There were plenty of options for racing this week, translating efforts at club training nights to outstanding performances on the roads.
First up on Friday night was the Ards 5 Mile Challenge with runners racing from Londonderry Park down the Portaferry Road before turning uphill to Loughries before returning to Newtownards along the rolling Bowtown Road and back to the finish line in the park. Finn Johnson finished second in 28:31, 30 seconds ahead of Jonathan Gibson who joined him on the third step of the podium. Ivana Anderson was 4th overall and first female in 29:21, chased in by Alasdair Mair 29:30 in 5th. David Massey 31:11. Sarah Gibson was 3rd female in 33:52.
Mitchell Brown 34:38, Paul Lynas 37:04, Heather Beattie 37:46, Olivia Cumming 37:51, Emma Fox 38:24, Ben Macrory 38:25, Marion Beattie 39:17, Johanna Cunningham 39:37 and Graham Massey 39:39 were followed by Beth Mulree, a frustrating one second over 40 minutes, Emma Hegarty 42:04, Dave Press 42:12, Julie Preston 44:32, Gabrielle Logan-Hermon 44:33 and Nicola Stevenson 44:47. Andrea Green 45:08, Lisa McMeechan 45:15, Jonny Ballagh 47:56, Peter Kelly 48:17, Caroline Gilmore 49:10, Jennifer Brook and Glenn Frazer 49:31 all finished strongly.
https://www.championchipireland.com/index.html#results
Another popular annual event for North Down AC runners is the Waterside Half Marathon. Starting and finishing in Ebrington Square and following a figure of eight course along both sides of the Foyle, runners crossed the river via the Craigavon, Foyle and Peace Bridges.
Sarah Gibson was the club’s first finisher and 1st F55 in 1:34:33. Lois Harkin ran a superb debut half marathon finishing in 1:36:40. Max Bloomfield crossed the line in 1:48:16. Sarah Wilson vowed to avoid energy gels in future races after stomach upsets slowed her to 1:58:04 and David Milligan returned to the finish square in 2:04:58.
https://myrunresults.com/events/waterside_half_marathon_2026/6129/results
The Laganside 10k is one of the fastest local 10ks in the calendar. Runners race from Ormeau Park and take on a 2 lap course of both sides of the River Lagan via the Albert Bridge and Ormeau Bridge, finishing back in the park after a lag sapping climb in the final kilometre towards the line. Strong winds added an extra difficulty to this year’s event.
The 10k race followed a junior mile race with excellent results from the North Down AC runners led by the winner, Sebastian Mair 4:32. Daly Seaton was 8th 4:56 followed byCasey Seaton 9th 5:03, Jacob Castles 5:17 13th, Fox Neill 5:37 23rd, Thomas Close 5:37 24th, Soren Neill 6:26 35th and Lochlain Mair 8:05 66th. In the girls’ race Caitlyn Dickenson 5:07 was 3rd, Eve Sloan 5:50 15th and Lucy Kane 6:46 31st.
Oliver Playfair was the first NDAC runner to cross the line in the 10k in 7th in 34:08. Jonathan Gibson showed little fatigue from his race on Friday, finishing in 36:04. Andy Nixon 37:05, Ben Mcarory 37:18, Francis Marsh 37:19. James Blease blew his previous 40 minute PB away to finish in 37:43. Chris Couchman 38:12, Nick Irvine 38:33, Colin Walker 39:13 and Dean Willis 39:57 all broke 40 minutes. Andrew Strutt 41:51, Stephen Close 42:20, Jordan Maclean 43:47 and Lisa Tomalin 43:57 were followed by Holly Blease who ran 44:06 with a strong negative split. Sarah Connolly 45:09, Allister Patton 45:33, Michael Barr 47:52, Helen Byers 48:02, Colin Hennessy 49:49, Alex Irvine 52:01, Emma Hegarty 53:33, Paula Simpson 58:34, Jonathan Wilson 1:02:20, Julie McCready 1:03:09, Pat O’Driscoll 1:17:56, Selina Patchett and Donna Sinclair, both 1:24:15 rounded off the North Down finishers.
https://www.championchipireland.com/index.html#results
2 North Down athletes were among the Northern Ireland squad at the UK Schools games in Loughborough last week; Tomas Montgomery ran in 3 winning relay teams and Emma Reid was competing in discus.
Claire Scott took part in the Grit and Grind, a hilly 11k mountain race in Gatineau Park, Ottawa with over 450m of switchback ascent through forest roads, finishing in 1hr 26 minutes.