North Belfast Harriers Race Report 17th – 23rd March 2025

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North Belfast Harriers Race Report 17th – 23rd March 2025 

As March passed its mid-point and the vernal equinox portended longer days, many a member of the North Belfast Harriers took to the roads, streets and parks to celebrate their love of running and test themselves against their peers through participation in races and Parkruns. 

North Belfast Harriers before the start of the Spar Craic 10k. Photo J Gallagher.

Spar Craic 10k Race, St Patrick’s Day 17th March 

The streets of Belfast were thronged as a record number of runners and spectators assembled at Belfast’s City Hall, for the annual Spar Craic 10k race, on St Patrick’s Day at 9.00 am.  As ever North Belfast Harriers was very well represented, with some members turning in great performances, whilst others created a real festive atmosphere by competing with some fantastic costumes. A total of 69 Harriers traversed the streets of Belfast, from the start line at the City Hall to the finish in Ormeau Park, buoyed on by the cheering supporters, who lined the streets on a pleasant, although cool St Patrick’s morning. Worth a special mention are Martin Muldoon, who was first of the Harriers home, finishing 15th overall, and first in the M50 category, in 34 min:12 sec. Gladys Ganiel was the first female finisher from the club and was the second female overall, while also coming first in the F45 category, in 36 min: 18 sec. Joe Gallagher was third in the M65 category in 42 min: 57 sec. Well done to all the club members who contributed to a really great occasion and played their part in the event, along with the 5000 runners, who had entered the race. 

Gladys Daniel lifts Silver in the Ladies’ Race at the Spar Craic. Photo courtesy of Aisling Events.

Fun at the Spar Craic 10k. Photos courtesy of Aisling Events, Roy’s Rockets and J Gallagher.

Spar Craic 10k Results

Position Number Name Category Gun Time Chip Time 
15 2069 Martin Muldoon M50 34:14 34:12 
16 4925 Matthew McComb M30 34:17 34:16 
30 853 Andrew Newell MO 36:01 35:58 
33 4178 Gladys Ganiel F45 36:19 36:18 
38 2102 Michael Lamont MO 36:30 36:31 
55 3092 Niall Armstrong MO 37:16 37:11 
64 2031 Arran Rutledge M45 37:35 37:31 
93 10 Owen McGinnity MO 38:06 38:05 
203 6317 Simon Reeve M45 40:22 40:11 
237 1678 April Clarke FO 41:06 40:58 
252 1851 Fionnuala O’Hare FO 41:22 41:03 
352 2199 Joe Gallagher M65 43:03 42:57 
380 718 Frank Hughes M50 43:27 43:16 
392 679 Nicky Hagan M35 43:29 43:01 
681 658 Geoff Dickson M45 46:20 45:45 
825 958 Michelle McLoughlin F40 47:31 47:13 
1038 4748 Naimh McAuley FO 49:09 48:51 
1590 2076 Donna McLaughlin F50 53:22 52:05 
1610 4465 Heather Griffith F45 53:30 52:35 
1633 4047 Stephanie Coy F45 53:37 51:56 
1682 2022 Mary Reid F55 53:52 52:35 
1743 1672 Martin Rafferty M45 54:10 53:15 
1754 290 Mark Brooks M55 54:12 54:00 
1757 2409 John Casey M65 54:13 54:03 
1841 1066 Gary Magee M50 54:41 53:41 
1872 1049 Gerry Anderson M55 54:54 53:43 
1956 534 Catherine Seawright F50 55:26 54:13 
1968 6258 Seamus Hanna  55:31 54:17 
2214 3541 Thomas Norton  56:56 54:29 
2228 2024 Katrina McAuley F40 57:00 56:00 
2247 114 Angela Robinson F55 57:08 56:50 
2351 3447 Rachel Aicken F35 57:43 56:29 
2451 4234 Lindsay Bell F45 58:12 57:55 
2253 6018 Fiona Magill F40 57:08 54:59 
2321 1958 Joanne Curran F45 57:31 56:18 
2343 6016 Frances Stroud F40 57:38 56:25 
2348 4740 Sandy Carr F40 57:42 56:27 
2641 4026 Gillian Roden F40 59:13 58:00 
3054 6002 Colm Smyth M45 1:01:38 1:01:29 
3108 2029 Joanne Boal F50 1:02:06 50:25 
3189 1171 Evelyn Palmer F60 1:02:46 1:00:05 
3215 851 Brendan McConnell M45 1:03:03 1:00:19 
3272 1172 Robyn Thompson  1:03:33 1:00:52 
3365 2344 Eadaoin Kelly F35 1:04:25 1:01:41 
3554 5045 Ann Craven F55 1:05:59 1:03:15 
3556 5044 Erin McAuley F30 1:06:00 1:03:15 
3618 4951 Aoife McCaughey F35 1:06:43 1:04:02 
3770 170 David Waugh M70 1:08:07 1:05:21 
3801 852 Leanne McConnell F45 1:08:35 1:05:50 
3936 936 Clair Richardson F35 1:09:34 1:07:25 
3949 4950 Orlaith Duffy FO 1:09:44 1:07:03 
3965 4949 Bernadette Duffy F65 1:09:51 1:07:09 
4051 6023 Martin McLarnon M45 1:10:35 1:07:28 
41224569Monica O’KaneF651:11:391:08:56
41234568Nuala MahonF651:11:391:08:57
4419 4711 Alison Dickson F50 1:16:39 1:15:11 
4424 1016 Catherine Carleton F60 1:16:50 1:13:45 
4425 922 Paula O’Reilly F60 1:16:50 1:13:45 
4426 2499 Sarah Campbell FO 1:16:51 1:14:18 
4427 2271 Denise Rainey F50 1:16:54 1:15:27 
4428 2273 Bertha Mawhinney F65 1:16:54 1:15:27 
4563 884 Kathleen Montgomery F65 1:22:15 1:19:28 
4565 1855 Michelle Harkley F45 1:22:18 1:19:30 
4568 2729 Denise Fuenzalida FO 1:22:20 1:19:32 
4575 5071 Robbie Speers MO 1:22:34 1:19:47 
4645 139 Elizabeth French F50 1:29:26 1:26:38 
4646 2206 Aoife Birmingham FO 1:29:26 1:26:20 
4660 6019 Derek & Katie-Louise Goodfellow M45 1:35:30 1:32:05 
      

Harriers Shine as Cool Breezes Blow at the Portadown Running Festival, in the Half Marathon, 10k and 5k Races, Sunday 23rd March  

Several Harriers made their way to Portadown on Sunday morning and produced some great performances and category podiums, as a cool headwind added challenge on the courses. Elisoa Crawford and Louise Smith finished first and second in the F50 category, in 1 hour : 20 min: 57 sec and 1 hour: 27 min: 40 sec, whilst in the 10k Colin McDowell was first in the M55 category, in 36 min: 21 sec, and Kev Crossley was second in the M50 category, in 43 min: 46 sec.  

Portadown Running Festival. Photos courtesy of Kev Crossley and Colin Willetts.

Portadown Half Marathon 

Position Number Name Category Time 
41 206 Elisoa Crawford F50 2:20:57 
97 862 Neill Mercer M50 1:26:26 
119 1273 Colin Willetts M40 1:27:31 
126 1140 Louise Smith F50 1:27:40 
147 1237 Stephen Walker M45 1:28:54 
266 918 Martin Muldoon M50 1:36:26 
313 928 John Murphy M55 1:38:04 
355 6 Hollie Allen FO 1:39:42 
631 1112 Cheryl Shaw FO 1:52:53 
695 1020 Janice Plumb F55 1:55:02 
796 263 Karen McClean  1:58:34 

Portadown 10k 

Position Number Name Category Time 
5 1719 Colin McDowell M55 36:31 
41 1561 Kev Crossley M50 43:46 

Portadown 5k 

Position Number Name Category Time 
8 2061 Michael Lamont MO 18:06 

Podiums at the Coleraine Campus 5k Race, Sunday 23rd March  

Springwell Running Club once again staged their 5k road race within the grounds of Ulster University’s Coleraine Campus. However, this year the event was staged on Sunday morning rather than under street lights on a Friday evening. The course, was relative flat and produced some fast times. Three Harriers competed in the event, and acquitted themselves very well. John Black finished first in the M35 category in the sub 18 min race, in 15 min: 41 sec. Meanwhile in the sub 22 min race Natasha Henderson was the first female home in 19 min: 0 sec, and Laurence Johnston was the first M65 home in 19 min:16 sec. Well done to all three Harriers on some superb running. 

Coleraine 5k, Sub 18 Min Race 

Position Number Name Category Time 
6 147 John Black M35 15:41 

Coleraine 5k, Sub 22 Min Race 

Position Number Name Category Time 
11 34 Natasha Henderson FO 19:00 
17 73 Laurence Johnston M65 19:16 

Declan Liggett delighted with his performance at Liverpool. Photo courtesy of Declan.

Liverpool BTR 10 mile Road Race, Sunday 23rd March  

Declan Liggett made the journey across the Irish Sea, to take part in this Merseyside road race. Declan finished 15th overall, 9th in the Male Open category, in 1 hour: 6 min: 37 sec. Reflecting upon his experience after the race, Declan described it as a “Brilliant experience, loved every minute of it”. Well done Declan on a great performance. 

Parkruns, Saturday 22nd March  

Locally the weekend weather proved favourable for running, with spring showing signs of making its presence felt, although cool breezes would return later. However, 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 Fionnuala O’Hare, who was a first female finisher and Zak Wilson, who was a third finisher. Congratulations to Katie-Louise Goodfellow on her 50th Parkrun. Congratulations also to Leo McAuley, James O’Shaughnessy, Eimer O’Regan, Eimear Coy, Séadna O’Hare Lynch, Thomas Peter Norton and Thomas McKinstrey, 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 
3 Zak Wilson 74.35% 17:21 Third Finisher 
4 Ryan Moore 76.82% 17:54  
9 Paul McAllister 73.69% 19:23  
10 Dara Cassidy 70.44% 19:27  
11 Leo McAuley 72.00% 19:42 New PB 
17 Alex Reid 67.70% 20:57  
21 James O’Shaughnessy 67.92% 21:21 New PB 
26 Simon Reeve 66.62% 21:58  
30 Dermot Coy 64.58% 22:07  
36 Joe Gallagher 75.59% 22:36  
38 Thomas Weiniger 65.68% 22:15  
39 Eimer O’Regan 69.44% 22:38 New PB 
48 Terence McAtamney 58.87% 23:01  
49 John Gerard Murphy 67.15% 23:05  
53 Eimear Coy 69.69% 23:22 New PB 
56 Greg McClure 73.20% 23:34  
71 Peter Dolan 56.62% 24:17  
72 Conal McCambridge 53.09% 24:18  
73 Patrick McShane 53.18% 24:21  
74 Piaras McShane 52.94% 24:22  
81 Séadna O’Hare Lynch 69.17% 24:36 New PB 
104 Alina Biskupska 61.68% 25:19  
120 Una McConnell 61.79 26:13  
124 Niamh McMillan 58.27% 26:36  
162 Gerry Anderson 55.40% 28:13  
154 Mark Brooks 54.85% 28:30  
168 Joanne Boal 60.72% 28:41  
171 Joanne Curran 57.56% 28:47  
181 Colm Smyth 49.63% 29:01  
182 Jack Carberry 74.27% 29:01  
184 Catherine Seawright 58.14% 29:11  
185 Stephanie Coy 54.91% 29:12  
186 Stella Harrison 70.33% 29:16  
190 Philip McIlwrath 50.28% 29:20  
191 Matt Shields 60.01% 29:23  
200 Frances Stroud 52.70% 29:38  
203 Georgia O’Shaughnessey 59.09% 29:42  
204 Ruby Mae McLaughlin 60.86$ 29:46  
205 Clare O’Shaughnessy 53.86% 29:46  
208 Patrick Hamill 53.44% 30:00  
210 Grainne Stephens 49.12% 30:10  
212 Tony Reid 53.15% 30:27  
218 Jason Reid 43.93% 30:37  
222 Jim Clinton 53.89% 30:50  
230 Maurice Palmer 53.66% 30:58  
231 Katie-Louise Goodfellow 56.64% 30:59 50th Parkrun 
232 Derek Goodfellow 46.08% 31:00  
233 Ann Craven 60.73% 31:04  
243 Robyn Thompson 46.93% 31:32  
264 David Waugh 54.15% 32:34  
290 Bernadette Duffy 62.71% 33:50  
299 Cathy Scullion 47.74% 34:17  
308 Fergus Jamison 45.54% 34:55  
321 Matthew Purvis 37.59% 35:28  
326 Ita Weir 48.67% 36:14  
334 Margaret Stephens 54.48% 37:12  
339 Michelle Harkley 42.30% 38:18  
356 Eadaoin Kelly 37.07% 40:36  
365 Gemma Doherty 42.06% 43:02  
366 Chris Callaghan 37.89% 43:04  
375 Denis Loughran 44.40% 48:32  
376 Rosy Ryan 33.92% 49:26  

Valley Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
7 Maya Reilly 61.45% 24:05  
41 David Johnston 53.55% 28:25  
106 Paul Williams  31.57%51:16  
109 Evelyn Palmer 38.29% 52:56  

Paisley Park Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
35 Thomas Peter Norton 55.46% 25.58% New PB 
38 Thomas McKinstrey 58.65% 26:53 New PB 
57 Lynn Murray 58.32% 31:28  

Ormeau Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
219 John Davidson 57.94% 26:45  
291 Laura Connolly 58.06% 28:32 First Timer 
664 Sandy Carr 37.01% 42:31  
689 Mannix McAlister 26.42% 48:57  

Victoria Park Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
36 April Clarke 74.33% 20:00  
78 Peter McClelland 59.60% 23:26  

Queen’s Park Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
2 Neil Carty 82.40% 19:08  
131 John Lavery 53.23% 31:13  

Orangefield Park Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
16 Michael Lamont 53.36% 22:52  

Bushey Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
4 Andrew Newell 74.21% 17:23 First Timer 

Finsbury Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
5 Conor O’Rawe 73.16% 17:38  

Ecos Ballymena Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
7 Ray Cameron 69.9% 20:56  

Citypark Craigavon Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
3 Colin McDowell 87.23% 17:37  

Antrim Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
18 Brian Stewart 83.66% 21:56  

St Anne’s Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
5 Matthew McCombe 70.84% 18:31 First Timer 

Father Collins Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
4 Glenn Beattie 63.91% 20:11 First Timer 

Falcarragh Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
43 Paul Lavery 36.18% 47:13  

Dungloe Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
4 Fionnuala O’Hare 67.37% 21:58 First Female and First Timer 

Clapham Common Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
633 Ciara Neilan 47.26% 31:19  

Sixmilewater Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
15 Rory Kane 66.65% 22:28