place, in 4min: 54.51 sec. Later in the afternoon David went on to lift Bronze in the 800m, in 2 min: 24.35 sec. Congratulations are also due to James Trainor, who lifted Bronze in the M35 category of the 1500m in 4 min:29.89 sec. James also competed in the long jump, covering a distance of 4.22m, as well as covering 8.64m in the triple jump. Well done David and James on a very successful trip to London.
Eams Valentines 6 Hour Challenge, Sunday 16th February
Veteran endurance and ultra athlete, Greg McClure took on yet another endurance race event organised by EAMS. On the now familiar loop along the norther shore of Belfast Lough, athletes were challenged to undertake as many loops as possible, of the 4.2 mile course from Gideon’s Green. Conditions were pretty dry, with a cold wind nonetheless necessitating plenty of layers. Under less than ideal conditions, Greg managed to complete 8 loops in 5 hours: 57 min: 46 sec (unofficial time), covering a total of 33.85 miles. Well done Greg on another great achievement. Information and photo courtesy of Greg McClure.
Parkruns, Saturday 15th February
Locally the weekend proved to be overcast, and the thermometer showed little evidence of heat. Nonetheless, 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 Andrew Newell, who was a first finisher, Ryan Moore, Matthew McCombe, Colin McDowell and Michael Lamont, who were second finishers, Cassie Curran, who was a second female finisher, and Thomas Coy, Thomas McLaughlin and Conor O’Rawe, who were third finishers on their respective courses. Congratulations also to Thomas Coy, Stephanie Coy and Frances Stroud, who all recorded new PBs.
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 | Ryan Moore | 77.25% | 17:48 | Second Finisher |
| 5 | Adam McCleave | 65.26% | 19:46 | |
| 18 | Frank Hughes | 69.03% | 22:04 | |
| 24 | Cassie Curran | 70.70% | 22:35 | Second Female |
| 32 | Conal McCambridge | 55.56% | 23:13 | |
| 33 | Peter McGarry | 57.50% | 23:13 | |
| 37 | Seamus Leheny | 62.08% | 23:23 | |
| 38 | Thomas Weiniger | 63.40% | 23:27 | |
| 46 | Greg McClure | 72.73% | 23:43 | |
| 52 | Ita MCCambridge | 82.05% | 24:20 | |
| 58 | Fionnuala O’Hare | 60.16% | 24:36 | |
| 70 | John Casey | 68.91% | 25:18 | |
| 85 | Martin Rafferty | 54.75% | 26:18 | |
| 92 | Emmett O’Sullivan | 60.95% | 26:33 | |
| 100 | Paddy McCambridge | 59.62% | 27:22 | |
| 102 | Matt Shields | 64.32% | 27:25 | |
| 131 | Joanne Curran | 57.66% | 28:44 | |
| 137 | Sophie Weiniger | 56.31% | 28:55 | |
| 140 | Catherine Seawright | 57.78% | 29:01 | |
| 145 | Patrick Hamill | 54.55% | 29:09 | |
| 146 | Maurice Palmer | 56.62% | 29:21 | |
| 148 | Stella Harrison | 70.01% | 29:24 | |
| 156 | Erin O’Regan | 54.73% | 29:45 | |
| 159 | Evelyn Palmer | 67.78% | 29:54 | |
| 161 | Jack Carberry | 71.56% | 30:07 | |
| 162 | Tony Reid | 53.71% | 30:08 | |
| 171 | Katie-Louise Goodfellow | 57.17% | 30:42 | |
| 172 | Derek Goodfellow | 46.53% | 30:42 | |
| 173 | Ann Craven | 61.42% | 30:43 | |
| 176 | Gillian Roden | 51.05% | 30:49 | |
| 185 | Grainne Stephens | 47.11% | 31:27 | |
| 197 | David Waugh | 54.51% | 32:21 | |
| 199 | Jason Reid | 41.45% | 32:27 | |
| 207 | Sandy Carr | 47.20% | 33:20 | |
| 208 | Margaret Stephens | 60.80% | 33:20 | |
| 231 | Matthew Purvis | 36.71% | 36:19 | |
| 238 | Martin McLarnon | 38.34% | 38:10 | |
| 240 | Michelle Harkley | 41.31% | 38:49 | |
| 242 | Kathlene Montgomery | 52.18% | 39:27 | |
| 251 | Gerry Anderson | 35.30% | 44:17 | |
| 254 | Denise Rainey | 38.02% | 45:12 | |
| 257 | Roy Rainey | 33.75% | 46:19 | |
| 258 | Denis Loughran | 46.06% | 46:47 | |
| 259 | Paul Williams | 33.53% | 48:16 | |
| 262 | Eadaoin Kelly | 27.41% | 54:55 | |
| 263 | Philomena Donaldson | 38.03% | 54:57 | |
| 264 | Bernadette Duffy | 38.02% | 54:58 |
Belfast Victoria Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 72 | Kevin McCann | 65.02% | 23:38 | |
| 78 | Terence McAtamney | 56.85% | 23:50 | |
| 93 | Peter McClelland | 56.70% | 24:38 |
Queen’s Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 4 | Neil Carty | 80.85% | 19:30 | |
| 10 | Philip Patrick Donnelly | 65.66% | 21:36 | |
| 38 | Vincent Bradley | 66.04% | 24:56 |
Portrush Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 2 | Matthew McCombe | 65.75% | 19:57 | Second Finisher |
| 6 | Odhran Conal Rafferty | 62.28% | 21:10 | First Timer |
Citypark Craigavon Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 2 | Colin McDowell | 86.98% | 17:40 | Second Finisher |
| 32 | Matthew Carleton | 59.17% | 21:48 | First Timer |
| 173 | Joanne Boal | 59.75% | 29:09 | First Timer |
Ormeau Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 96 | James Trainor | 56.38% | 24:04 |
Antrim Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 3 | Thomas Coy | 73.11% | 19:25 | Third Finisher and New PB |
| 66 | Stephanie Coy | 62.92% | 25:29 | New PB |
Larne Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 61 | Greg Lavery | 31.27% | 47:33 |
Valley Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 7 | Colin Willetts | 64.64% | 21:07 | |
| 15 | Mason Mercer | 63.22% | 24:12 | |
| 43 | David Johnston | 53.98% | 28:43 |
Stormont Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 11 | Brandon McMinn | 63.29% | 20:23 | First Timer |
Falcarragh Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 37 | John Gerard Murphy | 54.77% | 28:18 | |
| 68 | Cathy Scullion | 44.72% | 36:36 | First Timer |
| 79 | John Lavery | 42.14% | 39:26 |
Buncrana Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 3 | Thomas McLaughlin | 68.97% | 20:56 | Third Finisher |
Orangefield Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 87 | Fergus Jamison | 44.89% | 35:25 |
Westpark Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 42 | Glenn Beattie | 55.68% | 23:10 |
Nairn Beach Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 7 | Philip Mcilwrath | 50.17% | 29:24 | First Timer |
| 10 | Frances Stroud | 49.84% | 31:20 | New PB |
| 18 | Rosy Ryan | 31.03% | 54:04 | First Timer |
Sixmilewater Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 1 | Andrew Newell | 70.68% | 18:15 | First Finisher |
University of Sterling Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 17 | Gavin McCaffrey | 59.40% | 21:43 |
Hillsborough Forest Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 100 | Malachy McKenna | 41.14% | 29:18 | First Timer |
Elder Park Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 100 | Jim Clinton | 59.70% | 27:50 |
Paisley Park Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 2 | Michael Lamont | 73.97% | 17:44 | First Timer and Second Finisher |
| 36 | Thomas McKinstry | 54.75% | 28:48 |
Finsbury Parkrun
| Position | Name | Age Grade | Time | Remarks |
| 3 | Conor O’Rawe | 74.28% | 17:22 | Third Finisher |