Let’s see how far we’ve come…

In 2014 the Mallusk Harriers had no more than a handful of members on our books, with 6 entries in the Laganside 10K race. So what could be so different in 2015…?

Primarily we would like to thank North Belfast Harriers for an amazing family day out for all our athletes to compete in the annual Laganside 10k road race. A well organised and marshalled event, with each and every marshal encouraging all the runners onwards; from Sammy Gallagher (he seemed to have followed me down from the Valley parkrun 24 hours previously, or did I follow him…?), to Paddy and Ita McCambridge and Co. along the tow path driving us all home for the last 2K of the race.

These are only a very small handful who made the day even more enjoyable for us all, but there are countless others especially our very own Maeve O’Gorman, Martin McCready, Martin McCourt and Leeanne Skillen, Leeanne who was unable to run through injury, thus allowing young Robbie to run.

At 11:45 (ish) and a coach full of Harriers and friends left from the Academy club on a short but joyful 8 mile distance to Ormeau park for the 10k race, this year a little different to the previous year when a couple of cars travelled. The club had a smashing turnout of 34 club members to run and two family members, Gerard Gilmore and Catherine Skillen (I believe Tom may have forgotten to get you the application forms, but don’t worry we shall, lol).

We also cannot forget of course, our very own honorary member, Mags Mathieson. Many of us also very nearly missed Mags as the customary hi-viz vest was resting today. What Mags has brought to the table in her volunteering work at countless events across the country is exemplary, although this did allow for howls of encouragement for us Harriers and the many other runners who hot footed it across the Lagan, extremely grateful for your continuing support as always.

Finally the race… as said 34 club runners took to the Ormeau embankment and beyond, our runners were comprised of a mixed bag, from the elite, to the every race available runner, to the folks who have come from the couch to 5k programme in June to pushing that bit further to 10k.
Summary of the results today:
Patrick Hamill 37:51
Patrick McGuckin 40:30
Alan Ladd 41:57 PB
Gary Stitt 41:44
Michael McAuley 43:30
Robbie Gould 43:36
Brian McDonald 44:26
Susan Thompson 45:05
Lisa Brown 46:41
Brendan McGeown 46:44
Michael McFarlane 48:09
Ciaran Skillen 49:10
Tom Wylie 49:57
Catherine Boyd 50:40
Dave Gibson 51:45
David Mullan 52:13
James Hewitt 53:24
Louise Ladd 53:55, PB
Paul Skillen 54:24
Laura Maguire 54:31 PB
Catherine Mullan 54:38
Gerard Gilmore 54:49
Jennifer Butler 55:51, PB
Steven Boyd 56:33, PB
Duncan Baxter 57:04, PB
Gillian Bainbridge 57:03, PB
Catherine Skillen 57:42, PB
Anna-Marie Barrington 58:04, PB
Ian Simpson 61:56, PB
Clare Teer 61:57, PB
Lauren Whitehouse 63:13, PB
Kelly Bell 68:15
Kelly Nelson 70:48, PB
Joanne Haddock 71:26, PB
Karen Marsden 74:52
Lorraine Forsythe 83:46, PB

Sometimes you just need sit back and take stock; the transformation which has come over our club in the last 12 months has been phenomenal. With this we can take a look over the shoulder to see where we have all come from together as a club. Not only is this our club, but this is your club, a club that you can be extremely proud of, a club that works hard for each other to ensure that our ethos of family, friendly and fun, which we have adopted from day one remains at the forefront.

Working back 24 hours previously to the parkrun, with many taking a break for the Laganside race, results as follows.
Antrim: Tom Wylie 23:26, Deborah Ewing 24:17, Tina Steele 26:46,
Valley: Alex Davidson 23:03, Susan Thompson 23:22, Paul Skillen 25:21,
Jennifer Butler 27:24 PB, Carol Leckie 27:39, Chloe Davidson 28:40,
Gillian Bainbridge 29:07, Robert Jackson 31:33, Ben Davidson 31:49,
Rosalind Stitt 38:03
Ormeau Patrick McGuckin 26:45
Bangor Martin McCready 28:13

Moving back to Thursday and three of our notorious Harriers took to Portglenone for the Running the Bann 5k race, and didn’t they do well. First home for us was Alan Ladd in a time of 19:56, followed by Martin McCready in 20:47 and finally returning from a long injury layoff was Fidelma McCoppin in a time of 29:59, great running folks…!!!

Monday’s run was a race with a difference. Martin Keenan and Louise Kerr took a run up to Rosspark Hotel. A few months previously Martin had suffered with chronic knee pain, buckled in two, and then found Louise all excited and saying yes. Therefore Martin decided to man up and take the plunge into married life with Louise on the 31st August; in all seriousness folks we, all at the Harriers would like to wish you both all the love and happiness that life can throw at you, and we hope you packed your trainers for the honeymoon…

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…’