It’s been another action packed week of North Down AC activity; track and field action at the Ulster Schools, mountain races and road runs on both sides of the border, and even crossing the border mid-race!
First up were the club’s mountain runners; 15 NDAC athletes took to the Mournes for the 4th event in this year’s Hill & Dale race series. Although a relatively short race at a little over 5k, the ascent of almost 500m as runners climbed Spellack en route to the summit of Meelmore before descending to Happy Valley and following the Ulster Way to Meelmore Lodge, ensured that finish times reflected the tough climbs. Abby Andrews retained her regular 1st club finisher role, collecting 1st F55 honours as she completed the course in 46:09. Eibhlin Largey 50:49 and Luke Hamilton 50:52 had a close fought race ahead of Philip McDonough 51:49, Claire Scott 53:33 and Lisa Tomalin 53:49. Donald Smith 55:29 was followed by June McMinn 58:01 and 1st M80, John Adgey 59:39. Cara Jeffrey was 2 seconds over the hour closely followed by Clare Quigley 1:01:10 and Fiona McQuillan 1:01;14 with Trevor Patterson 1:03:37, Sophie Hamilton 1:10:28 and John McGarvey 1:11:21 rounding off the NDAC finishers.
https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=431901
Born 2 Run’s races always include some spectacular locations and their latest events on Saturday – The Coast 10k and Half Marathon started and finished in Killough passing Tyrella Beach and St John’s Point Lighthouse, the tallest onshore lighthouse in Ireland with its distinctive black and yellow painted stripes. Sarah Wilson took on the half marathon running a 4 minute course PB in 1:42:32 and Selina Patchett raced the 10k in 59:13.
https://www.born2runevents.com/results-the-coast-half-marathon-10k/
The Irish Runner Race Series 5k, 5 mile and 10 mile races in Phoenix Park always attract the fastest athletes from across the island, and further afield, as they challenge themselves against their peers in these fast and competitive races. The first race of the series, the Irish National Championship 5k was held on Saturday and North Down AC’s Simon Boyle completed the race in 18:36 to claim the bronze medal in the M60 category.
https://myrunresults.com/events/irish_runner_5k_challenge_2026/6110/results
Emma Hegarty ran the Strabane Lifford Half Marathon on Sunday. The cross border race starts and finishes in Strabane and follows both sides of the River Foyle as runners return through Lifford. Emma completed the half marathon in 1:58:27.
https://myrunresults.com/events/strabane_lifford_half_marathon_2026_/6025/results
The Smith Shield is one of North Down AC’s handicap 5k races. Like the Hawtin Shield traditionally held in Crawfordsburn around New Year, the Smith Shield sees runners take on a 3 lap course of Castle Park in May. Time handicaps are worked out on the basis of recent 5k times with the slowest athletes setting off first, ensuring a close finish as progressively faster runners chase them down.
The 26th annual Smith Shield race was held in cool conditions in Castle Park on Monday evening and as ever it was a close fought race as the runners who started first sought to maintain their leads knowing that the runners behind them were working just as hard to hunt them down! The time handicaps gave a 12 1/2 minute spread in start times and less than 3 minutes in finish times and ensured friendly competition amongst the 53 athletes and excellent support from almost as many marshals and finish line officials from the club, ably led by race director Helen Byers.
The first runner across the line was Daly Seaton in a gross time of 27:46. 4 seconds separated the first 3 finishers as Kevin Harkin 27:48 and Sebastian Mair 27:50 joined in the sprint for the line.
The fastest net times of the evening were recorded by Craig McMeechan 116:03, Jamie Coulter-Smyth 16:45 and Sebastian Mair 17:20 and the fastest 3 girls were Sophie Rankin 19:16, Sarah Connolly 21:19 and Caitlyn Dickenson 22:08.
Brian Smith presented the Smith Shield to the 2026 winner, Daly Seaton and observed that this was not the first time that the name of D Seaton was engraved on the shield; Daly’s grandfather, David Seaton won the 2002 version of the race!
Here are a few photos from the event – please see the galleries on the NDAC Members FB page for further photos from Roy Kerr, David McMeechan and Claire Scott.
