Melissa Eccles, Waterford Half Marathon, 30/11/24
North Down AC’s Melissa Eccles raced the Waterford Half Marathon on Saturday 30th November. The 13.1 mile route took runners through the outskirts of the oldest city in Ireland and along the banks of the River Suir. Melissa completed the course in an excellent time of 1:28:04.
https://www.myrunresults.com/events/waterford_half_marathon_2024/5038/results
Seeley Cup, 30/11/24
Always one of the highlights of the local running calendar, the Seeley Cup draws a large field of runners to Ormeau Park in Belfast for the last major 10k road race of 2024. Now in its 42nd year the race organised by Willowfield Temperance Harriers commemorates Joe Seeley, a superb Northern Irish athlete lost to cancer at a young age. Many of North Down AC’s senior members have fond memories of competing against the Holywood man.
The latest edition of the 10k drew elite athletes from all over Ireland to the start of the 3 lap course on the Ormeau Embankment. The race winner, Bhrane Gbrebrhan of Annadale Striders crossed the line in 29:59. First of the North Down AC finishers was Craig McMeechan in 6th place in 30:47. Mark Carberry was the next finisher, smashing his PB to take 20th place in 32:14. Gary Morrow 33:18 finished 32nd and 1st M40 narrowly ahead of Daniel Dines 33:34, James Graham 34:29, Josh McDowell 35:28. Francis Marsh 35:28 was 2nd M55 and Mickael Le Nu 35:44 also made the top 100 finishers in a highly competitive field. Dennis Scott 36:01, Thomas Steele 32:02, Andy Lowry 36:30, Dean Varley 36:46. Aaron McAuley 36:347, Nick Irvine 37:00 and Declan Magee 37:01 all had fantastic runs. Katie Moore was 8th female in 37:05. Alan McConnell 37:11, Jonathan Gibson 37:31 and Maol Larkin 37:42 were chased in by Chris Downey 37:44 taking 5 seconds off a 5 year old PB. Colin Walker 38:14, Kevin Harkin 38:31 and Aaron Beggs 38:41 rounded off the club’s sub-40 minute runners with Simon Boyle’s chip time of 40:00 placing him just ahead of Fiona McvQuillan 40:08 and Rachel Gibson 40:33. Tom Agnew 40:37 was narrowly ahead of Philip Mulligan returning for his first race since the international cross country in 40:42. Clair Quigley 41:55 and Lisa Tomalin 42:08 were chased to the line by Sarah Gibson 42:12 and 1st F50. Lindsay Doulton 43:03 was followed by Luke Hamilton in a new PB of 43:18. Keith Gilmore 43:31 was the next to finish ahead of Chris Ballentine 44:14. Valerie McDonough 44:18 was 3rd F50 and another runner fresh from international cross country duties, Glynis Boyle 44:42 took 1st F60 spot. Nick Anderson battled injury to finish in 45:13 ahead of Olivia Cumming who set a new PB of 46:01. Claire Scott 46:22 was ahead of 3rd F60 and another NI International XC runner, June McMinn 48:54. Beth Mulree set a PB of 51:35 followed by Lisa McMeechan 53:15, Sarah Wilson 54:26 and Paula Simpson 54:31 while Sophie Hamilton continued her fine form and joined her brother by celebrating a new PB of 55:36.
In the teams’ competitions NDAC 1 were 4th in the mens’ race with the scoring six of Craig McMechan, Mark Carberry, Garry Morrow, Daniel Dines, James Graham and Josh McDowell. The NDAC 2 team comprising Francis Marsh, Mickael Le Nu, Dennis Scott, Thomas Steele, Andy Lowry and Dean Varley claimed 12th spot while the NDAC 3 team were 20th, the scoring members being Aaron McAuley, Nick Irvine, Declan Magee, Alan McConnell, Jonathan Gibson and Maol Larkin.
The womens’ NDAC 1 team of Katie Moore, Fiona McQuillan and Rachel Gibson were 3rd while the NDAC 2 team of Clair Quigley, Lisa Tomalin and Sarah Gibson took 11th place while the scoring 3 in the NDAC 3 team in 17th place were Lindsay Doulton, Valerie McDonough and Glynis Boyle.
https://my.raceresult.com/318495/
Valencia Marathon 01/12/24
4 of North Down AC’s fastest marathon runners headed to Spain to a course renowned for rewarding hard consistent training with fast times. The organisers, sponsors, supporters and athletes themselves were mindful of the recent tragic flooding which devastated much of the surrounding area and significant contributions were made to the local community as they continue the clear up operations.
Dale Murray, Ashley Dixon and Matty McParland and Johnny Elliott may have had their eyes on the North Down AC marathon record set by the late Billy Branigan, a founder member of NDAC, at the Belfast Marathon in 1983, but his record of 2:28:59 remained intact although the quartet all raced close to their own marathon PBs.
Dale finished in 2:31:43 with Ashley not far behind in 2:33:10. Matty ran an excellent 2:37:45 with Johnny rounding off the NDAC runners in 2:44:28.
https://www.valenciaciudaddelrunning.com/en/marathon/2024-marathon-ranking/
U20 West of Scotland District XC Championships 30/11/24
The second 10k race in Born 2 Run’s Run Forest Run Series took place on roads and trails through the beautiful woodland and open parkland of Gosford Forest Park in Co Armagh. The event originally scheduled for last weekend was rearranged after the storms and 3 North Down AC runners were able to make the new date.
Ben O’Driscoll was the club’s first finisher in 50:02. Chris Connolly finished in 57:33 with Pat O’Driscoll taking 2nd place in the M75 category in 1:20:08.
https://www.born2runevents.com/run-forest-run-gosford-results/