British & Irish Masters XC, Leeds, 12/11/25
The 36th edition of the British and Irish Masters Home Countries International Cross Country was held at Roundhay Park, Leeds on Saturday 15th November. Teams representing each of the 4 home nations and Ireland raced over 6k and 8k courses in the park which was hosting the International XC for the first time but is a regular venue for the English Championships.
Several North Down AC runners qualified for the Northern Ireland Masters team at the trials, however Friday’s storm conditions grounded flights and Sarah Grant and Clair Quigley were unable to travel while Lisa Tomalin endured an epic diversion to arrive in Leeds in the early hours of Saturday morning. Pat O’Driscoll was unable to compete through illness.
All the North Down runners who made it over to join the Northern Ireland team scored points in their respective races with Lisa 4th NI finisher in the W35 race. Sarah Gibson was 2nd NI runner at W50and Glynis Boyle went 1 better to finish first Northern Ireland runner at W60. Simon Boyle was second NI finisher in the M60 race while Terry Eakin enjoyed the best team result of the day, finishing 3rd in the winning NI squad who took the M70 title.
England won the event overall with Ireland as runners up and Scotland were 3rd. Ireland will host next year’s British and Irish Masters XC in Dublin.
https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/bimcci/scores/awards/
Belfast 5k, 16/11/25
The Belfast City Marathon organiser’s festive offering was a 5k race in the city centre, with many participants choosing to run in fancy dress. Starting at City Hall and taking in the city centre and Cathedral Quarter, more than 1500 runners followed the course back to the finish line in Donegal Place.
Dean Willis was the first North Down AC finisher in 26th place overall in 19:11. Sarah Connolly was the club’s fastest woman, crossing the line as 9th female in 20:39. Santa’s Elfs, Sophie Hamilton 26:43 and Paula Simpson 27:50 were joined by Cara Jeffrey 27:50 and Sharon Cunning 36:34.
In other notable results for North Down athletes, Tara McDonough was UCD’s 2nd fastest runner over a 2 mile leg as she clocked 11:43 to help UCD women’s B team finish 6th in the Irish Universities Road Relay championships at Maynooth University on Saturday. Staying with Uni championships, Ollie Playfair, representing Stirling Uni, finished a very creditable 37th over an 8k course in the Scottish Uni XC champs at St Andrews (being the 4th athlete home still aged 18).
The Ulster Athletic Council Star awards were held in the Villa Rose Hotel in Ballybofey on Saturday evening where Athletics Ireland rewarded talented young athletes from across the island. Congratulations to North Down AC’s Sophie Rankin who won the 12-14 Co Down award and Cameron McCracken who won the 16-19 Co Down award.
