Donaghadee 5k, 24/07/24
The Dee 5k is one of the favourite local races on the running calendar – so popular that all 350 entries sold out within 24 hours! North Down AC was well represented at the race on a fine, if windy, evening for running. First finisher from the club was Katie Moore in 5th place overall. Not only was Katie the first female finisher but she set a new female course record of 18:37 as well!
Carter Rolston wasn’t far behind in 9th place in 18:57 followed by Chris Couchman in 19:22. Coco Smith was 5th female in 20:54. Steven Boyd ran strongly in 21:21 ahead of Sarah Connolly 21:55, Colin Lowry 22:12, Sarah Wilson 22:19, Stefan Butler 26:34, Christina Steele 26:35 and Lorraine Lowry 27:59. Julie McCready 29:12, Glenn Frazer 29:16 and George Emerson 29:18 all had a close race while Noreen McCausland swapped marathon running for a 5k in 30:58. Sonya Johnston 33:18 was followed back past the lighthouse to the finish line by Pat O’Driscoll in 36:23.
https://athleticsni.org/download/files/Dee%5F5K%5F2024%5FOverall%20Results%5FDSQ%2Epdf
Lagan Valley AC Fab 5, 25/07/24
The fourth Lagan Valley AC Fab Five meeting took place at the Mary Peters Track on a rainy Thursday
evening, but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the North Down AC athletes who
took part.
In the under 10 boys Harrison Mair was 2nd in his heat of the 100m in a time of 16.24.
Harrison was 3rd overall so made it on to the podium. In the under 12 boys, Adam
Downey was 10th in the 800m in 3.08.86 and 12th in the long jump with a jump of
1.82m. Moving onto the under 14s, Travis Truedale was 1st in his heat of the 100m in
13.44 and second overall, so picked up a silver medal. Seb Mair went one better in
the 800m by winning the race in a time of 2.27.67, therefore joining his younger
brother in a podium finish. In the girls’ under 14 800m, Sophie Rankin was 3rd in the
first race in 2.36.01, whilst in the second race Caitlyn Dickenson was 7th in 2.54.25.
In the under 16s the club had another gold medal winner in Alex Downey, who won
the 800m with a 7 second PB of 2.05.03. Moving up to the under 18s, Ruby Sterrett picked up a
bronze medal in the 100m, finishing in 13.85. In the under 18 and senior women’s
800m, Becka Laffin battled against older runners and finished a deserved 3rd in
2.24.37. In the senior men’s 100m, Conor Adair was 1st in his heat in a PB of 11.36.
There was more success for the club in the senior men’s 800m, where Mark
Carberry made a welcome return from Scotland, and injury, to win the overall event
in 1.57.48. Ethan Isles, who finished 2nd , was not far behind in 1.59.57. Also taking
part in that race was Daniel Dines who finished 5th in a PB 2.01.07. In the other
senior men’s 800m race, Josh McDowell was 1st in a PB of 2.10.26, whilst Alan
McConnell was 10th in a PB of 2.27.30. In the senior men’s javelin it was another fine
performance from Andrew Brown who came 2nd with a throw of 36.89m.
In other T&F action Thomas Patterson set a 4:06.38SB at the Tooting BMC over 1500m on 24th July.
LVAC Fab Five (4) 25th JULY 2024 Results 2
Giant’s Trail Race, 26/07/24
Starting and finishing at Queen’s University’s playing fields at Upper Malone Road in Belfast, the Giant’s Trail Race took runners along approximately 10k of the scenic and ancient trails of the Lagan Valley Regional Park, along the Lagan towpath, climbing through the woodlands of Minnowburn and running through the Neolithic monument at the Giant’s Ring.
Aaron McAuley was the first NDAC runner to return to the QUB playing fields in 42:22, picking up 2nd M45 in the process. Sarah Grant was the first of the North Down girls to finish, collecting a prize for 2nd female overall in 44:15. Clair Quigley’s 47:11 earned her 1st F40. Luke Hamilton ran an excellent debut on the course in 48:17 finishing ahead of 3rd M60 Les Wilkinson 48:42. Sarah Wilson was 2nd F40 in 51:20 followed by Gerard Adair 51:32 and Terry Eakin 53:12. Andrew Muir returned to a racing environment in 54:16 closely followed by Heather Beattie 54:18, Jill Aiken 55:44, Paula Simpson 57:29 and Hannah Dune 1:04:46. Pat O’Driscoll was the final North Down finisher who donned his club vest for the second time in 2 days in 1:32:49.
https://www.dubrunners.club/race/2024-giants-trail-race-results/
https://www.dubrunners.club/race/2024-giants-trail-race-results/
Irish Age Group Championships Day 3, 27/07/24
There were only two NDAC competitors at the 3rd, and final, day of the Irish Age Group Championships that took place in Tullamore on Saturday 27th.
In his first competition for the club, Matthew Knight was in medal contention in the U18 400mH final but a stutter caused him to clip the 4th hurdle and throw of his stride pattern for the 5th hurdle which he caught with his lead leg resulting in a fall but, to his credit, he got up and continued the race, finishing 5th in a time of 63.51s. Anna Moran improved her PB by a massive 4m in the U17 javelin (500g) when finishing 6th a new lifetime best of 30.02m and finished 14th in long jump with a best effort of 4.49m.
Jonathan Gibson, Montane Lakeland 100, 26 – 28 /07/24
The Lakeland 100 ‘Ultra Tour of the Lake District’ accurately describes itself as the most spectacular long-distance trail race ever held within the UK. The circular route encompasses the entirety of the Lakeland fells, includes approximately 6850 metres of ascent, and consists almost entirely of public bridleways and footpaths. The route starts in Coniston and heads south before completing a clockwise loop that takes in the Dunnerdale fells, Eskdale, Wasdale, and Buttermere before arriving in Keswick. From here, the route heads to Matterdale and continues over to Haweswater before returning via Kentmere, Ambleside, and Elterwater to the finish at Coniston.
The 500 Legends club is for those who have completed the Lakeland 100 event 5 times or more. They are honoured with a 500 legends slate trophy. Before this year’s edition of the race a total of 90 people had been awarded the slate. North Down AC’s Jonathan Gibson became a member of the exclusive 500 Legends club this weekend completing the race in hot conditions in 31:09:52.
https://results.opentracking.co.uk/event/24lakeland100
Hillsborough Castle & Gardens Running Festival, 28/07/24
The Hillsborough Castle and Gardens Running Festival encompassed a U16 5k race as well as 5k, 10k and half marathon options. Lisa Tomalin and Paula Simpson both ran in the 10k and both took top spots in their age groups with Lisa 1st F35 in 44:20 and Paula 1st F5 in 50:20 while Alan Hartley set a new PB of 45:45. Emma Hegarty tackled the half marathon on one of the warmest days of summer so far, completing the course in 2:03:42.
http://www.castlerunningfestival.com/results/
