Limerick Half Marathon, 03/08/25
Roberta Dornan raced the Limerick Half Marathon last Sunday. Starting and finishing in the city centre the route took runners north on a loop to Clonlara, Co Clare. Roberta placed 2nd F50 in the half marathon in 1:44:48.
https://myrunresults.com/events/limerick_half_marathon_2025/5833/results
Crawfordsburn Trail Race, 06/08/25
The first of North Down AC’s open races, the Crawforsburn 5k was held over the hills, forest trails and North Down coastal path in the beautiful country park last Wednesday. North Down’s other race is the sold out Seaton Classic 10k road race on 27th September. This year’s trail race sponsored by O’Boyle’s Accounting and Tax also offered trophies to the top 10 male and female teenage finishers.
Nicola Stevenson ably coordinated a huge team of marshals from the club around the course, while on the course itself the athletes were led home by Oliver Playfair who won in 17:32. Nick Irvine was 4th in 18;26 with Carter Rolston 18:31, Michael McGreevy 19:09 and Mickael Lenu 19:30 joining him in the top 10. James Blease was 14th in 20:10 followed by Eamonn O’Reilly 20:12 , Colin Walker 20:30 and Isaac Hall 20:44. Holly Blease finished 3rd female and 21st overall in 20:49. Jeremy Tomalin 21:16, Luke Hamilton 21:45, Mitchell Brown 22:08 and Jacob Sullivan 22:13 crossed the line ahead of Abbie Small 22:18, Clair Quigley 22:35, Sarah Connolly 22:36, Philip Mulligan 22:43, Lindsay Doulton 22:44, Lois Harkin. 22:45 and Fiona McVicar 22:52. Kevin Mulligan 23:08, Caitlyn Dickenson 23:35, and Eibhlin Largey 24:53 were ahead of a battle for 2nd and 3rd place in the M65 category with Gerry O’Boyle 25:02 pipping Stephen Wise 25:11 to the finish line. Paula Simpson 25:42 was followed by Colin Hennessy 26:31, Michael Cunningham 26:37, Catherine McKee 26:44, Chris Connolly 26:45 and Sophie Hamilton also 26:45. Bianca Harriskitt 27:17, Dave Press 27:51, Lisa McMeechan 27:17 and Cara Jeffrey 31:42 were followed to the line by Pat O’Driscoll in 39:04.
Lots of photos available on the public NDAC Facebook page at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/northdownathleticclub
and on the members’ page at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/882321711856057
Gerry O’Boyle
Race winner, Oliver Playfair
Mallusk 5 mile Road Race, 08/08/25
Six North Down AC members headed to Mallusk on Friday evening for the Mallusk Harriers 5 Mile Road Race. Sarah Wilson explained that the route was a little more scenic than many imagined… “dispelling the myth that Mallusk is only about lorries, an MOT centre and Sandyknowes roundabout, the surrounding countryside is beautiful!” It’s also hilly as the runners quickly found out!
Jason McMinn was first of the NDAC runners to finish in 32:21, narrowly ahead of David Massey 32:24. Sarah Gibson was 6th female and 1st F55 in 35:55 and Sarah Wilson was 2nd F45 in 38:38. Beth Mulree 44:23 and Ian McCreary 53:43 rounded off the NDAC results.
Sarah Gibson pc Tomy Dalton photography
Sarah Wilson
Lurig Run, 09/08/25
The Lurig Run is one of the shortest yet toughest races in the calendar, yet entries sell out every year in less than an hour! Starting from the centre of Cushendall runners run up Lurig and return, usually sliding back down the hill on their backsides to the picturesque coastal town. The downhill section is often referred to as to as the “Spanish thank you,” as moist runners end up with a grassy ass!
Clair Quigley and Claire Scott tackled the 4 mile course with over 1100 feet of vertical ascent on Saturday – Clair was 3rd F45 in 44:16 and Claire landed back in Cushendall in 55:15. 
Clair Quigley
Claire Scott
Runners on the ascent!
Seven Sevens, 10/08/25
The annual Seven Sevens race in the Mournes sees runners tackle the 7 highest peaks in the Mournes. Beginning at Greenhill YMCA close to Donard Park the 19 mile course with more than 8700 feet of climbing took runners first to Slieve Donard before summiting Commedagh, Lamagan and Binnian before crossing the Ben Crom Dam and climbing Meelbeg, Meelmore and Bearnagh from where they followed the Brandy Pad to the saddle between Commedagh and Donard and back down the path to the YMCA centre.
Early morning rain and mist added to the challenges faced by the athletes. Jonathan Gibson was the first of the club’s finishers in 5:38:52 and Justin Black completed the course in 6:35:42. Gareth Hardy and Mark Weir endured a tough day in the mountains and made the wise decision to retire.
June McMinn and Kim McCourt opted for the marginally less challenging option of walking the Sevens route!
June McMinn & Kim McCourt on Slieve Bearnagh
Dambusters 5k, 10k and 10 Mile Races, 09/08/25
While some of North Down AC’s mountain runners were high above them, some more NDAC runners were in the Silent Valley and on the road to the turning circle at the Ben Crom Dam in Born 2 Run’s latest races – the Dambusters. With 5k, 10k and 10 Mile options athletes were well catered for in their choice of distance.
Caitlyn Dickenson raced the 5k finishing 3rd female and 12th overall in 23:51.
Chris Connolly 53:48 and Pat O’Driscoll 1:13:59 ran in the 10k while Ben O’Driscoll 1:22;09, Glynis Boyle 1:25:02 and Selina Patchett 1:50:56 opted for the 10 miler.
https://www.born2runevents.com/dambusters-results/
Caitlyn Dickenson
NI & Ulster Senior Championships, MPT, 09/08/25
In Saturday’s NI & Ulster Senior championships, Craig McMeechan ran at the front from gun to tape in the men’s 5000m to win in 14:57.72 in windy conditions with Mark Carberry returning to racing after a 7 month break to take 5th in 15:50.82. In the 800m heats, Luke McDowell narrowly missed out qualifying for the final, placing 3rd. In the men’s 1500m, Daniel Dines kept in the hunt for medals as the pace quickened over the last 400m, narrowly missing out for bronze, but none the less producing a fine performance for 4th in 4:00.35.
Craig McMeechan
Jamie Moffatt was 3rd in the 100m final in a season’s best time of 10.79.
Rachel McCann also took bronze in the 200m in 23.94.
Conor Adair was 4th in the 200m in 22.26 having won his heat in 22.56.
Izzy Cousley was 7th in the Triple Jump with a best distance of 9.62m.
Karl Martin set a season’s best Triple Jump of 12.78m to win the silver medal.
Charlie Lawden was another gold medallist winning the javelin with a best throw of 53.52m.
Multi-discipline athlete, Anna Moran was 4th in the javelin throwing 29.51 and she won gold in the 100m hurdles in 18.61.
Eve Walsh-Dann’s 3.38m long jump earned her the silver medal.
In the 400m hurdles, Matthew Knight continued his impressive season winning gold in 57.68.
https://ani.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/ni-ulster-senior-track-field-championships25/event/
In the Flahavans 1k race preceding the senior races Robin Anderson was 4th and Daly Seaton was 5th, both recording the same time – 3:22.30
Caernarfon 10k, 10/08/25
Although there were plenty of hilly options available in Northern Ireland this week, Matt Ormesher headed across the Irish Sea and the Menai Strait to tackle a few more Welsh hills at the Caernarfon 10k in Sunday. Matt finished 76th and 7th F50 in 44:48.
Matt Ormesher