Ulster Schools Championships
Thanks to Roger Sexton for this comprehensive update and additional photos.
For the first time in living memory, the Ulster Schools Championships took place at
the Mary Peters track, due to the ongoing refurbishment of Antrim Forum, with many
of our juniors representing their respective schools. The event was split over two
days, with the Minors (Y9) & Juniors (Y10) on Wednesday 15th May and the Minis
(Y8), Inters (Y11 & 12) & Seniors (Y13 & 14) on Saturday 18th May.
Minis (Y8)
Nyla Hughes (Sullivan) was rewarded for the additional training sessions with her
dad with a gold medal and a PB in the Mini Girls long jump with a best effort of
4.38m, while Carter Rolston (BGS) was rewarded with a silver medal and PB in the
Mini Boys 800m with a time of 2:25.31.
Minors (Y9)
Emma Reid (Glenlola) earned a well deserved silver medal in the Minor Girls shot
with a fantastic new lifetime best of 9.18m and followed this by competing up a year
in the Junior Girls discus where she threw a superb 22.63m for 5th place.
Juniors (Y10)
Alex Downey (BGS) ran a tactically faultless and perfectly judged race in the Junior
Boys 1500m keeping himself in contention with the leading bunch for the first three
laps before making a decisive break on the final lap that saw him take gold and slash
his personal best with a time of 4:27.99. The Junior Girls high jump was a very tight
affair with only 3cm separating 2nd from 5th. Grace Gibson (Regent) & Paige Shaw
(Glastry College) both cleared 1.49m, but it was Grace who took home the silver
medal on countback while Paige set a PB but had to settle for bronze. Maisie Rainer
(Strathearn) was also in good form as she set new PBs in the Junior Girls triple jump
& long jump with leaps 10.02m for silver & 4.75m for bronze, respectively.
Inters (Y11 & 12)
Ben Kirk won bronze and also set a PB in the Inter Boys 200m with a time of 23.34s.
Curtis Hughes (Sullivan) is still a relative novice at 400m, having only recently moved
up from 100m/200m, but is coping well with the transition and was rewarded with a
new PB of 52.57s and a bronze medal. Cameron McCracken (RBAI) narrowly won
the gruelling 400mH in a time of 59.05s but was a class apart in the Inter Boys
100mH as he took gold in a new PB of 13.59s and narrowly missed the
long-standing record set in 1973 while Joshua Liggett (Campbell) took the bronze
medal in a time of 15.29s. Anna Moran (Sullivan) has recently been concentrating on
multi-event training but still managed to win bronze and set a new PB in the Inter
Girls long jump with 4.95m being the best effort in a very consistent series of jumps.
Hollie Stitt (Strathearn) also won bronze and set a PB in the Inter Girls hammer with
32.02m
Seniors (Y13 & 14)
Jamie Moffat (BGS) was a comfortable winner in the Senior Boys 100m, retaining his
title with a time of 10.94s. Conor Adair (Our Lady & St. Pat’s) had a tough draw in
Senior Boys 400m but did well to run just outside his PB in lane 8 and take the silver
medal in a time 51.44s. Later in the afternoon, despite competing in his third race of
the day, he remarkably set a PB to take bronze in the 200m in a time of 23.25s.
Despite still recovering from long term illness, Daniel Constable (BGS) managed to
defy the odds by earning an unlikely, but thoroughly deserved, silver medal in a
keenly contested Senior Boys long jump with a best effort of 5.95m.
Charlie Lawden (Sullivan) was struggling with an injury so was well below his best
and could only register one throw of 49.34m but it was still good enough to take the
silver medal in the Senior Boys javelin and qualify for Irish Schools.
Andrew Brown (BGS) may have been the only competitor in the Senior Boys pole
vault but he did manage to equal his PB with a clearance of 2.20m despite suffering
from a hamstring strain. Morgan Wilson improved her PB yet again to take gold in
the Senior Girls pole vault with a clearance of 2.60m and followed this with bronze in
the javelin with a throw of 28.98m
Other results:
Juniors
Maisie Christie (Glenlola) finished 5th in the 100m in a time of 13.54s (-1.6w) & 10th
in the triple jump with 9.07m
Caoimh Fenlon (Sullivan) finished 5th in the 75mH in a time of 12.88s & 9th in the
shot with a throw of 7.92m
Anna Gowdy (Glenlola) finished 8th in the long jump with 4.57m
Abbie Irwin (Sullivan) was 5th in the discus with a throw of 23.47m
Inters
Ruby Sterret (Glenlola) finished 8th in the 100m in a time of 13.98s (13.49s heat PB)
Becka Laffin (Glenlola) finished 7th in the 800m in a time of 2:21.53 (new PB)
Anna Moran (Sullivan) finished 6th in the 300mH in a time of 51.75s (50.69s heat)
Victoria Ifonlaja (Sullivan) was 9th in the shot with a throw of 7.51m
Seniors
Daniel Constable (BGS) finished 6th in the 400m in a time of 54.40s
Ethan Isles (Our Lady & St. Pat’s) finished 7th in the 800m in a time of 2:01.22 and
just over an hour later finished 6th in the 1500m in a time of 4:11.50
Ollie Playfair (Sullivan) had a brave run after a fall early in the race to finish 4th in
2000m s/chase in a time of 7:05.80
Tabitha Moran (Sullivan) was 4th in the discus with throw of 25.59m & 4th in 4x300m
relay
Hannah Lawden (Sullivan) was 5th in the javelin with a throw of 24.52m
Andrew Brown (BGS) was 5th in the javelin with a throw of 6.62m
Primary School Meeting 2, 22/05/24
The second of North Down AC’s mini meetings took place on Wednesday evening at
the Bangor Sportsplex. On a cold evening around 180 young athletes from local
schools and beyond took part in a range of events with some great performances
from North Down athletes.
In the P5 events, Aria Wright (Model) was the club’s sole female representative. Aria
was 3rd in her heat of the 60 metres (10.6), 10th in the 600m (2.58.57) and 4th in the
long jump (1.91m). There were a good number of male P5 athletes, with Daly Seaton
(Glencraig) getting on the podium having finished 2nd in the 600m (2.03.01). Also
taking part in the 600m were Harrison Mair (St Comgalls) – 2.14.1, Woodie Cram
(Ballyholme) – 2.19.5, Rory McCullough (Ballyholme) – 2.21.9 and Finn McCullough
(Ballyholme) – 2.25.8. In the 60m the fastest finisher was Daly Seaton (9.7), followed
by Woodie Cram (9.9), Dominic McClean (St Comgalls) (10.2), Harrison Mair (10.4),
Finn McCullough (10.5), Rory McCullough (11.1) and Avery Kane (Rathmore) (11.3).
In the long jump, there were podium places for Dominic McClean (2nd in 2.9m) and
Finn McCullough (3rd in 2.73m). Also taking part were Woodie Cram – 6th (2.6m) and
Rory McCullough – 13th (2.17). Finally in the shot put, Avery Kane was 10th (4.07m)
and Harrison Mair was 15th (3.63m).
Moving onto the P6 events, it was a good evening for Rose Reavy (Towerview), who
was first in the 60m (8.7) and long jump (3m) and 3rd in the 600m (2.15.7). Also
making the podium were Charlotte Walker (Ballymagee) who was 1st in the 600m
(2.10.5), Megan Walker (Londonderry) who was 2nd in the 60m (8.7) and Phia
Johnston (Crawfordsburn) who was 2nd in the shot put (6.13m). Charlotte also
competed in the 60m (9.4), whilst Megan was also 7th in the 600m (2.27) and 7th in
the long jump (2.57m) and Phia ran the 60m in 10.2. Also competing was Alan
Santos (Towerview), who was 5th in the long jump (2.68m), 8th in the shot put (4.51m)
and ran the 60m in 9.7, Jessica Johnston (Rockport) who ran the 60m in 10.2, was
13th in the 600m (2.42.6) and 9th in the long jump (2.5m), Rosie Strawbridge (Grange)
who ran the 60m in 10.2, was 14th in the 600m (2.46.8) and 12th in the long jump
(2.32m), Jody Thompson (Kilmaine) who ran the 60m in 10, was 18th in the long jump
(2.07m) and 11 th in the shot put (4.23m), and Isla McQuillan (Sullivan Prep) who ran
10.4 in the 60m, was 14th in the long jump (2.16m) and 15th in the 600m (2.50.6),
which were all PBs for Isla.
In the P6 boys’ 600 metres there was a real battle between Robin Anderson
(Grange) and Ben Dumigan (Towerview), with Robin just pipping Ben to the post
(1.56.6 and 1.57.4). Ben was also 1st the long jump (3.64m) and 60m (8.9). Also
competing were Reuben Dunne (Towerview) who ran the 60m in 9.9, was 5th in the
long jump (3.06m) and 9th in the shot put (3.39m) and Lucas Mair (Killard House)
who ran 11.9 in the 60m, 2.40.7 in the 600m and jumped 1.84m in the long jump.
In the P7 girls Eve Sloan (Towerview) had a busy evening, finishing 2nd in the 600m
(2.10.3), 4th in the shot put (5.3m) and 10th in the long jump (2.49m). She also ran the 60m in 9.9. In the P7 boys, Isaac Hall (Glencraig) was 4th in the 600m (2.10.6),whilst Adam Downey (Towerview) was 9th (2.25.5). Adam got onto the podium as he
was 2nd in the shot put (5.38m) and was also 7th in the long jump (1.9m). Isaac also took part in the long jump where he was 4th (2.73m) and the 60m (9.1).
Special thanks go to the organisers of this event, Steven Donegan and Hannah Dune and the many NDAC volunteers who made this meeting such a success.
Lagan Valley AC 3rd Fab Five Meeting, 23/05/24
The third Lagan Valley AC Fab Five meeting took place on an overcast and cold
Thursday evening, with some good performances from North Down AC athletes.
Harrison Mair was 4th in the under 10 600m in a time of 2.08.21. In the under
12 shot put, Adam Downey was 3rd with a throw of 5.77m. Adam also took part in the
600m, finishing 9th in 2.20.24 and Isaac Hall was 3rd in 2.01.85. As Isaac is in the u14 category, he had to run again later in the
evening this time finishing 12th in 2.05.71.
In the under 14 girls’ 600m, Caitlyn Dickenson was 10th in 1.58.33.
Moving up to the under 16s, Caoimhe Fenlon won the 80m hurdles in 13.43.
In the boys’ events, Alex Downey took part in the 300m, finishing 7th in a PB of 9.55.73.
Hill & Dale Race 6, Luke’s Mountain, 23/05/24
There was no chance of a group photo of the North Down AC finishers at this week’s Hill & Dale Race standing in a cool stream as they cheered in the final runners; a much colder evening saw 7 club members among the 216 runners who ran a little under 8k following the path from Melmore Lodge before cutting across the open mountainside to the summit of Slievenaglogh (586m) before a drop then a climb to the summit of Luke’s Mountain. The tricky descent from Luke’s involved dodging slippery and boggy ground before returning to the finish line at the Melmore Lodge.
Gareth Hardy was the first NDAC runner to finish in 47:28 followed by 2nd F45 Clair Quigley in 56:18. Gerard Adair 1:01;59, Donald Smith 1:04:18 were followed by the current leader in the F60 category for the series, Glynis Boyle 1:06:43. John Adgey once again was the eldest finisher and winner of the M80 category in 1:09:23 with Trevor Patterson warming up for another race in the Mournes 2 days later in 1:09:27
NIMRA Pat Dunbar Memorial Race, 25/05/24
Trevor Patterson was back in the Mournes on Saturday 25th May with fellow club member Jonathan Gibson for the Pat Dunbar Memorial race alongside Jonathan Gibson. The race was @13k with over 680m of ascent. It started and finished on the river bridge at Leitrim Lodge and the route took the athletes towards Rostrevor for 1.2km. At Yellow Water a left turn was made and the race followed 1km of uphill forest trail – on reaching Batts Wall a tight ascent was required before heading over Tievedockaragh, into forest trail before summiting Pearse’s Castle, transiting Tornamrock and summiting Rocky. A fast and technical descent off Rocky was the final challenge before re-entering the trail path for a speedy 300m race to the finish line. Jonathan finished in 1:23:07 and Trevor completed the tough run in 2:16:09.
Almac 5k Craigavon Lakes 25/05/24
Beth Mulree headed to Craigavon on Saturday 25th May for the Almac 5k race on the walking and cycling paths around the lakes, completing the scenic route in 26:06.
Ballyclare Mayfair 5k & 10k, 25/05/24
Carter Rolston finished 10th in the Ballyclare Mayfair 5k in a superb time of 18:32. Les Wilkinson was also racing in the 5k and was 1st M65+ in 21:01. In the 10k race Thomas Steele was 12th overall in 36:53 and Pat O’Driscoll stopped the clock in 1:11:50.
http://countyantrimharriers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Overall-Results-2024.pdf
ANI Team Trophy and Senior Open Meet, MPT, 26/05/24
Newry Half Marathon, 26/05/24
Paula Simpson was in half marathon action on Sunday 26th May in Newry. Runners started close to the Quays Shopping Centre and passed through the surrounding countryside before returning to the finish in the city centre. Paula finished in a well paced 1:48:59.
https://www.championchipireland.com/index.html#results
Edinburgh Marathon, 26/05/24
2 North Down AC Sarahs continued their multiple spring marathon runs as they completed the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday 26th May. Sarah Gibson was 2nd F50 in 3:13:39 and Sarah Wilson completed another marathon in 3:52:49.
