North Down AC’s athletes enjoyed a busy and successful variety of events over the weekend while many of their clubmates were following sporting triumphs elsewhere, watching Spain beat an ill disciplined Argentinian team in the World Cup final in New York, or among the sell out crowd of 60,000 spectators cheering on Scotland and Team GB’s Josh Kerr as he smashed the 27 year old mile world record to run 3:42.66 at the London Diamond League. Our own former club president, David Seaton was in the stands at the London Stadium on Saturday, however he observed sporting protocols immaculately and didn’t attempt to join the winner on the podium!
The 13th annual Sea 2 Sky 5k and 10k races on Friday evening took runners on a longer or shorter loop from the centre of Newcastle through the foothills of the Mournes where trail runners had little time to catch their breath and admire the scenic views back over Newcastle and Dundrum before sweeping back down to the sea.
Lewis Johnston was 11th in the 5k in 19:51 and Isla Wiltshire finished 5th female in 22:13. Another regular runner at Born 2 Run events, Selina Patchett completed the tough 5k in 30:34.
Despite being held up by competitors ahead moving slowly along a single file section of trail, Sarah Wilson ran a course PB to finish 3rd F45 in 50:39.
https://www.born2runevents.com/sea2sky-results/
After her success at the Tailteann Schools InterProvincial championships in June, Emma Reid qualified to compete for Ireland in the discus event at the Schools International Athletic Board Track and Field International which was held this year at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast. Emma finished 4th in the girls’ discus with a best throw of 36.18m.
Gaithouse Events hosted the latest of their challenge events in Greyabbey on Saturday. With 10k races as well as 3,6 and 12 hour challenges to complete as many 5.75 k loops as possible within the time limits on a warm day, there was plenty of excellent racing. Jill Aiken was 1st female (and 5th overall) in the 10k finishing in 59.46, while ultrarunner Mark Walker won the 12 hour event completing 20 laps for 115k / 71.5 miles. The next finisher completed 17 laps in the time limit.
Darragh Cross, near Saintfield, hosted their annual 5k and 10k races from the GAA clubhouse on Sunday. Lewis Johnston showed no fatigue from his trail race in Newcastle to finish 4th in the 5k in 20:52 while Paula Simpson ran 28:35.
Sarah Gibson was 2nd female and 18th overall in the 10k in 42:56 and Denis Stewart ran 51:57.
https://www.championchipireland.com/index.html#results
The Rainbow Project kicked off Pride Week with an inclusive 5k race in Ormeau Park on Sunday. Paula Simpson was back in action running 25:11 behind club mate Andrew Muir who was 33rd in 22:42.
https://www.championchipireland.com/index.html#results
The Irish Runner 10 Mile Race, incorporating the National 10 Mile Championships marked the final event in the 2026 Athletics Ireland Race Series at Phoenix Park in Dublin. North Down AC’s Simon Boyle finished 4th M60 in 1:08:53.
https://myrunresults.com/events/irish_runner_10m_challenge_2026/6113/results