Taking it easy….
The calm before the storm…
The week of events began at the North Down AC open Track & Field event with May Hay continuing his impressive display in the 400m, collecting a silver medal in 59.29 secs and a gold in the high jump. Also competing at the event was Gavin Snipe in the 3000m returning home in an impressive time of 10:24.76, smashing stuff lads very well done.
On to the weekend and the penultimate run in the Pure Running half marathon series, the Groomsport half and 10k road race.
First home in the 10K race was newbie Darren Taggart in a time of 48:59, great running Darren and hopefully many more races to come in the Mallusk Harriers colours. Darren was followed home by Jim Hewitt in a time of 56mins, again very well done gents on to the next one now…
With 9 half marathons in the series competed and 9 out of 9 completed for Brian McDonald. The most important rules in any running event is to have your number on the front of your top, and of course your timing chip, obviously you would like to have a result for your efforts.
As the claxon sounded for the start of the half marathon, a little excited Brian McDonald decided to run in the opposite direction from the field with gasps of disbelief from his wife and kids who wanted to see him cross the line for number 9 of the year. A little bewildered by it all Brian scurried to the car to grab his timing chip and began the race in plum last spot. Speaking after the race, Brian said he actually enjoyed the thrill of it all, he never got discouraged as there was nobody behind him to overtake him. However he did manage to commence his chase and completed the course in 1:46:45 in 92nd place, great running buddy, just the one to go before you get to claim the jacket, although I do believe you have a testing wee 5 miler before Dambusters next week…?
Saturday morning allowed for many of the Harriers to explore a series of parkruns with some of the runners and family members providing a leaflet drop for our annual 5mile race on Friday 21st August.
At the Waterworks the Harriers had 5 runners, as follows: Robbie Gould 21:06, Robert Gould 22:16, Brendan McGeown 23:24 and Patrick J Hamill 27:36, Joanne Haddock 33:27.
Belfast Victoria: Noel Bloomfield 24:58.
Antrim: Deborah Ewing 25:14, Tina Steele 27:03, Jennifer Butler 27:08 new 5k PB, Leeanne Skillen 28:40 new 5k PB.
Carrickfergus: First lady to cross the line was our very own Catherine Boyd 25:24 with a new 5k PB and Duncan Baxter 28:55.
Bangor: Alan Ladd 20:23 new PB for Bangor and Louise Ladd 32:24.
And the Valley:
Gavin Knipe finished in second place with a time of 18:42, a new PB and Louise Kerr finished first lady home in 24:21, Jessica Wilson 28:13, Anna Marie Barrington 33:33, Rosalind Stitt 38:42, Deborah Finlay 41:34, Kelly Megarry 41:48, Lorraine Forsythe 42:26 and Gillian Bainsbridge completing the parkrun as tail runner..
Final event of the weekend was in county Monaghan with the crazy mountain runners from Mallusk Harriers, Patsy Hamill and Michael McAuley taking on the Monaghan Road runners 10mile challenge.
From all accounts the event was well worth the travel with a great route, a party atmosphere and fantastic hospitality. Patsy crossed the line first for the harriers in 29th place out of a field of 504 in an extremely great time of 65mins, Michael followed home in 84th place in 74 mins. Absolutely fantastic running lads.
Some of the upcoming events next week, commencing 17/08/2015:
Friday 21st – MALLUSK HARRIERS 5 Mile road race 7:30pm
Friday 21st – Columbanus 5K Run and Walk 7pm
Saturday 22nd – The Bright Run 10K & 5k Fun Run 11:30am
Sunday 16th – 10k and Dambusters Half Marathon and 10K 11am
Again apologies if any of our runners have been missed out in this week’s report… Safe running to you all, ‘pay it forward…’ and remember ‘Right to the Line…’