North Belfast Harriers Race Report 22nd – 28th December 2025

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Some of the Harriers at the finish of the Christmas Day Parkrun at the Waterworks. Photo J Gallagher.

North Belfast Harriers Race Report 22nd-28th December 2025 

As the Christmas season came to its climax and the weather locally showed a seasonal crispness, with occasional morning frost, the members of North Belfast Harriers continued to evidence their passion for running at festive races and at Parkruns at home and further afield. As might be expected of the Harriers, despite some runners being adorned in colourful festive attire, there were some great performances and podium places along the way. 

Conán McCaughey lifts Bronze as Five Harriers tackle Greencastle 5 Mile Road Run, Thursday 26th December 

At noon on Thursday, five Harriers put their toes to the start line, for the annual post Christmas 5 mile race in the foothills of the Sperrins in Co Tyrone. On a crisp but bright day, the assembled runners set off on a challenging run over the hilly terrain of the rural roads close to Loughmacrory. Conán McCaughey was the first of the Harriers home, running a great race to lift bronze in 25:34. Conán was followed by Niall Armstrong who finished 23rd in 30:04. Mark Smith finished 28th in 30:45, Nuala Muldoon finished 130th in 35:05, whilst Chris Callaghan was 414th in 41:16. Well done to all on a course that is never easy. 

CIYMS 5k Race, Friday 26th December 

Three Harriers took part in the post Christmas festive 5k race in east Belfast. At midday on Friday an array of participants lined up, perhaps in an effort to run off any over-indulgences in the Christmas festivities. Running a multi-lap circuit on parkland paths, in the vicinity of Circular Road, Belmont Road and Old Holywood Road, the participants benefited from pleasant weather, that despite the chill, was conducive to an enjoyable run. 

Position Bib Name Gun Time  Chip Time 
21 793 Fionnuala O’Hare 20:16 20:12 
116 982 Greg McClure 27:57 27:38 
150 876 Jason Reid 30:26 30:06 

Castlewellan Christmas Cracker, Saturday 27th December 

Nine members of North Belfast Harriers took part in the annual Castlewellan Christmas Cracker, running in pairs over a course of approximately 8.5 miles of mixed terrain. As well as having to contend with the hills, trails and undergrowth, many of participants added extra challenge in the form of festive, fancy dress costumes. Participants, who had to run the race in pairs and cross the finish line with their partner, were placed in categories according to their combined age and gender.  

Congratulations to North Belfast Harriers, Connaire McVeigh and Gladys Ganiel, who finished 1st in the Mix 80-99 category, in a time of 59:53.03 (17thoverall). 

Well done also to Brian Stewart, who was running in combination with Newcastle’s Ernest Hall, finishing 1st in the M240 category, in a time of 1:26:03(344th overall). 

North Belfast Harriers husband and wife team of Paddy and Ita McCambridge finished 4th in the Mix120-139 category (314th overall). 

Greg McClure and Jason Reid, running in the M100-119 category, finished 37th (486th overall) in 1:35:23.5. 

Brendan McCambridge and Orán Rafferty finished 52nd in the MU80 category in 1:10:33.7 (99th overall).  

Christmas morning at the Waterworks. Photo J Gallagher.

Christmas Day Parkrun, Thursday 25th December 

On Christmas morning, as has been the case for so many years, the annual Waterworks Christmas Day Parkrun attracted a bumper crowd of participants. A total of 640 runners, many in festive attire, lined up to take part in this yuletide tradition. Many visitors from other parts of Belfast and Northern Ireland, as well as expats home for Christmas, gathered to run this North Belfast 5k, as well as meet up with old friends and extended family. As usual, members of North Belfast Harriers turned out in force to celebrate their love of running and enjoy the camaraderie, craic and convivial collective engagement that are at the core of every 5k Parkrun. Well done to race director, Eric Montgomery, who as well as overseeing the proceedings, serenaded those assembled with a bespoke festive offering. 

Congratulations to Andrew Milligan, who was the first finisher, Thomas Coy, who was the second finisher and John Black, who was the third finisher. Congratulations also to Thomas Coy, Cormac Leheny, Adam McCleave, Eimear Coy, Finn McConnell and Oonagh Donnelly, who all recorded new PBs. Well done to all the participants and volunteers, without whom the event could not be staged. 

Waterworks Christmas Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
1 Andrew Milligan 81.82% 15:46 First Finisher 
2 Thomas Coy 85.29% 16:19 Second Finisher and New PB 
3 John Black 81.73% 16:20 Third Finisher 
4 Cormac Leheny 86.22% 16:27 New PB 
13 Sam Carr 70.56% 18:17  
17 Matthew McNutt 72.55% 18:24 First Timer 
20 Adam McCleave 68.74% 18:46 New PB 
24 John Gerard Murphy 81.49% 19:11  
27 Joseph Eager 71.61% 19:26  
31 Barry Rooney 74.28% 19:42  
41 Niall Armstrong 63.39% 20:21  
38 David Clarke 83.35% 20:19  
46 Thomas McLaughlin 70.81% 20:30  
68 Lucas Mooney 65.26% 21:46  
73 Seamus Leheny 66.62% 21:58  
80 Joe Gallagher 76.38% 22:22  
87 Roma Doherty 66.96% 22:42  
88 Leo McAuley 61.31% 22:42  
89 Fionnuala O’Hare 65.15% 22:43  
90 Tom McLaughlin 62.39% 22:44  
100 Eimear Coy 69.72% 22:54 New PB 
101 Matthew Carleton 56.13% 22:59  
105 Peter Hughes 59.48% 23:07  
108 Diane Taylor 67.96% 23:09  
111 Carole Clarke 82.29% 23:15  
114 Ray Cameron 62.99% 23:25  
131 Una McConnell 68.53% 23:53  
139 Kieran Quinn 56.80% 24:03  
148 Sophia Doris 69.99% 24:23  
154 Eloise McAuley 66.42% 24:31  
156 Treasa McConnell 61.33% 24:39  
164 Janice Plumb 72.89% 24:50  
178 Matthew McCombe 52.52% 25:06  
203 Greg McClure 67.75% 25:44  
207 Alina Biskupska 60.75% 25:54  
221 Ita McCambridge 77.21% 26:15  
223 Kevin McCann 58.97% 26:17  
224 Catriona McCambridge 57.50% 26:19  
226 Georgia O’Shaughnessy 66.56% 26:22  
227 Claire O’Shaughnessy 61.36% 26:24  
229 Brendan McCambridge 48.62% 26:32  
230 Piaras McShane 48.56% 26:34  
232 Isaac McCollum 48.44% 26:38  
233 Andrew Taylor 52.75% 26:40  
235 Paul Williams 60.61% 26:42  
238 Chris Callaghan 61.29% 26:52  
246 Paddy McCambridge 60.87% 27:03  
272 Stephen Rooney 47.45% 27:47  
276 Joanne Boal 63.32% 27:51  
289 John Casey 61.78% 28:13  
291 Derek Goodfellow 50.97% 28:15  
301 Catriona Bradford-McKeown 59.39% 28:34  
306 Mark Brooks 54.75% 28:48  
332 David Hurst 47.08% 29:25  
335 Ian Brennan 47.37% 29:29  
337 Lindsay Bell 55.45% 29:31  
359 Frances McMullan 67.52% 30:01  
379 Patrick Hamill 52.28% 30:40  
398 Michelle McLaughlin 50.67% 31:03  
410 Maria Lynch 47.93% 31:24  
446 Mannix McAlister 39.29% 32:55  
449 Grainne Stephens 44.99% 32:58  
450 Margaret Stephens 62.41% 32:59  
451 Sandy Carr 47.94% 33:08  
452 Jack Carberry 66.78% 33:10  
453 Malachy McKenna 39.08% 33:11  
477 Ann Craven 55.82% 33:48  
483 Finn McConnell 48.02% 34:03 New PB 
484 Leanne McConnell 48.63% 34:04  
485 Brendan McConnell 41.91% 34:05  
487 Oonagh Donnelly 56.00% 34:10 New PB 
499 Fergus Jamison 46.56% 34:26  
520 Liz Faver 51.57% 35:06  
533 Eadaoin Kelly 42.35% 35:44  
534 Evelyn Palmer 57.59% 35:45  
540 Jim Clinton 46.73% 35:53  
546 Jennifer Goodfellow 41.82% 36.11  
558 Lynn Murray 51.15% 36:22  
559 Vincent Bradley 45.67% 36:23  
561 Stella Harrison 57.42% 36:24  
577 Ita Weir 47.25% 37:19  
578 Cathy Scullion 44.38% 37:20  
579 Martin McLarnon 39.51% 37:20  
586 Paul McCusker 42.81% 37:48  
596 Bernadette Duffy 55.01% 38:34  
604 Suzanne Brennan 37.99% 40:48  
606 Kathlene Montgomery 50.14% 41:41  
607 Michelle Harkley 38.73% 41:50  
620 Frances Stroud 35.69% 44:05  
623 Paul Lavery 38.63% 44:39  
630 Philomena Donaldson 44.82% 47:20  

Parkruns Saturday 27th December 

In addition to the special Christmas Day Parkrun at the Waterworks, the normal Saturday morning Parkruns returned on 27th December. Congratulations to Zak Wilson, who was a first finisher, Andrew Newell, who was a second finisher, Ian Keys, who was a third finisher, Cathy McCourt, who was a first female, Lois Usher, who was a second female and Holly Collins, who was a third female. Worth a special mention also are Adam McCleave, David Waugh, Cormac Leheny, Barry Rooney, Seamus Leheny and Peter Dolan, who all recorded new PBs on their respective courses. Well done to all the participants and a massive thanks to all the volunteers, without whom the events could not be staged.

Waterworks Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
1 Zak Wilson 71.27% 18:06  
3 Adam McCleave 69.60% 18:32 New PB 
6 Thomas Coy 73.83% 18:51  
18 Dara Cassidy 64.39% 20:58  
21 Joe Gallagher 77.36% 22:05  
33 Frank Hughes 64.75% 23:44  
34 Thomas McLaughlin 61.12% 23:45  
49 Chris Callaghan 66.13% 24:54  
52 Conal Mccambridge 51.43% 25:07  
67 Georgia O’Shaughnessy 63.04% 25:42  
74 Emmett Sullivan 62.08% 26:17  
81 Eimear Coy 60.06% 26:35%  
82 Eloise McAuley 61.22% 26:36  
102  Tony Reid 59.12% 27:36  
104 Stephanie Coy 57.74% 27:46  
105 Sophia Kielty 61.24% 27:52  
121 Greg McClure 60.53% 28:48  
125 Patrick hammill 55.41% 28:56  
138 Stella Harrison 70.69% 29:34  
144 Katie-Louise Goodfellow 56.86% 30:01  
145 Derek Goodfellow 47.94% 30:01  
150 Catriona Bradford McKeown 56.34% 30:07  
152 Lindsay Bell 54.28% 30:09  
159 David Waugh 58.17% 30.41 New PB 
164 Matthew Purvis 42.62% 30:56  
166 Grainne Stephens 47.54% 31:12  
170 Jack Carberry 70.21% 31:33  
173 Oonagh Donnelly 60.10% 31:51  
178 Sandy Carr 49.40% 32:09  
179 Margaret Stephens 63.99% 32:10  
184 Liam Smyth 48.08% 33:56  
198 Paul McCusker 45.48% 35:35  
199 Jennifer Goodfellow 42.10% 35:57  
204 Caroline Montgomery 54.36% 37:17  
207 Bernadette Duffy 54.17% 39:10  
212 Ita Weir 43.96% 40:07  
214 Kathleen Montgomery 51.52% 40:34  
227 Cathy Scullion 32.47% 51:01  
230 Lyle Carleton 30.69% 53:39  

 Belfast Victoria Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
9 Cormac Leheny 91.11% 15:34 New PB 
25 Conor Curran 89.12% 16:33  
28 Ruarcc Sheridan 84.01% 16:53  
29 John Black 78.84% 16:56  
30 Conor McCann 76.03% 16:58 First Timer 
48 Conor O’Rawe 71.14% 18:08  
49 Matthew McCombe 72.64% 18:09  
69 Barry Rooney 76.35% 19:10 New PB 
116 Nuala Muldoon 76.11% 21:04  
122 Seamus Leheny 68.49% 21:22 New PB 
194 Paul Williams 63.78% 25:35  
205 Joseph Eager 53.29% 26:07  
274 Mark Smith 51.24% 30:15  

Ormeau Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
421 Paul Lavery 39.13% 44:05  

Valley Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
42 Ian Brennan 49.47% 28:14  
75 David Johnston 49.01% 31:54  

Orangefield Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
81 Fergus Jamison 48.27% 33:13  

Paisley Park Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
22 Mark Brooks 58.94% 26:45  
31 Thomas McKinstry 52.71% 30:10  
34 Lynn Murray 60.10% 30:57  

Wallace Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
19 Neil Mercer 70.41% 20:57 First Timer 

Omagh Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
3 Ian Keys 69.20% 19:03 Third Finisher 

Monaghan Town Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
31 Joanne Boal 64.16% 27:29 First Timer 
85 Leah Lamont 37.84% 39:07 First Timer 

Sixmilewater Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
2 Andrew Newell 65.76% 19:37 Second Finisher 
16 Holly Collins 69.67% 21:29 Third Female 
26 Matthew Carleton 56.13% 22:59  
27 Fionnuala O’Hare 64.35% 23:00  

Hillsborough Forest Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
67 Kieran Quinn 53.18% 25:40  
189 Frances Stroud 44.24% 35:34  

Limepark Playing Fields Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
10 Peter Dolan 61.66% 22:18 New PB 

Montalo Estate Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
3 Cathy McCourt 75.98% 22:37 First Female 

Y Promenâd Parkrun Aberhonddu 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
61 Philip McIlwrath 52.78% 28:10 First Timer 
125 Rosy Ryan 33.68% 50:23 First Timer 

Stadpark Parkrun, Chemnitz 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
22 Glenn Beattie 47.17% 27:21 First Timer 

Newry Greenway Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
14 Lois Usher 71.71% 21:55 First Timer and Second Female 

Belvoir Forest Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
7 John Gerard Murphy 73.22% 21:21 First Timer