North Down AC athletes were busy burning off the excess Christmas calories and rounding off 2025 with the final races on the local calendar before getting 2026 off to a chilly, hilly start.
EAMS back 2 back races, Carrickfergus 30&31/12/25
The East Antrim Marathon Series concluded their year of races with the options of a marathon, half marathon and 10k on both the 30th and 31st December. Athletes lined up at Carrickfergus castle and followed an out and back route along the loughshore to Gideon’s Green with an earlier turnaround point for 10k runners.
Pat O’Driscoll who rarely misses a 10k race, tackled the first day of racing finishing 10th in 1:15:06.
Mark Walker, no stranger to long distance running challenges, opted for back to back marathons on consecutive days, completing Tuesday’s marathon in 3:06:36 and running even faster on Wednesday to complete the marathon in 3:04:24, finishing 2nd on both days.
https://www.championchipireland.com/index.html#results
Lough 5, Loughmacrory 31/12/25
The Lough 5 Mile road race in Loughmacrory, Co Tyrone is another event traditionally held on New Year’s Eve. In cold, challenging conditions Andrew Muir completed the race in 37:10.
Race Over the Glens, Glenariff, 01/01/26
The first race of the year is always one of the toughest trail races on the local calendar. Race Over the Glens, now in its 30th year, sees runners head up and down the stunning trails on both sides of Glenariff. The sound of bagpipes and the torrents of waterfalls accompany runners on the steep climbs and fast descents through the forest park. A sharp rain shower just before the start chilled more than 700 athletes and a heavy hailstorm cooled down the runners and spectators towards the end, however the North Down AC runners on the course just about stayed warm by powering up the hills, including the final uphill surge to the finish line after a little over 10k and almost 400m of climbing.
Seán Nickell was the first of the club’s finishers in 55:15. Luke Hamilton 56:30 was narrowly in front of the first U18 female, Holly Blease 56:39.
Donald Smith 57:04 was followed by Helen Byers 1:02:37. Clair Quigley 1:12:29, Claire Scott and Kim McCourt both 1:12:32 ran together and Sophie Hamilton 1:17:35 and Cara Jeffrey 1:17:45 completed the NDAC line up.
https://www.ballymenarunners.org/news-complete/2026/1/1/j0a9aybw0gfxbivqiak9dktgnf428x
