Run in the Dark, Stormont 13/11/24
Thousands of people take part in the annual Run in the Dark 5k and 10k races which are held in Belfast, Dublin, London and more than 50 cities worldwide raising funds for the Mark Pollock Trust as they seek to bring research scientists and technologists together to find a cure for paralysis.
North Down AC were well represented among almost 3000 runners at the Stormont event on a cold Wednesday evening with club members racing over 5k and 10k, as well as a superb turnout of marshals around the course and coordinating the start/finish areas.
Jodi Smith was 1st female and 5th overall in the 5k race in 19:42 with Stephanie Graham finishing 19th in 21:53. Michael Stevenson 26:22, Klara Anderson 31:31 Jill Eager 31:35, George Emerson 33:50 and Pat O’Driscoll 38:33 all completed the one lap course around the Stormont Estate.
Beth Mulree 54:10 and Emma Hegarty 55:44 tackled the main hill up to Parliament Buildings twice as they ran the 10k.
https://www.sportsplits.com/races/rtd-belfast-2024-2024
British & Irish Masters XCChampionships, Billy Neill Playing Fields 16/11/24
Northern Ireland hosted the 35th annual British & Irish Masters international Cross Country Championships at the Billy Neill Playing Fields. Athletes qualified to represent their countries through a series of trial races and 8 North Down athletes earned their NI international vests. Women and M65+ raced over 6k while the senior men raced an 8k course. The first 3 finishers from each of the 5 countries contributed to the team points for the overall prize.
In the W35 race Sarah Grant finished outside the top 3 NI runners but ran a superb 24:20 to finish 49th overall. Sarah Gibson was also outside the top 3 NI finishers in another highly competitive W50 field finishing in 27:22.
June McMinn was 3rd NI and 14th W65 in 30:25.
In the W60 race Glynis Boyle took 2nd NI place and was the 16th finisher in 28:38.
Philip Mulligan’s supporters packed out the spectators’ area cheering him on to finish 3rd NI M60 and 16th place in 33:18.
At M75 Terry Eakin was 1st NI man and 2nd overall in 27:09 while John Adgey was the 2nd NI and 14th overall in 35:40. Pat O’Driscoll finished outside the scoring trio in 42:23.
Roberta Dornan ran for NDAC in the 6k open race finishing in 27:48.
https://www.myrunresults.com/events/british__irish_masters_xc_2024/5484/results
Belfast Festive 5k, 17/11/24
2 North Down AC runners took on the new Belfast Festive 5k race around city hall and through the Cathedral Quarter on Sunday 17th November. The Christmas spirit was well evident as many runners opted for a Christmas theme to their running gear while panto legend, May McFettridge was the official starter! Michael Hennessy was the first of the club’s finishers in 17th place overall in 19:50 with Beth Mulree completing her second race of the week in 29:54.
https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/belfast-festive-5k-results-live-30364094
National Senior & U20 Cross Country, Irvinestown, 17/11/24
The all Ireland national senior and U20 cross country Raes were held in the beautiful grounds of the Castle Irvine Estate in Irvinestown on Sunday 17th November. North Down AC fielded 2 strong mens’ teams over the 7500m course. The scoring members of the club’s A team were Craig McMeechan 25:37, Finn Johnson 27:41, Thomas Patterson 28:09 and Jamie McMeechan 28:34 and they finished 15th with the B team’s scoring members of Josh McDowell 29:35, Steven Donegan 29:49, Dennis Scott 30:03 and Francis Marsh 30:20 taking 24th place. Andy Lowry 30:45 ad Dean Varley 31:42 both put in quick performances.
In the women’s race Katie Moore 30:48 and Rachel Gibson 34:44 both had excellent 7500m runs.
https://www.myrunresults.com/events/123ie_national_senior__u23_xc_2024/5533/details