Well done to all 30 athletes from North Down who ran in the 6th event of Pure Runnings’ Half Marathon series at Ards on Friday night. A great turnout in a field of over 500 and on a course that was difficult to run a PB on. Nevertheless a few of the ND runners did accomplish just that, and others ran times close to their best which will hopefully relate to a faster time on a flatter course.
Francis Marsh was first man in with 7th place overall and an assured 1st O50 completing the course in 1:06:03. Ben Caughers was next in with an excellent pb time of 1:18:36 and then Gareth Watton arrived home in 1:25:49, followed a short time later by Eammon O’Reilly in 1:28:03. This completed a third place finish for the team event and all 4 athletes finishing within the top 50.
Colin Walker was frustrated with his time, given it was 4 seconds over the 1:30 mark, but still a commendable return as was the improving Alan Massey who finished in 1:31:28.
Catherine Roberts led the ladies home with 81st position overall and 1:33:05 which was the catalyst for the ladies taking first place in the team result. Valerie McDonough was next in with 1:34:46, managing a top 100 finish in the process, followed by Fiona McQuillan in 1:36:38 and Sarah Benton in 1:40:34. Well done ladies.
David McMeechan 1:32:14 Helen Byers 1:42:58
Keith Gilmore 1:34:00 Jill Aicken 1:43:32
Andrew Muir 1:34:36 Joanne Moran 1:48:08
David Massey 1:35:09 Claire Garrad 1:49:46
Philip Mulligan 1:37:20 Elaine McDonnell 1:58:03
Simon Robinson 1:38:17 Clare Russell 1:59:32
Mitchell Brown 1:38:55 Paula Simpson 2:04:13
Frankie Rea 1:39:26
John Ferguson 1:42:22
Scott Nelson 1:44:09
David McClements 1:50:45
James Barr 1:52:22
Gavin McDonnell 2:06:54