Once again NDAC athletes have been competing on trails, mountains, road and track and producing fantastic results in the process as the long winter training miles convert into excellent springtime performances.
There was a record number of North Down trail runners among the record turnout of 458 athletes for the first race of Newcastle AC’s Hill & Dale Series at Castlewellan on Thursday evening. The 4.8 mile course took runners along the trails by the lake and behind the castle before a climb to the top of Slieve Na Slat and a fast descent back to the finish line in front of the castle.
John Ewing was the first NDAC finisher in 17th place in 33:30. Dean Willis 36:46 was the next club finisher and David Massey 37:52, was followed by 2nd F45 Jodi Smith 38:29 and 1st M60 Simon Boyle 38:47. Luke Hamilton 40:39, Fiona McQuillan 41:01, Clair Quigley 41:03, Deirdre Johnston 41:36 and Sarah Wilson 41:53 were ahead of 1st F55 Abby Andrews 42:08, Lisa Tomalin 42:40, Seán Nickell 42:57, Donald Smith 43:40 and Kevin Mulligan 44:30. Claire Scott 44:43, Heather Beattie 45:15, Eibhlin Largey 45:29 crosse the line ahead of 1st F65 June McMinn 47:15, Joanne Cummings 47:42, Kim McCourt 47:57, Cara Jeffrey 54:46 and John McGarvey 54:48 completed the NDAC line up.
Following the cool down many runners made their way to Maginn’s Bar for the post-race debrief and prize giving, including the presentation of much coveted 2026 Hill & Dale mugs to Hill & Dale virgins!
race photos – pc Richard Cowan
In perfect running conditions on Saturday many North Down AC members were among the 149 runners and walkers Crawfordsburn Country parkrun, and club members also filled most of the volunteer spots on the roster, ahead of the club’s annual Cross Country awards marking a superb season where the women’s team finished 3rd and the men’s team finished 4th against strong competition over the cold, wet winter. In addition to recognition of fine individual performances throughout the XC season presentations were also made to club captains Claire Scott and Alan Massey in recognition of their commitment to fielding competitive teams across all the races.
The latest NI Mountain Running Association race was held on Saturday. The NIMRA Binevenagh race took runners on a 10k course with an ascent of over 350m. June McMinn showed no fatigue from her Hill & Dale race on Thursday to once again take 1stF65 honours finishing in 1:33:12, narrowly ahead of club mate Trevor Patterson.
At the Irish Universities Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Cork on Saturday Tara McDonough won bronze in the 3000m in a PB of 9:49. In the men’s 1500m Josh McDowell, represented UU to place 13th in the heats.
At Saturday’s Flat N Fast 5k event at Linlithgow, West Lothian, Luke McDowell took his 5k road PB down to 15:49, while Ollie Playfair made steady progress back toward full fitness clocking 16:31 in the same race. At Saturday mornings’ inter-school match Caitlyn Dickenson ran 5:24 over 1500m, while Eve Sloan ran 2:34 over 800
With spring marathon season gathering momentum, 2 of North Down AC’s fastest runners swapped their club vests for Northern Ireland vests at the Manchester Marathon racing in the Masters 35 category. Despite warm conditions Matty McParland was 46th overall and 5th M35 in 2:32:25 and Dale Murray finished 65th and 8th M35 in 2:35:21.
Dougie Gordon took a couple of minutes off his time at the Paris Marathon last week to finish in 3:13:37. Simon Boyle completed the marathon in 3:28:39 narrowly ahead of club mate Matt Best 3:29:58.
https://www.manchestermarathon.co.uk/event-info/results/
Perhaps the most iconic marathon of all, and a bucket list goal for marathon runners, the 130th Boston Marathon was held on Monday. 2 North Down AC runners were among more than 30,000 athletes, most of whom had reached the start line by achieving a Boston Qualifying time in another marathon. Runners followed the route from Hopkinton up Heartbreak Hill to the 2 most famous turns in marathon running, right on Hereford, left on Boylston to the finish line in Boston.
Aaron Beggs was the club’s first finisher in 2:44:36, narrowly missing a PB as he stopped to assist an exhausted runner over the line. In a clip that has gone viral on social media platforms, attracting hundreds of thousands of views, shares and positive comments and reactions, the modest North Down AC man added a few extra seconds to his race through his selfless assistance to a fellow runner in the final 200m of the course.
Sarah Gibson was 13th F55 in 3:15:50, a 10 minute course PB.
Aaron Beggs
https://boston.r.mikatiming.com/2026/?pid=tracking&pidp=tracking