NI & Ulster Championship, Bangor 10k, 28/09/24
This year’s Bangor 10k once again hosted the NI and Ulster Championships in perfect running conditions along a fast course from Castle Park, through Bangor and along Seacliff Road, looping through Groomsport and returning along the flat promenade before the sting in the tail of a short, steep climb up Shandon Drive in the final kilometre route to the finish line in Ward Park.
1312 athletes completed the course, with Annadale Striders’ Brhane Gebrebrhan and Hannah Gilliland taking the win in the male and female races in 30:16 and 35:17 respectively. They also helped ensure overall wins for their club in the male and female team races. 110 North Down AC members raced in the event with at least the same number of individuals involved in organising the race over the last few months and marshalling the route on race day. The North Down AC A & B mens teams took 2nd and 3rd place in the team competition with the top 4 in each group having their times added while the North Down AC women’s team finished 4th.
Craig McMeechan was the first NDAC finisher in 4th place in 31:38. Dale Murray 33:18, Daniel Dines 33:22, James Budde 33:22 and Oliver Playfair 33:28 finished 17th – 20th while Garry Morrow 33:35 was 22nd. Jamie McMeechan 35:14, Ross Murray 35:11, Ricky Jordan 35:27, Josh McDowell 35:44 and Sean McLaughlin 36:11 all had strong top 50 finishes narrowly ahead of the first North Down AC lady and 4th female, Jessica Craig 36:35. Alex Donald 36:36, Andy Lowry 36:37 and Dean Varley 36:43 all raced for the line ahead of Alan McConnell 37:02, Nick Irvine 37:39, Chris Downey 38:40, Colin Walker 38:51 and Darren Edgar 38:55 were all inside the first 100. Chris Belshaw 39:17 and Maol Larkin 39:18 were followed by 40 minute pacers Fiona McQuillan 39:30, Jonathan Gibson 39:59 and Dennis Scott 40:00. Philip Mulligan 40:13, Luke Dobson 40:14, Sarah Grant 40:30, Michael Henessy 41:14, Sarah Gibson 41:27, Tim Cooke 41:39, Steven Boyd 42:40, Lisa Tomalin 43:04, Chris Couchman 43:07, Patrick English 43:18, Fiona McVicar 43:23, Dean Willis 43:31, Nigel Playfair 43:32, Brian Geddis 43:38, Luke Hamilton 43:34, Steven Wise 43:49, Lindsay Doulton 44:02, Simon Boyle 44:04, Mark Johnston 44:08, Jacob Sullivan 44:29, Kevin Mulligan 44:36, Glyniss Boyle 44:23, pacers Andy Belshaw 44:39 and Aaron McAuley 44:41 and Alan Hartley 44:49 all ran sub-45 minutes while Holly Blease ran her first 10k in an excellent 45:32, Allister Patton 45:40, Andrew Muir 46:00, Julie Balmer 46:03, Helen Byers 46:24, Beth Crosbie 46:30, Keith Gilmore 46:17, Robert Martin 46:49, John Harvey 46:40, Philip McDonough 46:47, Sarah Connolly47:15. Nathan McLeer 47:12, Denis Stewart 47:47, Olivia Cumming 47:24, Phil Archer 47:39, Becka Laffin 47:09, Marion Beattie 48:13, Susan Black 48:12, Alex Irvine 48:28, Zara Fulton 47:53, David Balmer 49:17 all finished ahead of the 50 minute pacers Stuart Anderson 49:33 and Tom Agnew 49:53. Katlyn Massey 50:43, Alan Massey 50:44 and Jonathan McWhinney 50:49 had a close race ahead of Nicola Downey 51:49 and Paula Simpson practicing marathon pace in 52:00. Beth Mulree’s 51:36 was a 6 minute course PB. The next NDAC finishers , Chris Connolly 52:11, Lisa McMeechan 52:50, Ruth Warmington 52:51, Mick Hall 52:40 and Cliff McCausland all stayed in front of the 55 minute pacers Sarah Wilson 54:41 and Clair Quigley 54:41, Julie Beckett 55:01, Stefan Butler 55:20, Louise Watson 55:28, Judith Gillespie 56:56, Hannah Dunne 57:10, Rebecca Collins 57:37, Christina Steele 57:39, Agata Young 58:34, Lorraine Lowry 57:47, Michelle Sanford 58:18, Klara Anderson 58:12, Sophie Hamilton 58:25, David Milligan 58:57, Michael Stevenson 59:19 and Angela Fawthrop 59:20 all ran a steady paced sub-60 followed by Jill Eager 1:02:05, Sinead Mooney 1:02:06, Nicole Bell 1:02:28, Rachael Doherty 1:02:28, Sinead Agnew 1:02:42, Jennifer Brook 1:03:48, a jet lagged Cara Jeffrey 1:05:56, George Emerson 1:07:51, Lauren Hamilton 1:09:10, Alison Wise 1:08:47, Terry Eakin 1:09:53 and Jony Ballagh 1:10:34.
Congratulations are due to all the club members who raced and volunteered their time to ensure the event passed off seamlessly for all the runners, and North Down AC also wish to thank our sponsors, John Minnis Estate Agents, Cosimac, Electronic & Security Systems, Pure Running, Gordons Chemists, and Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Centre for making this race such a success.
John Minnis, Company Director at John Minnis Estate Agents said:
“As the proud sponsor of this year’s Bangor 10K race, we were thrilled to see such an incredible turnout at what is always a fantastic day for runners and spectators alike.
“We work closely with the people in the areas in which we operate to have a lasting and positive impact, and it is this approach that has cemented John Minnis Estate Agents as a caring pillar of the community.
“A huge congratulations must go to everyone that took part!”
Results: https://www.championchipireland.com/index.html
Steven Donegan and David McMeechan took hundreds of race photos – you’ll find lots of them own this link.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559847864404
Jill Connolly, Wicklow Way Eco Trail Ultramarathon, 28/09/24
While most of her clubmates raced our local 10k road race with a bit of a climb at 9k, Jill Connolly chose a tougher challenge… Here’s her race report.
Loch Ness Marathon, 29/09/24
North Down AC’s Paul Floyd and Donald Smith headed to Scotland to search for elusive monsters and PBs at the Loch Ness Marathon. 5500 marathon runners were bussed from Inverness alongside Loch Ness to Fort Augustus and the start area on the the eastern shores of the loch. IN near perfect running conditions a pipe band marched through the assembled runners before peeling off to either side of the road at the start line to pipe runners on their way into stunning Highland scenery along quiet, undulating country roads back into Inverness.
Double celebrations ensued as Donald achieved an 11 minute course PB in 3:44:04 while Paul’s recovery from injury continued with a 3:46:20 finish in his 100th marathon! Paul ran in Donald’s 100th marathon so Donald was delighted to welcome the newest member into the 100 marathon club!
https://lochnessmarathon.com/results/
