Dougie Gordon – Quadrathon, Donegal 14-17/08/25
For most runners a marathon is a massive achievement, and the months of dedicated training leading to race day are followed by gentle training or complete rest. Not so for NDAC’s Douglas Gordon who took on this year’s Quadrathon – a marathon each day from Thursday to Sunday around the Inishowen peninsula, taking in some of the most breathtaking scenery and certainly some of the most breathtaking hills in Donegal! From Day 1 starting in Kinnego through day 2 at Malin Head, and day 3 at Mamore, Dougie’s marathon times dropped from 4:14 by a minute per marathon to 4:12, before finishing the Quadrathon with the Muff Marathon in 3:53 for an overall time of 16:34:21, 16th overall and 8th M40.
https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/ExtremeNorth/2025/Quadrathon/index_combined.html
Douglas Gordon
The 4 marathon medals combine to make 1 massive medal reflecting the massive achievement!
Berlin Wall 100 Mile ultramarathon, 16/08/25
Seán Nickell and Donald Smith returned to Berlin for the Berliner Mauerwglauf – the Berlin Wall Way Run. The 101 mile race route traces the route of the Berlin Wall which surrounded West Berlin between 1961 – 1989. Starting in a sports stadium close to Berlin city centre runners soon reached extant sections of the Berlin Wall at the memorial garden to victims of the wall and followed the route through Berlin past the Reichstag, the Brandenberg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and another long section of wall at the East Side Gallery before heading out into the countryside through forests and past lakes as they flowed the route, largely along service roads the “death strip” used by East German border guards behind the wall.
In addition to 580 ultra runners, more than 1000 relay runners in teams of 2, 4 or 10 took part in the race with athletes form 43 countries represented. As well as the challenge of racing, the event also serves as a memorial to all those killed trying to cross the border fortifications while the wall divided Germany. During the International Friendship run on Friday runners were reminded that even if they were racing for a win or a PB they should take a little time to pause at some of the memorials and read the victims’ stories. This year’s race bib and finishers’ medal commemorated one of these victims, Günter Wiedenhöft who was shot at and drowned in Griebnitz Lake in 1962. He was only 20. Many runners took a couple of minutes out of their race at the memorial at the point where Günter breached the fortifications and entered the water, and some were privileged to meet with members of his family during and after the race.
Despite both North Down men suffering in the heat which accounted for a higher than usual rate of DNFs this year, and enduring some stomach issues which played havoc with their nutrition strategies, Seàn Nickel took 52 minutes off last year’s time to finish 72nd in the individual race and 5th M55, as well as first Irish runner, in 20:52:26. Donald Smith took 55 minutes off his 2024 time finishing in 23:03:24. Both received sub-24 hour belt buckles and back to back medals for completing the 2024 and 2025 races.
Seán Nickell and Donald Smith
Storming the Castle, 17/08/25
It was another scorcher on Sunday for the North Down AC runners who headed across Belfast Lough to Storm the Castle at Carrickfergus. The route around the town and on the Marine Highway offered little shade to the 10k runners before they reached Carrickfergus Castle. Oliver Playfair was the first of the club’s runners back to the castle in 4th place in 33:53. Aaron Beggs (11th) set a new PB of 36:06. Alasdair Mair stormed back in 37:41 followed by David Massey 38:46, Fiona McQuillan 42:24, Les Wilkinson 45:02, Nigel Playfair 45:44 and Sarah Wilson 46:47. PBs followed for Heather Beattie 46:54 and Claire Scott 51:16 with Wendy Neely 51:43, Cliff McCausland 55:44, Helen Beattie 1:05:38, Noreen McCausland 1:07:56 and Pat O’Driscoll 1:08:55 rounding off the 10k winners.
Fiona, Sarah and Heather ensured that the North Down ladies won the team prize.
In the 2k race preceding the 10k, Citlyn Dickenson was 3rd overall and 1st female.
https://www.championchipireland.com/index.html#results
Cliff & Noreen McCausland
Sarah Wilson
Scottish 10k, Musselburgh, 17/08/25
Anna Carberry set a new 10k PB of 44:37 at the Scottish 10k in a warm Musselburgh outside Edinburgh on Sunday. The flat and fast course started and finished at Musselburgh Racecourse, with Anna joining other runners on Scotland’s oldest racecourse for the for the final furlong to the finish line!
https://www.scottish10k.com/results?event=1074
Anna Carberry
Broughshane 5 mile road race, 18/08/25
Helen Byers and Holly Blease ran the Broughshane 5 mile road race on Monday evening. The route around the town even managed to provide a variety of surfaces for the runners including road, trail, grass and even AstroTurf, making race shoe choice tricky! Both clearly chose their shoes wisely as Holly finished in 35:44 with her mum crossing the line in 36:42.
Holly and Helen
Eltham Open Track Meet, 13/08/25
Thomas Patterson broke 4mins for the first time over 1500m at the Eltham open meeting on Wednesday clocking 3:58.32 to go 2nd fastest in the club this year. Thomas races over 1500m at the Tooting BMC next Wednesday before jetting home for the road relays on Saturday.