Belfast City Marathon was the highlight of the running week, while the Hill and Dale series continued in Newcastle, the purple ladies were out in force in Ballymoney and one harrier enjoyed a 5k in Malta.
Purple Ladies 5k 2025
The popular ladies race hosted by Springwell Running Club took place on Wednesday evening with Natasha Henderson representing the club in fine style with a 2nd place finish in 19:39.
Photo from Springwell Running Club Facebook page
Mqabba 5K Run
Chris Callaghan made the trip to Malta to run the Mqabba 5K Run & Walkathon on Thursday 1st May. This run raises funds to help people with ALS, MS and other neurological conditions. The route takes the runners through the scenic village of Mqabba and its surrounding villages. Chris finished in 213th place in 26:49.
Photo by Chris Callaghan
Hill & Dale Series: Race 4 Binnian
Thursday evening saw four harriers race from Carrick Little car park to the top of Slieve Binnian, a distance of around 2.2 miles but with an elevation of nearly 2,000 ft. Conor Doris was the first harrier home, with Martsje Hell taking 1st in the F40 category. Full results were:
| Posn | Bib | Athlete | Cat | Time | Note |
| 17 | 354 | Conor Doris | M40 | 30:00.80 | |
| 38 | 370 | Martsje Hell | F40 | 32:52.20 | 1st F40 |
| 185 | 298 | Kevin Crossley | M50 | 43:08.20 | |
| 257 | 301 | Jason Reid | M35 | 48:15.50 |
Images from Kev Crossley
Belfast City Marathon
The weather on Sunday was kind and the support and atmosphere on the streets of Belfast was unsurpassed in the history of this great race as around 70 harriers competed in the annual marathon and relay. Many more supported the runners at various points on the course including the ‘marshalled mile’ as the race came through the iconic Waterworks Park.
Huge congratulations to the leading ladies: Gladys Ganiel who stormed to 3rd female overall and 1st local, as well as 1st F45; Sarah McNutt who also did the club proud, finishing as 3rd local in a new PB, and Louise Smith who was 3rd scorer in the team competition, also winning the F50 category. These results also secure the NI & Ulster Women’s team title.
At the fast end of the men’s race, Edward Kearney had a super run for 14th place overall in 2:37:30 with Matthew McNutt 53rd in 2:48:18. And Colin Willetts continued his recent improvement in form with a 3:04:50 clocking.
Full results in the marathon were:
| Rank | Bib | Name | Time | Note |
| 14 | 1048 | Edward KEARNEY | 02:37:30 | |
| 38 | 1 | Gladys GANIEL | 02:45:46 | 1st local/1st F45/3rd overall female |
| 53 | 2378 | Matthew MC NUTT | 02:48:18 | |
| 79 | 4 | Sarah MC NUTT | 02:53:33 | 3rd local female |
| 258 | 2634 | Colin WILLETTS | 03:04:50 | |
| 302 | 3426 | Louise SMITH | 03:07:40 | 1st F50 |
| 577 | 5203 | Frank HUGHES | 03:20:25 | |
| 1420 | 1705 | Nicky HAGAN | 03:44:09 | |
| 1770 | 72 | Diane TAYLOR | 03:51:22 | |
| 2105 | 3905 | Emma TAYLOR | 03:57:07 | |
| 2107 | 3906 | Thomas TAYLOR | 03:57:09 | |
| 2442 | 2833 | Greg MC CLURE | 04:04:20 | 25th Belfast marathon |
| 2960 | 4687 | Alina BISKUPSKA | 04:16:59 | |
| 3288 | 2271 | Lynn MC KENNA | 04:24:25 | |
| 3431 | 73 | Andrew TAYLOR | 04:27:29 | |
| 3500 | 5806 | Martin RAFFERTY | 04:28:56 | |
| 3602 | 4101 | Derek GOODFELLOW | 04:31:27 | |
| 3603 | 4102 | Katie-Louise GOODFELLOW | 04:31:28 | |
| 3911 | 2812 | Heather GRIFFITHS | 04:41:22 | |
| 4149 | 4850 | Thomas NORTON | 04:49:21 | |
| 4337 | 1403 | Brendan MC CONNELL | 04:56:14 | |
| 4394 | 244 | David HURST | 04:58:14 | |
| 5046 | 2674 | Thomas MC KINSTRY | 05:44:21 | |
| 5141 | 615 | Colm SMYTH | 05:55:21 |
In the relay, the club fielded a total of 8 complete teams and there were some other harriers taking part as part of work or family teams too. At the fast end of the men’s race team ‘NBH’ (Odhran Rafferty, Matthew Lavery, Brendan McCambridge, Hugo Reilly, Eoin McConnell) took runners up spot in the all-male category with 2:25:23. Meantime ‘Team North’ (Gerry Anderson, Una McConnell, Kevin Crossley, Joe Gallagher, Hollie Allen/Chris Callaghan) clocked 3:33:03 for 65th in the mixed category.
Congratulations also to all the members of the 6 team ‘Rockets’ who cheered and supported the other runners at the changeover points as they waited for their team-mate to arrive with the baton.
Full results in the relay were:
| Posn | Team | Time | Bib | Runners | Note |
| 3 | NBH | 2:25:23 | 10844 | Odhran Rafferty, Matthew Lavery, Brendan McCambridge, Hugo Reilly, Eoin McConnell | 2nd male team |
| 129 | Team North | 3:33:03 | 10873 | Gerry Anderson, Una McConnell, Kevin Crossley, Joe Gallagher, Hollie Allen/Chris Callaghan | |
| 2437 | Rockets 2 | 5:08:21 | 10467 | Eleanor Morgan, Mark Brooks, Nuala Mahon, Alison Dickson, Ita Weir | |
| 2441 | Rockets 4 | 5:08:49 | 12351 | Denise Rainey, John Casey, Evelyn Palmer, Catherine Carleton, Kate Montgomery | |
| 2495 | Rockets 1 | 5:16:14 | 10412 | David Waugh, Paul McCusker, Monica O’Kane, Cathy Scullion, Michael O’Brien | |
| 2532 | Rockets 5 | 5:23:04 | 12353 | Roy Rainey, Leanne McConnell, Eadaoin Kelly, Paula O’Reilly, Michelle Harkley | |
| 2533 | Rockets 6 | 5:23:06 | 12354 | Caleb McWhinney, Martin McLarnon, Orlaith Duffy, Ann Craven, Alun Rolph | |
| 2546 | Rockets 3 | 5:27:58 | 11631 | Bertha McWhinney, Robyn Thompson, Bernadette Duffy, Denise Fuenzalida, Elisabeth French |
Photos by Jason Reid and from the NBH Facebook page
parkrun
parkrun proved as popular as ever with NBH members and their results across 22 different events were:
| Town Moor parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #663 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 109 | Erin BEATTIE | 121 | 65.44% | 22:37 | First Timer! |
| Waterworks parkrun, Belfast | 03 May 2025 | #695 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 1 | Zak WILSON | 37 | 72.47% | 17:48 | PB 16:54 |
| 2 | Thomas COY | 100 | 75.78% | 18:43 | PB 17:33 |
| 3 | Oscar PURVIS | 155 | 71.17% | 18:44 | PB 17:33 |
| 7 | Seamus WOLF | 2 | 67.49% | 21:01 | New PB! |
| 8 | Isaac MOONEY | 13 | 74.63% | 21:09 | PB 20:54 |
| 9 | Lucas MOONEY | 17 | 67.34% | 21:32 | PB 20:02 |
| 10 | Tom MCLOUGHLIN | 37 | 67.34% | 21:32 | PB 19:31 |
| 14 | Adam MCCLEAVE | 132 | 58.90% | 21:54 | PB 19:24 |
| 18 | Dermot COY | 100 | 64.15% | 22:16 | PB 19:43 |
| 19 | Fionnuala O’HARE | 342 | 66.07% | 22:24 | PB 19:44 |
| 24 | Peter DOLAN | 179 | 60.35% | 22:47 | PB 21:05 |
| 26 | Seamus LEHENY | 362 | 63.58% | 22:50 | PB 19:31 |
| 31 | Joseph GALLAGHER | 121 | 72.95% | 23:25 | PB 20:47 |
| 33 | Conal MCCAMBRIDGE | 131 | 54.66% | 23:36 | PB 15:59 |
| 36 | Una MCCONNELL | 77 | 68.35% | 23:42 | PB 21:07 |
| 41 | Michelle MCLOUGHLIN | 224 | 64.67% | 24:09 | PB 23:07 |
| 69 | Eoin MCCONNELL | 23 | 52.73% | 25:36 | PB 17:34 |
| 70 | Brendan MCCAMBRIDGE | 129 | 50.19% | 25:42 | PB 17:21 |
| 80 | Sadna OHARE LYNCH | 34 | 64.91% | 26:13 | PB 24:36 |
| 89 | John Gerard MURPHY | 657 | 58.27% | 26:36 | PB 18:49 |
| 93 | Georgia OSHAUGHNESSY | 17 | 65.20% | 26:55 | PB 23:58 |
| 98 | Eimear COY | 34 | 59.72% | 27:16 | PB 23:22 |
| 99 | Frances STROUD | 186 | 57.27% | 27:16 | PB 26:43 |
| 100 | Nola RAFFERTY | 53 | 60.93% | 27:18 | PB 23:11 |
| 107 | Ruby Mae MCLAUGHLIN | 9 | 66.04% | 27:26 | PB 26:29 |
| 111 | Clare O’SHAUGHNESSY | 84 | 58.02% | 27:38 | PB 25:04 |
| 113 | Mark BROOKS | 82 | 56.82% | 27:45 | PB 24:14 |
| 117 | Greg MCCLURE | 581 | 61.94% | 27:51 | PB 18:41 |
| 127 | Joanne BOAL | 190 | 61.65% | 28:15 | PB 27:29 |
| 133 | Orn STEELE | 133 | 48.32% | 28:21 | PB 24:19 |
| 136 | Gerry ANDERSON | 296 | 55.05% | 28:24 | PB 22:13 |
| 145 | Angela ROBINSON | 120 | 63.07% | 28:42 | PB 26:36 |
| 146 | Jim CLINTON | 642 | 57.86% | 28:43 | PB 21:37 |
| 148 | Catherine SEAWRIGHT | 188 | 59.05% | 28:44 | PB 25:28 |
| 151 | Annie CULLEN | 5 | 59.09% | 28:53 | PB 28:33 |
| 162 | Grainne STEPHENS | 221 | 50.89% | 29:07 | PB 27:32 |
| 173 | John CASEY | 258 | 59.13% | 29:29 | PB 23:47 |
| 186 | Tony REID | 662 | 53.94% | 30:00 | PB 21:50 |
| 187 | Martin RAFFERTY | 140 | 47.60% | 30:15 | PB 21:55 |
| 188 | Maurice PALMER | 203 | 55.12% | 30:25 | PB 23:11 |
| 202 | Nola JAMIESON | 47 | 49.87% | 31:05 | PB 25:39 |
| 205 | Malachy MCKENNA | 54 | 41.48% | 31:11 | PB 18:39 |
| 210 | Ellen CULLEN | 5 | 54.50% | 31:19 | New PB! |
| 214 | Robyn THOMPSON | 5 | 47.16% | 31:23 | PB 29:18 |
| 218 | Evelyn PALMER | 95 | 64.24% | 31:33 | PB 27:41 |
| 224 | Patrick HAMILL | 444 | 50.18% | 31:57 | PB 22:26 |
| 230 | Katie-Louise GOODFELLOW | 54 | 54.56% | 32:10 | PB 27:11 |
| 231 | Derek GOODFELLOW | 148 | 44.40% | 32:10 | PB 24:19 |
| 233 | Liam DANIEL | 91 | 45.98% | 32:20 | PB 22:33 |
| 237 | Gillian RODEN | 213 | 48.39% | 32:31 | PB 26:14 |
| 238 | Lyle CARLETON | 324 | 49.65% | 32:52 | PB 21:22 |
| 244 | Margaret STEPHENS | 482 | 61.90% | 33:15 | PB 28:23 |
| 245 | Sandy CARR | 415 | 47.29% | 33:16 | PB 22:55 |
| 251 | Nuala MAHON | 186 | 61.63% | 33:24 | PB 27:02 |
| 253 | Cathy SCULLION | 96 | 48.98% | 33:25 | PB 33:06 |
| 254 | Monica O’KANE | 80 | 62.51% | 33:26 | PB 29:46 |
| 276 | Stella HARRISON | 518 | 58.42% | 35:14 | PB 26:03 |
| 280 | Matthew PURVIS | 133 | 37.56% | 35:30 | PB 23:12 |
| 283 | Martin MCLARNON | 174 | 41.45% | 35:35 | PB 29:25 |
| 284 | Paul MC CUSKER | 219 | 44.95% | 35:40 | PB 28:49 |
| 288 | Erin O’REGAN | 14 | 45.09% | 36:07 | PB 27:31 |
| 291 | Bernadette DUFFY | 377 | 58.23% | 36:26 | PB 29:29 |
| 309 | Michelle HARKLEY | 92 | 41.79% | 38:46 | PB 36:39 |
| 321 | Elisabeth FRENCH | 163 | 40.91% | 42:00 | PB 39:39 |
| 323 | Kathleen MONTGOMERY | 257 | 49.60% | 42:08 | PB 36:09 |
| 335 | Denis LOUGHRAN | 245 | 48.81% | 44:09 | PB 35:00 |
| 364 | Paul WILLIAMS | 496 | 31.25% | 51:47 | PB 20:23 |
| 365 | Thomas MCLAUGHLIN | 375 | 27.71% | 51:58 | PB 19:10 |
| 366 | Philomena DONALDSON | 355 | 40.80% | 52:00 | PB 27:50 |
| Derry City parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #550 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 1 | Ryan MOORE | 47 | 77.74% | 17:49 | PB 17:36 |
| Belfast Victoria parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #653 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 9 | Natasha HENDERSON | 150 | 79.47% | 18:45 | New PB! |
| 48 | Sean MCSHANE | 326 | 67.49% | 22:12 | PB 19:00 |
| 61 | Peter MCCLELLAND | 66 | 60.24% | 23:11 | PB 21:40 |
| 267 | Kerry MCSHANE | 150 | 40.95% | 39:09 | PB 26:34 |
| 268 | Paul JENKINS | 172 | 33.01% | 45:02 | PB 18:01 |
| Queen’s parkrun, Belfast | 03 May 2025 | #600 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 130 | Kevin MCCANN | 219 | 51.71% | 29:43 | PB 25:59 |
| 205 | Vincent BRADLEY | 264 | 44.67% | 37:12 | PB 21:16 |
| Falls parkrun, Belfast | 03 May 2025 | #557 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 4 | Bo MORRISON | 35 | 60.17% | 23:01 | PB 21:52 |
| 5 | Terence MCATAMNEY | 121 | 58.67% | 23:16 | PB 21:17 |
| Ormeau parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #534 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 9 | Niall ARMSTRONG | 223 | 68.13% | 18:56 | PB 17:28 |
| 10 | Ian KEYS | 166 | 69.28% | 18:56 | PB 18:11 |
| 151 | John DAVIDSON | 183 | 60.47% | 25:38 | PB 25:03 |
| 315 | Eadaoin KELLY | 337 | 51.84% | 29:02 | New PB! |
| 599 | Rosy RYAN | 432 | 32.54% | 51:32 | PB 40:37 |
| 600 | Philip MCILWRATH | 432 | 28.48% | 52:12 | PB 25:59 |
| Antrim parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #484 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 5 | Gavin MCCAFFREY | 211 | 66.44% | 19:25 | PB 16:21 |
| Larne parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #497 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 4 | April CLARKE | 87 | 70.68% | 21:02 | PB 20:18 |
| 55 | Greg LAVERY | 70 | 38.38% | 38:44 | PB 17:53 |
| Carrickfergus parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #474 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 1 | Brandon MCMINN | 75 | 71.60% | 18:01 | PB 16:21 |
| 4 | Andrew NEWELL | 172 | 63.76% | 20:14 | PB 17:29 |
| Bangor parkrun, Northern Ireland | 03 May 2025 | #488 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 45 | James TRAINOR | 214 | 59.87% | 22:38 | First Timer! |
| Comber parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #495 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 1 | Michael LAMONT | 71 | 73.24% | 18:00 | First Timer! |
| Valley parkrun, Newtownabbey | 03 May 2025 | #491 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 36 | David JOHNSTON | 173 | 53.88% | 29:01 | PB 27:13 |
| Colin Glen parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #394 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 16 | Jason REID | 251 | 40.80% | 32:58 | New PB! |
| Glengarriff parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #398 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 5 | Ray CAMERON | 319 | 66.16% | 22:07 | First Timer! |
| Falcarragh parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #395 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 14 | Paddy MCCAMBRIDGE | 187 | 65.48% | 24:55 | PB 22:17 |
| 16 | Ita MCCAMBRIDGE | 231 | 79.34% | 25:10 | PB 23:15 |
| 21 | Catriona MCCAMBRIDGE | 106 | 58.11% | 25:54 | PB 25:03 |
| Clonmel parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #304 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 1 | Colin MCDOWELL | 293 | 85.29% | 18:01 | PB 17:29 |
| Orangefield parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #281 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 91 | Fergus JAMISON | 181 | 45.71% | 34:47 | PB 28:17 |
| 95 | Ita WEIR | 102 | 48.40% | 36:26 | PB 35:14 |
| Westpark parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #261 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 24 | Glenn BEATTIE | 160 | 61.58% | 20:57 | PB 20:19 |
| Narin Beach parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #209 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 7 | Niamh MCMILLAN | 29 | 62.21% | 24:55 | New PB! |
| Sixmilewater parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #199 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 6 | Emily MCRITCHIE | 18 | 74.09% | 20:12 | PB 19:30 |
| 11 | Rory KANE | 37 | 69.25% | 21:18 | PB 20:36 |
| 30 | Mason MERCER | 32 | 63.53% | 24:05 | PB 20:09 |
| Paisley Park parkrun | 03 May 2025 | #26 | |||
| Pos | parkrunner | parkruns | Age Grade | Time | Comment |
| 26 | Thomas MCKINSTRY | 373 | 54.09% | 29:09 | PB 26:53 |