North Belfast Harriers Race Report 31st August – 6th September 2026 

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As August ended and September heralded the changes in the seasons, the members of North Belfast Harriers turned out in numbers at races at home and further afield.  

The World Masters Championships Come to a Close and David Clarke Lifts Another Silver! 

Davey Clarke on the track in the 1500m in Daegu, South Korea. Photo courtesy of Carol Clarke.

World Masters Championships 1500m, Daegu, South Korea, Tuesday 1st September 

David Clarke brought a fantastic two weeks of competition to a close with a third medal in the World Masters Championships, adding a Silver in the 1500m to a Silver in the 5000m and a Bronze in the 800m, that he won in the first week of the championships. Representing GB and NI, running in the Gyeongsan Civic Stadium, in the oppressive humidity and heat of late afternoon, Davey ran a fantastic race, to finish in 4 min: 46.29 sec, lifting silver to crown a very productive visit to one of the sporting capitals of Asia. Congratulations Davie on another fantastic performance. 

Joe Gallagher (right) with the Irish runners at the 8k cross country in Daegu, South Korea. Photo, J Gallagher.

World Masters 8k Cross Country Race, Daegu, South Korea, Wednesday 2nd September 

Also running in the challenging conditions of South Korea’s heatwave, was Joe Gallagher. On Wednesday as the mid-morning heat began to rise, Joe competed at Suseong Family Park in the 8k Cross Country Race, the third of his three events, finishing in 38 min: 25 sec, 16th in the M65 category. 

John Casey at the finish of the 10k at the McKinney Games. Photo courtesy of John Casey.

April Clarke lifts Gold in the Women’s 5k Race, whilst Nuala Muldoon lifts Silver in the 20 mile Race at the McKinney Games, Maze Long Kesh, Monday 31st August 

Five Harriers entered the McKinney Games series of races on Monday. April Clarke opted for the 5k race, running well to finish in 19 min: 32 sec, first in the female race and 12th overall. John Casey opted for the 10k distance finishing in 52 min: 11 sec, in 25th place overall. Ciaran Beattie ran in the half marathon, finishing in 1 hour: 37 min: 46 sec, in 11th place, while Nuala Muldoon and Martin Doherty opted for the 20 mile race, finishing in 2 hours; 48 min: 25 sec and 3 hours: 00 min: 58 secs, in 9th and 13th places respectively, with Nuala also being the second female finisher. Well done to all the runners. 

The Harriers at the start line of the GRC Costal 5k. Photo courtesy of Pete.

GRC Coastal 5k, Carnlough, 4th September 

A total of 13 Harriers made their way to the scenic Antrim Coast Road to take part in the fast 5k road race. Hosted by Glenlough Running Club, this coastal 5k took place on Friday evening. A point to point race along the scenic course from Carnlough to Glenarm, this sold out event proved popular as ever. Well done to all involved. 

Photos courtesy of Nat Glenn and Pete.

GRC Coastal 5k 

Position Bib Name Gun Time Chip Time 
6 124 Paul Horan 16:59 16:59 
7 157 Michael Lamont 17:05 17:04 
13 215 Eoin McConnell 17:27 17:26 
14 98 Robbie Gould 17:34 17:33 
22 220 Ryan McDonald 17:54 17:52 
34 192 Patrick McAuley 18:49 18:47 
39 63 Elisoa Crawford 18:58 18:57 
43 202 Kobie McClelland 19:04 19:01 
44 225 Sarah-Jane McFadden 19:08 19:05 
51 284 Fionnuala O’Hare 19:38 19:34 
62 75 Roma Doherty 20:01 19:58 
93 272 Mark Mulhern 21:12 21:06 
95 271 Nuala Muldoon 21:18 21:16 

Laganside 10k Road Race, Ormeau Embankment, Belfast, Sunday 6th September 

For parents and youngsters, the start of September is associated with the return to school and for the running community it is associated with the annual Laganside 10k Road Race. This year’s sell out event, organised by North Belfast Harriers, was the biggest yet and as always proved very popular with club members and runners from local clubs and those from further afield. Worth a special mention this year are Mark Smith and Paul Blayney, who were first and second in their M55 category, Laurence Johnston, who was first in his M65 category, Brain Stewart, who was first in his M75 category, Emily McRitchie, who was second in her FO category, Nuala Muldoon, who was second in her F45 category, and Louise Smith, who was first in her F55 category. Well done to everyone, who took part and a special thanks to the organising committee and all the volunteers, who made the event such agreat success and without whom the race could not be staged. 

Laganside photos courtesy of Joanne Boal and Matty Carleton.

Laganside 10k 

Position Bib Name Category Gun Time Chip Time 
9 1360 Oscar Purvis MO 34:52 34:51 
17 386 Mark Smith M55 35:46 35:44 
30 1099 Paul Blaney M55 36:16 36:13 
32 1632 David Foster M40 36:22 36:19 
57 1431 Adam McCleave MO 38:02 37:58 
61 1317 Andrew Gibson MO 38:12 38:09 
62 864 Emily McRitchie FO 38:12 38:09 
70 1000 Zac Connolly MO 38:38 38:32 
79 1469 Martin Rafferty M45 39:13 39:08 
93 1685 Arran Rutledge M50 39:40 39:32 
104 2018 Niall Armstrong MO 39:51 39:46 
130 266 Dara Cassidy MO 40:52 40:44 
134 1456 Louise Smith F55 41:01 40:53 
140 1927 Laurence Johnston M65 41:11 41:03 
153 1442 John Murphy M55 41:47 41:35 
162 1917 Frank Hughes M55 42:02 41:54 
183 2055 Erin Beattie FO 43:07 42:57 
187 1859 Barry Rooney M50 43:09 43:00 
232 2013 Simon Reeve M50 44:23 43:00 
245 958 Bo Morrison M40 44:40 43:51 
269 1224 Nuala Muldoon F45 45:33 45:16 
302 1957 Peter Dolan M40 46:36 46:06 
303 1793 Brian Stewart M75 46:38 46:20 
336 16 Holly Collins FO 47:20 47:12 
345 647 Leila Jones FO 47:30 47:03 
358 751 Nicky Hagan M40 48:10 47:42 
343 1904 Kevin McCann M55 50:01 49:34 
451 2051 Matthew Carleton MO 50:12 49:46 
485 2056 Gavin McCaffrey MO 51:40 51:14 
5131392Jack ArmstrongMO52:3852:15
521 1823 Thomas Taylor M45 52:43 52:12 
522 1910 Emma Taylor F40 52:43 52:14 
569 1359 Heather Griffiths F45 54:01 53:13 
638 1260 Mark Brooks M55 55:31 54:51 
641 1332 Declan Gorman MO 55:33 55:01 
651 1250 Fiona Magill F45 55:45 55:22 
677 2081 Alison Ryan F45 56:21 55:00 
689 1193 Catriona Bradford-McKeown F50 56:47 56:00 
703 1928 Brendy McConnell M45 57:08 55:54 
770 1551 Patrick Hamill M60 58:52 58:02 
758 1182 Joanne Boal F55 59:12 57:58 
805 1047 Mark Mulhern M40 59:45 58:21 
885 1345 Martin Doherty M45 1:01:23 1:00:26 
889 1220 Conor Henry M45 1:01;25 1:00:28 
907 1223 Lisa Higgins F40 1:01:54 1:00:32 
908 1218 Joleen Magill F40 1:01:54 1:00:32 
934 1681 Pascal McHugh M50 1:02:38 1:01:16 
1003 90 Lindsay Bell F45 1:04:23 1:02:57 
1004 1321 Kieran Quinn M40 1:04:25 1:03:02 
1010 1407 Maria Lynch F35 1:04:31 1:03:04 
1045 1951 Grainne Turkington F35 1:05:41 1:04:14 
1046 1222 Fiona Sharratt F35 1:05:41 1:04:14 
1056 1217 David Waugh M70 1:05:41 1:04:15 
1057 2087 Renee Lonton F50 1:05:53 1:04:33 
1072 477 Laurice Falsis-Marsdan FO 1:06:17 1:04:53 
1089 1416 Sean-Paul Donnelly MO 1:06:53 1:05:28 
1105 1536 Naoimhin Anglin F60 1:07:36 1:05:58 
1110 1192 Geoff Dickson M50 1:07:36 1:06:49 
1121 1349 Maeve Glover F35 1:07:47 1:06:49 
1154 2057 John Black M35 1:09:00 1:08:58 
1156 1930 Leanne McConnell F45 1:09:26 1:08:09 
11591421Colm SmythM451:09:261:08:09
1166 948 Liam Smyth M60 1:09:26 1:08:16 
1182 2086 Danielle Taylor F40 1:09:59 1:08:16 
1183 2083 Melissa McLaughlin FO 1:10:00 1:08:16 
1193 2084 Gemma McWilliams F40 1:10:21 1:08:37 
1196 2082 Carla Rainey F35 1:10:27 1:08:43 
1199 1181 Leah Lamont FO 1:11:19 1:09:04 
1229 1772 Martin McLarnon M50 1:11:19 1:09:36 
1305 1320 Frances Stroud F40 1:15:44 1:14:23 
1372 1771 Denise Fuenzalida F35 1:21:57 1:20:15 

Jason Reid at the North Face of the Eiger and collecting his medal. Photos courtesy of Jason Reid. 

Jungfrau-Marathon, Interlaken, Switzerland, Saturday 5th September 

Jason Reid made his way to Switzerland to take on the challenge of the Jungfrau-Marathon, celebrated as one of the most stunning and challenging mountain marathons in the world, taking runners from the resort town of Interlaken, near Berne, to a route that finishes near the glacier at the foot of the North Face of the Eiger. Climbing a total of 1,953m over the 26.2 miles, Jason finished in 6 hours: 03 min: 15.6 sec, in 309th place. Congratulations Jason on completing an iconic challenging marathon. 

Parkruns, Saturday 5th September 

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

Worth a special mention this week are Ruarcc Sheridan and Colin McDowell, who were first finishers, Natasha Hersom, Fionnuala O’Hare, April Clarke, Nuala Muldoon and Erin O’Regan, who were first female finishers, Niamh McMillan, who was a second female finisher and Cormac Carabine, who was a third finisher with a new PB.  

Well done to all those who participated, the runners and especially the volunteers, without whom the events could not be staged. 

Coffee and craic at the end of the Waterworks Parkrun. Photo courtesy of the Rockets.

Waterworks Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
1 Ruarcc Sheridan 80.29% 17:20 First Finisher 
3 Cormac Carabine 80.26% 18:04 Third Finisher and New PB 
4 Ryan Moore 73.77% 18:56  
5 Hugo Reilly 68.84% 18:56  
8 David Foster 71.22% 19:45  
20 Paul Curley 66.54% 21:28  
23 Thomas Coy 63.33% 21:38  
24 Sean McShane 69.61% 21:43  
39 John Patience 76.10% 22:27  
42 Seamus Leheny 64.04% 22:27  
59 Thomas Mclaughlin 61.10% 23:57  
63 Chris Callaghan 68.23% 24:08  
74 Adam McCleave 52.58% 24:32  
78 Una McConnell 67.21% 24:39  
80 Brendan McCambridge 52.26% 24:41  
82 Ray Cameron 59.79% 24:52  
84 Matthew Carleton 51.84% 24:52  
86 Aidan Hamill 53.28% 24:54  
88 John Gerard Murphy 62.66% 24:57  
93 Ian Brennan 55.78% 25:13  
99 Michelle McLoughlin 61.46% 25:36  
102 Greg McClure 67.61% 25:47  
103 Martin Doherty 54.94% 25.49  
110 Emmett Sullivan 62.45% 26:22  
133 Sophia Kielty 60.60% 27:27  
142 Catriona Bradford McKeown 62.18% 27:38  
144 Catriona McCambridge 54.67% 27:41  
158 Stephanie Coy 57.51% 28:10  
167 Mark Brooks 55.82 28:29  
168 Gerard McKeown 53.45% 28:30  
173 Patrick Hamill 56.32% 28:44  
175 Oliver Bisewski 59.02% 28:50  
184 Catherine Seawright 58.51% 29:22  
185 Joanne Boal 60.81% 29:23  
200 Kieran Quinn 45.68% 30:06  
201 Grainne Stephens 49.20% 30:09  
204 Matt Shields 59.78% 30:15  
208 Gillian Roden 52.05% 30:31  
209 Conal McCambridge 42.36% 30:32  
215 Lyle Carleton 53.38% 30:51  
216 Lindsay Bell 53.61% 30:54  
222 Estelle Lowry 48.69% 31:05  
223 Rachel Aicken 48.42% 31:05  
241 Liam Daniel 47.07% 32:07  
246 Jin Clinton 51.72% 32:25  
257 Conor Henry 44.64% 32:47  
268 Kerry McShane 48.80% 33:12  
269 Margaret Stephens 62.73% 33:19  
282 Matthew Purvis 37.24% 35:00  
283 Leanne McConnell 47.29% 35:02  
285 Ann Craven 54.56% 35:04  
287 Martin McLarnon 42.38% 35:05  
297 Katie Kielty 48.41% 36:15  
307 Paul Williams 42.90% 38:02  
309 Evelyn Palmer 53.95% 38:09  
311 Bernadette Duffy 55.78% 38:38  
312 Aoife McCaughey 39.33% 38:39  
328 Denis Loughran 49.39% 44:51  
329 Kate Montgomery 47.25% 44:54  
339 Cathy Scullion 34.60% 47:53  
340 Joe Gallagher 35.80% 48:11  
342  Jack Carberry 47.01% 48:28  

Orangefield Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
20 James Trainor 58.29% 23:25  
111 Michelle Harkley 28.46% 57:31 First Timer 

Sixmilewater Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
5 Natasha Hersom 76.14% 19:42 First Female 
19 Rory Kane 65.83% 22:35  
20 Nuala Muldoon 71.42% 22:41 Third Female 
31 Robbie Gould 52.55% 24:33  
73 Peter Dolan 47.81% 28:58 First Timer 

Armagh Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
10 Fionnuala O’Hare 68.54% 21:37 First Timer and First Female 

Dungloe Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
15 Stella Harrison 69.28% 30:10 First Timer 

Garvagh Forest Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
19 Thomas McKinstry 50.66% 31:39 First Timer 

Larne Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
9 April Clarke 65.49% 22:45 First Female 
36 Greg Lavery 28.31% 53:24  

Victoria Park Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
41 Diane Taylor 73.59% 21:35  
61 Orla Le Mahieu 68.33% 22:41  
63 Zak Wilson 56.29% 22:55  
75 Andrew Taylor 59.44% 23:40  
109 Vincent Bradley 64.53% 25:59  

Jamaca Pond Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
56 Donna McLaughlin 64.31% 27:05 First Timer 

Holy Cross Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
1 Colin McDowell 84.89% 18:25 First Timer and First Finisher 

Paisley Park Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
37 Rosy Ryan 31.60% 54:23  
38 Philip McIlwrath 27.54% 54:24  
39 Lynn Murray 34.13% 54:30  

Belvoir Forest Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
39 Kevin McCann 44.80% 34:36  

The Fisherman’s Walk Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
24 John Casey 69.61% 25:20 First Timer 

Carrickfergus Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
35 Jack Wasson 53.10% 26:54  

Ormeau Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
6 Marcel Corry 74.26% 18:39  
35 Eimear O’Regan 71.33% 21:27 First Female 
48 Niamh McMillan 70.02% 21:51 New PB and Second Female 
223 Erin O’Regan 59.53% 26:24  

Valley Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
79 David Johnston 50.48% 31:14  

Westpark Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
70 Glenn Beattie 50.79% 25:24  

Colin Glen Parkrun 

Position Name Age Grade Time Remarks 
32 Liz Faver 49.66% 36:57