North Belfast Harriers Race Report 19th-25th January 2026

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As the wet winter weather continued to set challenges for sporting activities, the Harriers were not deterred in showing their love for running and achieved outstanding success, particularly at the Athletics NI and Ulster Intermediate and Masters Cross Country Races in Lurgan on Saturday.

Some of the Harriers at the Lurgan Cross Country, at the finish of the Men’s 8k race. Photo courtesy of Maurice Palmer.

 

Some of the Harriers at the Lurgan Cross Country, after the finish of the Ladies’ races and the M65 race. Photo courtesy of Maurice Palmer.

It’s a Stunning Saturday as North Belfast Harriers Sweep to Victory Across the Board at the Northern Ireland and Ulster Intermediate and Masters Cross Country Championships, Lurgan Park, 24th January 

North Belfast Harriers were outstanding in the Athletics NI and Ulster Cross Country at Lurgan Park on Saturday, being crowned overall champions in both the Male and Female categories.  

Conan McCaughey, John Black and Philip Goss lift Gold, Silver and Bronze in the M35 Race. Photo courtesy of Athletics NI
North Belfast Harriers are crowned overall winners in the Men’s Race. Photo courtesy of Athletics NI.
David Clarke lifts Gold and Laurence Johnston lifts Bronze and also the Harriers lift the title in the M65 Race. Photo courtesy of Athletics NI.
Emily McRitchie lifts Gold in the Intermediate Women’s Race. Photo courtesy of Athletics NI.
Elisoa Crawford lifts Gold as she finishes first in the Ladies’ Race. Photo courtesy of Maurice Palmer.
North Belfast Harriers are crowned overall Champions in the Ladies’ Race. Photo courtesy of Maurice Palmer.
The Ladies from the Rockets training group celebrate victory in the F65 Race. Photo courtesy of Cathy Scullion.

The list of Cross Country achievements included: 

M35 Conán McCaughey- Gold; John Black- Silver; Philip Goss- Bronze 

M55 Eamon White- Gold; Mark Smith- Bronze 

M65 David Clarke-Gold; Laurence Johnston- Bronze 

F45 Elisoa Crawford- Gold (also overall winner of Female Masters race) 

F55 Louise Smith- Silver 

Intermediate Women Emily McRitchie- Gold 

In the team races North Belfast Harriers were on the podium in the following races 

M35 Team- First 

M55 Team- First 

M65 Team- First 

F35 Team- Second 

F45 Team- First 

F55 Team- Second 

F65 Team-First 

It’s not surprising, with such an array of successes, that the Harriers lifted the overall trophies in both the Male and Female categories. What a fantastic day of running for all those involved in the races in Lurgan. Congratulations to all the runners. However, worth a special mention are those brave ladies from the Rockets training group, who are always keen to rise to a challenge. They put a team together that lifted the F65 title, despite many being complete novices to cross country running!  

Masters Men (8km approx) 

Place Bib Name Category Time 
1 65 Conán McCaughey M35 29:20 
2 88 John Black M35 20:23 
3 70 Philip Goss M40 30:29 
11 74 Chris Hutchinson M35 31:52 
13 68 Eamon White M55 31:56 
14 77 James Trainor M40 32:17 
19 82 Matthew McNutt M35 32:54 
22 64 Mark Smith M55 33:20 
24 76 Paul Blaney M50 33:24 
28 84 Michael Lamont M35 33:48 
44 63 Colin McDowell M55 34:54 
51 66 Neil Carty M55 35:25 
54 80 David Foster M40 35:38 
74 71 John Murphy M55 37:59 
82 79 Ciaran Kavanagh M55 39:32 
87 81 Colin Willetts M40 39:57 
92 87 Ian O’Neill M60 41:27 
102 67 Patrick McCambridge M60 44:04 
104 83 Conor Henry M45 44:51 
107 85 Nicky Hagan M35 45:31 
108 69 Thomas Taylor M40 45:33 
109 86 Andrew Taylor M40 45:33 

Masters Women (4km approx) 

Place Bib Name Category Time 
1 275 Elisoa Crawford F50 16:32 
13 265 Sara-Jane McFadden F40 17:58 
16 256 Louise Smith F55 18:17 
29 282 Nuala Muldoon F45 19:12 
30 255 Roma Doherty F35 19:15 
40 261 Janice Plumb F55 20:01 
42 266 Una McConnell F45 20:04 
48 270 Diane Taylor F40 20:30 
51 274 Carol Clarke F60 20:37 
61 267 Frances McMullan F60 21:16 
70 272 Emma Taylor F40 22:07 
71 257 Ita McCambridge F60 22:33 
86 264 Donna McLaughlin F50 24:45 
94 258 Bernadette Duffy F65 29:20 
96 279 Nuala Mahon F65 31:39 
98 278 Evelyn Palmer F65 32:25 
100 277 Monica O’Kane F65 35:20 
101 263 Kathleen Montgomery F65 37:40 

Masters Men, Over 65 Race (4km approx) 

Place Bib Name Category Time 
1 28 David Clarke M65 17:12 
3 262 Laurence Johnston M65 17:35 
7 260 Matt Shields M65 20:05 
9 271 Joe Gallagher M65 20:14 
12 280 Brian Stewart M70 21:01 
17 268 John Casey M70 22:00 
19 269 Greg McClure M65 22:30 

Intermediate Women (4km approx) 

Place Bib Name Category Time 
1 160 Emily McRitchie Sen 16:42 
7 162 Holly Collins Sen 18:02 
9 161 Fionnuala O’Hare Sen 18:15 

Raheny 5 Mile Road Race, Dublin, Sunday 25th January 

Six Harriers made their way to the ever popular Raheny 5 Mile Road Race, which was staged on Sunday. Covering a course on the roads adjacent to St Anne’s Park, on the northern suburbs of Dublin, this race, oganised by Raheny Shamrock Running Club, as ever, attracted a bumper crowd of over 4000 finishers. First of the Harriers home was Mark Cornett, who was 37th overall in 26:08. Congratulations also to Colin McDowell, who was second in his M55 category, 142nd overall in 28:37. 

The Harriers at Raheny on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Colin McDowell.

Raheny 5 Mile Road Race 

Place Name Chip Time Gun Time Bib 
37 Mark Cornett 26:08 26:09 688 
74 Eoin McCann 27:20 27:21 2466 
142 Colin McDowell 28:35 28:37 2584 
167 Paul Horan 28:44 28:53 1747 
723 Rory Kane 34:17 34:37 1856 
733 Ray Cameron 34:25 34:45 401 

Ciaran Beattie at the finish of the Seville Half Marathon. Photo courtesy of Michelle McLaughlin.

Seville Half Marathon

Ciaran Beattie travelled to Spain to compete in the Seville Half Marathon and achieved a PB in the process, finishing in 1 hour: 31 min: 15 sec. Congratulations Ciaran on a great run.

Parkruns, Saturday 24 January 

As ever the Harriers were well represented at Parkruns at home and further afield. 

Worth a special mention this week are Mason Mercer, who was a first finisher, Zak Wilson who was a second finisher, April Clarke, who was a second finisher and first female, Cassie Curran, who was a first female, Martin Rea, who was a third finisher, Fionnuala O’Hare and Alina Biskupska, who were third female finishers. 

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 
2 Zak Wilson 71.21% 18:07 Second Finisher 
4 Brandon McMinn 70.56% 18:17  
7 Matthew McCombe 71.52% 18:26  
8 Ryan Moore 75.07% 18:27  
17 Cassie Curran 75.02% 20:57 First Female 
21 Dara Cassidy 63.53% 21:15  
26 Thomas Mclaughlin 66.14% 21:57  
32 Seamus Leheny 65.23% 22:26  
43 Fionnuala O’Hare 63.75% 23:13 Third Female 
48 Dermot Coy 60.35% 23:40  
53 Brendan McCambridge 54.01% 23:53  
54 Frank Hughes 64.30% 23:54  
56 Ray Cameron 61.63% 23:56  
65 Orán Steel 54.66% 24:42  
89 Georgia O’Shaughnessy 68.33% 25:41  
90 Claire O’Shaughnessy 62.75% 25:49  
99 Michelle McLoughlin 59.56% 26:25  
102  Ian Brennan 52.51% 26:36  
104 Naimh McMillan 57.45% 26:38  
119 Sean McShane 54.88% 27:18  
122 Tony Reid 59.55% 27:24  
145 Nola Jamieson 54.10% 28:52  
147 Patrick Hamill 55.48% 28:54  
150 Stephanie Coy 55.89% 28:59  
152 Joanne Boal 60.73% 29:02  
159 Catherine Seawright 57.64% 29:26  
160 Colm Smyth 48.90% 29:27  
162 Joanne Curran 56.90% 29:28  
163 Peter Dolan 46.64% 29:29  
166 Stella Harrison 70.57% 29:37  
167 Jim Clinton 56.55% 29:39  
171 Sophia Kielty 57.37% 29:45  
173 Emma Taylor 52.01% 29:48  
180 Fóla O’Kane 55.05% 30:13  
193 Grainne Stephens 47.90% 30:58  
200 Gerry Anderson 50.24% 31:23  
201 Lindsay Bell 52.07% 31:26  
209 Jack Carberry 69.65% 31:48  
213 David Waugh 55.93% 31:55  
220 Liz Faver 55.95% 32:21  
232 Margaret Stephens 61.60% 33:25  
233 Sandy Carr 47.51% 33:26  
234 Maurice Palmer 50.12% 33:27  
268 Paul McCusker 43.43% 37:16  
267 Cathy Scullion 44.45% 37:16  
271 Kerry McShane 41.94% 38:14  
273 Jennifer Goodfellow 39.53% 38:17  
274 Michelle Harkley 42.28% 38:19  
275 Martin McLarnon 38.48% 38:20  
286 Simon Reeve 36.18% 40:46  
291 Matthew Purvis 31.84% 41:24  
292 Hollie Brennan 36.70% 43:30  
301 Lyle Carleton 33.59% 49:01  
302 Greg McClure 35.55% 49:02  
303 Bernadette Duffy 41.78% 50:47  

Belfast Victoria Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
53 Kobe McClelland 67.07% 22:10  
127 Paul Williams 61.96% 26:20  
130 Peter McClelland 53.28% 26:24  
231 Leanne McConnell 47.13% 35:09  
245 Orlaith Duffy 39.57% 37:24 First Timer 
246 Aoife McCaughey 40.23% 37:47 First Timer 
249 Eadaoin Kelly 39.17% 38:38  
258 Paul Lavery 40.96% 42:07  

Queen’s Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
3 Martin Rea 73.69% 20:01 Third Finisher 

Ormeau Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
183 John Gerard Murphy 59.94% 26:05  
317 Philip McIlwrath 51.65% 28:47  
348 Erin O’Regan 54.40% 29:21  
485 Ruth McComb 52.66% 32:13  
714 Rosy Ryan 30.99% 54:45  

Valley Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
15 Alins Biskupska 63.23% 24:53 Third Female 
39 Liam Smyth 56.69% 28:47  
52 David Johnston 50.03% 31:15  
77 Nuala Muldoon 46.01% 34:51  

Stormont Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
157 Vincent Bradley 61.66% 26:57  

Orangefield Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
96 Katie-Louise Goodfellow 54.44% 31:21  
97 Derek Goodfellow 45.91% 31:22  
98 Catriona Bradford McKeown 54.09% 31:22  
103 Maria Lynch 47.65% 31:35 First Timer 
104 Frances Stroud 49.79% 31.36% First Timer 
108 Rachel Aicken 46.93% 32:04 First Timer 
113 Ann Craven 56.88% 33:10 First Timer 
119 Martin Doherty 40.87% 34:42  
120 Aisling Doherty 46.64% £34:44 First Timer 
121 Fergus Jamison 45.96% 34:53  

Paisley Park Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
63 Lynn Murray 34.32% 54:12  

Highbury Fields Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
10 Andrew Newell 67.66% 19:04 First Timer 

Antrim Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
105 Natasha Hersom 55.65% 26:52  

Larne Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
2 April Clarke 67.52% 22:01 Second Finisher & First Female 

Monrepos Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
24 Glenn Beattie 43.07% 29:57  

Sixmilewater Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
1 Mason Mercer 76.37% 19:28 First Finisher 

The Fisherman’s Walk Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
62 Jason Reid 43.80% 30:56  
96 Sinéad Russell 42.35% 38:15