Run Forest Run, Antrim 08/02/25
6 North Down AC runners raced in last weekend’s Born 2 Run, Run Forest Run 10k race in the beautiful grounds of Antrim Castle Gardens, giving participants views of the ruins of Shanes Castle and Lough Neagh. The NDAC runners didn’t hang around to admire the scenery; Brian Geddis was first of the club’s finishers, winning the M65 category in 43:29, closely followed by Ben O’Driscoll 45:57, Christopher Ballentine 46:30 and Sarah Connolly 47:40 with Joanne Cummings finishing in 51:09 and Pat O’Driscoll completing the line up in 1:10:12.
https://www.born2runevents.com/run-forest-run-antrim-results/
Armagh International Road Races, 13/02/25
Billed as the fastest 5k road race in the world, this year’s Armagh International Road Race certainly lived up to its reputation. A top quality field of athletes travelled to Armagh from all over the world to take their place on the start line of one of the most prestigious races anywhere in the UK or Ireland. Despite the cold conditions, 154 men in the elite race ran a sub-15 minute 5k. led by Andrew Colley of the USA who won in 13:33, with the first 3 men breaking the previous course record. North Down AC’s sole representative in this race, Craig McMeechan ran a superb 14:39, finishing in 98th place.
In the women’s 3k race Holly Blease finished in 11:09 and Sarah Gibson ran 12:37.
8 club members ran in the men’s 3k race. Daniel Dines was the first NDAC finisher in 8:53, a 20 second PB. Alex Downey was 1st junior in a PB of 9:13. Nick Irvine ran 9:43 and Josh McDowell’s 9:49 saw these 4 scoring points to secure 5th place for the NDAC men. Dean Varley was the next of the clubs finishers in 10:00, 6 seconds ahead of Francis Marsh with Alan McConnell setting a new PB of 10:09 while James Blease ran his debut over the distance in a speedy 11:00.
Carter Rolston took a silver in the junior races with Caitlyn Dickenson 8th and Adam Downey 58th in their respective age group races.
This was Alex Downey’s final race in NDAC colours as he is transferring to Lagan Valley AC. North Down AC members wish Alex continued success in his athletics journey.
https://myrunresults.com/events/armagh_international_road_race_5k_2025/5617/results
Caitlyn Dickenson
Ballygalget 5k & 10k, 15/02/25
Several North Down AC runners headed down the peninsula to the Ballygalget GAA grounds in Portaferry for the 5k and 10k Valentines Races hosted by Ballygalget AC on the undulating country roads around the town. The first NDAC runner back in the 5k was Gerard Adair in 2nd place with Paula Simpson in 8th and 2nd lady in 25:42. Lynne Kerr continued her comeback in 28:00. Although he entered the 5k, Carter Rolston ended up on the 10k route finishing in 39:17 and demonstrating that he’ll be a force to be reckoned with when he officially steps up to the longer distance.
Coin Walker 38:39 was 5th in the 10k while Sarah Gibson was 2nd female and 7th overall in 42:46 and Pat O’Driscoll finished in 1:13:20.
Irwin Spiers Memorial XC, Cookstown, 15/02/25
After a couple of weather enforced postponements, the Irwin Spiers Memorial XC was finally held in the grounds of the Mid Ulster Sports Arena near Cookstown on Saturday 15th February. 3 North Down AC members made their way to MUSA with Caitlyn Dickenso once again taking top step of the podium in the U14 girls race in 6:27. Eve Sloan finished in 7:22. Terry Eakin was 1st M75 in 22:29.
https://www.championchipireland.com/index.html#results
Kim McCourt, Last One Standing, Florence Court 15/02/25
The concept of the Last One Standing races is simple; the race starts at 12 noon on Saturday and runners complete a 4.2 mile trail route before the race restarts at 1pm, 2pm and so on. Runners have one hour to complete the lap, eat and drink, use the toilet facilities, sort out kit and any personal care, but they must be on the start line again on the hour. Any runner who fails to complete the lap within an hour is out. They can’t run on when they’ve got fresh legs in the first few hours of the event or take longer breaks when they tire later in the race. There’s no set distance or time; the race continues until only one runner is left and they must complete a solo lap in under an hour to be declared Last One Standing. During the race through the grounds of the Florence Court Estate the number of runners starting each lap dwindled until only 2 were left. Darren Crilly called it a day after 36 hours while Patrick Gallagher completed a solo 37th lap and won the event after running for 37 hours covering more than 154 miles.
NDAC trail runner Kim McCourt went into the challenge with the goal of completing 15 laps or 100k. She smashed her goal running more than 60 miles – 20 miles further than her previous longest run! North Down clubmates Claire Scott and Jennifer Johnston as well as 3 other triathlete friends crewed and supported Kim throughout the 15 hours of her challenge. In addition to surpassing her distance goal Kim almost doubled her fundraising target of £750 for Dementia UK.
UUJ Sprints & Hurdles, 15/02/25
On Saturday the storm postponed Sprints and Hurdles meet finally took place at the University of Ulster’s Jordanstown campus. The highlight of the meeting was North Down AC’s Cameron McCracken equalling the NI & Irish U18 60m Hurdles record set by Garbhan McKenna in 2013. Cameron not only matched the record of 8.02 but went on to set a new 60m PB of 7.05, recording the fastest time of the day.
In addition, Cameron has also been nominated for the U18 sportsperson of the year, as well as being one of the nominees in the junior sprint relay team, at the 2025 Ards & North Down Borough Council Sports Awards.