Autumn is well and truly with us and this week brought Storm Amy. The storm hit hard on Friday and closed the vast majority of our local Parkruns, including the Waterworks. Needless to say, our resourceful juniors still managed to get plenty of runs in.
Cross Country Training
Storm Amy hit the Valley Park hard with several fallen trees blocking the paths. However, after an inspection of the Valley XC Course/Dog walking loop, the course was good to go for a windy Saturday afternoon training session. This was a great opportunity for the kids to prepare for the very important XC races which are coming up in the coming weeks. The kids were mucky, some a bit cold even but as you can see from the cover photo, they had a great time. The coaches are going to do another similar session next Saturday so keep an eye on the WhatsApp for the details!
Important – Ulster Age Group Even Championship Cross Country
STILL TIME FOR MORE ENTRIES. WE NEED TO MAXIMISE NUMBERS. ENTRIES FOR OUR YOUNGER RUNNERS ARE ESPECIALLY LOW. PLEASE UPDATE THE SPREADSHEET BELOW OR GET IN TOUCH WITH THE COACHES ASAP IF YOU WANT YOUR JUNIOR ATHLETE TO COMPETE.
One of the biggest race days for our Juniors this year takes place on the 26th October at Billy Neill Country Park near Comber. The club will enter and pay for each child to participate, all you have to do is access the below google document and enter your child’s name in the appropriate age category along with guardian.
https://1drv.ms/x/c/0560ac4da6c759cf/ETniSLCDGI9Ou-e-fpJWWUgBRSbOBCdtTqm0CK0pvtHzUQ
This is exactly the type of event that all of our juniors train for so its vitally important that as many of you enter your children as soon as possible. As stated, its one of the biggest events in the junior racing calendar and the day itself is such a fantastic experience for all of the children with rapturous support for every child. Let’s all play our part and make sure every race is well represented by the young stags!
Brother School Cross Country
The Brother School Cross Country was held on Wednesday 1 October. Some of our Juniors who attend St.Malachy’s ran in this event: Sion, Kobe, Cormac Carabine, Lucas Mooney, Pearse Leheny, Thomas Weinger, Tom McLaughlin, Cormac Leheny, Thomas Coy, Ruarcc, Leo, Lorcan and Dara. Congratulations to them all. Special mention to Sion who romped home 1st in the Mini race, Cormac Carabine who took silver at Minor Level and Thomas and Cormac Leheny who were joint first at Inter level.
Jordanstown Junior Parkrun – 2K
| 7 | Isla MCNUTT | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers |
| 20 | Lucy DICKSON | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers |
| 29 | Penny DICKSON | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers |
Well done to Isla on setting a new PB at this event.
Antrim Junior Parkrun – 2K
| 2 | Lois USHER | Female | JW11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 07:58 |
Belfast Victoria Junior Parkrun – 2K
| 34 | Ronan O’NEILL | Male | JM10 | North Belfast Harriers | 10:53 |
Orangefield Parkrun – 5K
| 244 | 51 | Georgia OSHAUGHNESSY | North Belfast Harriers | 00:27:59 |
Event Calendar
- Ulster Age Group Even Championship Cross Country – 26th October – Billy Neill Country Park, Comber
- Ulster Age Group Uneven Championship Cross Country – 8th November – Finn Valley, Stranorlar, Co Donegal The club will circulate a registration form in the next few weeks but please keep this date free for your juniors to attend.
Training
Training as normal this Tuesday and Thursday at Girls Model track from 6pm
There will also be additional training this Saturday 11th October in the Valley park for those running the Ulster Cross Country Championships on 26th October and 8th November. Further details will be sent during the week.
Access is via the playground on the O’Neill Road opposite the recycling centre. This is a great opportunity for juniors to try out cross country running in preparing for the Ulster’s.
That’s all for this week folks, please remember to register via the link at the start of this report for your child to participate at the Ulster Even XC on 26th October – this is very important for the club.