North Belfast Harriers Race Report: 23rd-29th June 2025

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Harriers took to the sand, roads and trails this week to enjoy some Summer breeze and sunshine up and down the country, as well as internationally!

Craigavon Lakes 10k – 25th June

Starting off at South Lake Leisure Centre and incorporating the idyllic Craigavon Lakes, participants could take on a 1k family fun run, 5k, 10k or 10k wheelchair race. Colin McDowell completed the 10k race coming 7th overall in an impressive time of 36:13, while Louise Smith continued her recent fine form and finished 21st overall in a time of 39:26, taking a podium spot as 2nd female!

Photos courtesy of Liam McArdle Photography

Carnlough Quarry Challenge Run – 27th June

Hosted by Glenlough Running Club, this unique event is a challenging but rewarding multi-terrain 5km route. Starting in the heart of the village, the route travels climbs up towards the quarry with its loose limestone paths underfoot. Runners were treated to epic views of the coastline at the highest point, before descending back into the village, running under one of the iconic limestone bridges towards the finish line.

Five Harriers took on the challenge on a muggy Friday evening, with Colin McDowell finishing highest among them claiming 3rd place, followed closely by Mark Smith in 4th place, with Fionnuala O’Hare placing 4th female.

PositionNameChip Time
3Colin Mcdowell19:26
4Mark Smith19:35
22Fionnuala O’Hare23:09
36Helen Weir26:06
37Sarah-Jane McFadden26:05

Photos courtesy of David Humphrys via Glenlough Running Club Facebook and Fionnuala O’Hare

Ards Half Marathon – 27th June

Organised by the Scrabo Striders and supported by the Ards Borough Council, this annual event takes runners through the towns and countryside of Ards in County Down. Starting and finishing in Newtownards, the hilly route proved even more challenging this year due to the warm conditions of the evening. Congratulations to all who participated, including five of our club members who made the trip!

PositionNameChip Time
24Arran Rutledge1:27:38
96Paddy McAuley (1:40 pacer)1:39:50
97Michael Lamont (1:40 pacer)1:39:50
283Greg McClure1:58:37
493Jason Reid2:36:09

Photos courtesy of Richard Cowen

Bob and Berts North Coast 5k & 10k – 27th June

The North Coast run has been staged annually in Portrush for over 10 years, and is “a great event for an even greater cause” with 100% of the entry fees going to charity. Their chosen charity partner are ‘Sports Academy George’, who use sport as a tool for skill and leadership development in the underprivileged communities of George, South Africa.

On a pleasant Friday evening, Elizabeth French and Aoife Birmingham took on the 5k run out and back along the strand, while Ian Brennan, Michelle Harkley, Kathleen Montgomery and Cathy Scullion tackled the sand and roads in the 10k run. Followed with music and a BBQ by the sea, this event truly marks the start of a Summer of fun racing ahead! Well done to all involved.

Photos courtesy of Alan McKeeman and Elizabeth French

Biofreeze Irish Runner 5 Mile Race – 29th June

Joe Gallagher was the sole representative from North Belfast Harriers to travel to Phoenix Park, Dublin for the Athletics Ireland Championship 5 Mile Race. Finishing the race in 34 min: 38 sec, he placed 266th overall and 4th in the M65 category. Just under 2,000 runners lined up on Chesterfield Avenue for the start of this race, which was the second of three Irish championship races run over 5k, 5 mile and 10 mile distances, in May, June and July respectively. The Sunday morning weather was kind, with overcast conditions and some intermittent hazy sunshine providing good running conditions, although the inevitable gradual climb up to the finish always adds interest in these events.

Words and photo courtesy of Joe Gallagher

RUNRIO Pride Run 10k – 29th June

Well done to Denise Fuenzalida who joined a massive 10,000 participants in Manila, Philippines, for this “colourful, festive and liberating Pride event which is celebration and recognition of the LGBTQIA+ Community and their fight for equality, tolerance, and acceptance.” Denise completed the event in 1hr:27min:57sec.

Photos courtesy of Denise Fuenzalida

Parkrun

Another weekend was kicked off in style as 111 club members journeyed to Parkruns locally and further afield! Most notably, Knockbracken Reservoir Parkrun was well attended this week as it staged its last run in this location!

Many thanks to the volunteers who dedicate their time and energy into letting these events go ahead.

Congratulations to those who pushed for PBs this week including Seamus Wolf, Martin Doherty, Aisling Doherty, Fionnuala O’Hare, Natasha Hersom and Peter Dolan. Michelle Harkley also ticked off her 100th Parkrun to achieve this great milestone! Well done all.

Waterworks Parkrun, Belfast

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
1Matthew MCCOMBE18:211st Male
3Zak WILSON18:232nd Male
4Ryan MOORE18:233rd Male
6Thomas MCLAUGHLIN19:15 
8Leo MCAULEY19:46 
9Ruarcc SHERIDAN19:47 
10Dara CASSIDY19:51 
11Adam MCCLEAVE19:52 
12Seamus WOLF19:54New PB
28Conal MCCAMBRIDGE22:06 
29Seamus LEHENY22:10 
31Frank HUGHES22:25 
34Senan MCCONNELL22:38 
39Kieran QUINN22:48 
47Martin DOHERTY23:34New PB
57Niamh MCMILLAN24:193rd Female
58Christopher LENNON24:20 
74Séadna OHARE LYNCH25:29 
77Joseph GALLAGHER25:34 
84John CASEY25:48 
97Ruby Mae MCLAUGHLIN26:00 
96Georgia OSHAUGHNESSY26:00 
101Martin RAFFERTY26:15 
110Greg MCCLURE26:40 
111Nicky HAGAN26:44 
113Oisin CALDWELL26:47 
117Frances STROUD26:58 
142Rachel AICKEN27:59 
149Gerry ANDERSON28:16 
157Lindsay BELL28:45 
161Heather GRIFFITHS28:58 
166Patrick HAMILL29:19 
169Tony REID29:31 
172David HURST29:45 
180Catriona MCCAMBRIDGE29:58 
188Nola RAFFERTY30:44 
190Evelyn PALMER30:48 
191Ita MCCAMBRIDGE30:49 
193Maurice PALMER30:56 
196Katie-Louise GOODFELLOW31:03 
197Derek GOODFELLOW31:07 
198Gillian RODEN31:07 
223Jack CARBERRY32:41 
232Paul MC CUSKER33:05 
237Paddy MCCAMBRIDGE33:23 
248Orlaith DUFFY33:54 
252Margaret STEPHENS34:12 
254Nuala MAHON34:13 
260Jennifer GOODFELLOW35:12 
262Ita WEIR35:23 
263Ann CRAVEN35:48 
265Lyle CARLETON35:50 
268Matthew PURVIS35:59 
269Aisling DOHERTY36:00New PB
272Michelle HARKLEY36:55 
273Martin MCLARNON37:00 
275Sandy CARR37:20 
274Cathy SCULLION37:20 
279Bernadette DUFFY37:45 
282Deirdre MURRAY38:15 
283Kathleen MONTGOMERY38:18 
294Denise RAINEY40:07 
295Kerry MCSHANE40:08 
296Sean MCSHANE40:08 
305Roy RAINEY43:46 
306Denis LOUGHRAN43:47 
312Rosy RYAN49:35 
314Philip MCILWRATH52:42 

Belfast Victoria Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
139Gavin MCCAFFREY27:36 
153Paul WILLIAMS28:27 
225Malachy MCKENNA33:44 
226Mannix MCALISTER33:45 

Ecos Parkrun, Ballymena

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
122Brian STEWART29:11 

Queen’s Parkrun, Belfast

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
108John LAVERY32:47 

Falls Parkrun, Belfast

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
3Ian KEYS19:463rd Male

Portrush Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
123Matthew CARLETON30:22 

Citypark Parkrun, Craigavon

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
10Colin MCDOWELL19:38 

Enniskillen Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
62Oonagh DONNELLY32:40 

Ormeau Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
46Debbie MCCONNELL21:482nd Female
48Fionnuala O’HARE21:503rd Female & New PB

Larne Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
2Natasha HERSOM20:261st Female & New PB

Carrickfergus Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
104Alun ROLPH42:01 

Bangor Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
68Alina BISKUPSKA24:10 

Valley Parkrun, Newtownabbey

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
52Jessie SMITH29:26 
60David JOHNSTON31:02 

Orangefield Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
4James TRAINOR21:59 

Leinpfad Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
1Brandon MCMINN18:171st Male

Westpark Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
119Glenn BEATTIE28:21 

Sixmilewater Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
4Emily MCRITCHIE19:431st Female
13Holly COLLINS21:173rd Female

Knockbracken Reservoir Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
5Niall ARMSTRONG18:02 
18John Gerard MURPHY19:55 
378Ronan O’NEILL33:51 
463Paul LAVERY43:58 
471Elisabeth FRENCH46:13 

Garvagh Forest Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
15Joanne BOAL29:173rd Female

Lordship Recreation Ground Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
3Conor O’RAWE17:373rd Male

Montalto Estate Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
1Andrew NEWELL20:171st Male

Paisley Park Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
6Peter DOLAN22:43New PB

Christie Parkrun

PositionParkrunnerTimeNotes
46Ian BRENNAN24:33 
129Eadaoin KELLY31:39 
181Philomena DONALDSON50:05