It’s cold outside…
Lazy winter mornings…
So the only excuse I can offer for the late report this week is, as the winter mornings begin to get colder and darker by the hour and I seem to be leaving for work later each day, it just seems I have lost a day somewhere on the way… On a brighter note it is great to see all of our runners taking heed of the ‘Hi-Viz, reflective clothing’, better seen than sorry policy, well done folks…!!!
The week’s running events began at the parkrun at the Waterworks, Valley, Antrim and Stormont venues.
At the Waterworks, first over the line for the Harriers was James Hewitt in 25:27. Jim was followed by the sister act of Laura Maguire 25:41 with a new PB and Jennifer Butler who came home in 26:03 also with a new PB, next home was Joanne Haddock in 33:45. Smashing running ladies and of course Jim.
Over at Stormont the parkrun was tackled by the terrible trio of Kelly Nelson 34:03, Jennifer McCoppin 36:01 and Karen Marsden 38:00, great running ladies and more importantly getting the blue jersey represented…
Whilst up at Antrim PBs seemed to be the order of the day as five of our six runners hit their goals, and the sixth just missing out by a three seconds, darn the distressed squirrel says Deborah…
Deborah Ewing 24:06, Tina Steele 25:35 new PB, Yvonne Thompson 26:46 new PB, Marion Harrison and Rosalind Stitt 37:10 both new PB’s. Absolutely fantastic running ladies…
Up the local parkrun at the Valley, a smaller contingent of runners took to the course with Gavin Knipe returning in second place overall in 19:28, followed by next Harrier at a gentle pace Alan Ladd in 23:29. Next home and leading lady was Nuala Muldoon in 24 mins. The remaining Harriers were made up of, Brian McDonald 25:11, Noel Bloomfield 26:47, Ian Simpson and Clare Teer 29:22, Louise Ladd 32:20, Ann-Marie Barrington 32:23 and Julie Tully 32:28.
Down at Dundrum four of our folk challenged the GR8 Dundrum mixed road, trail and beach race. All four put in sterling performances. The first home for the Harriers was Patsy Hamill in an absolutely cracking 30th place finish out of a field of 840 runners, with a time of 53:33. Patsy was followed by the youthful Patrick McGuckin in 57th place and a time 55:22. Although the lads had a cracking race, I would have to say the two ladies representing the club were even more impressive. Susan Thompson returned home in 157th place in a time 60:54, fellow lady Elaine Kennedy, who had been returning from injury, completed the course with half the field behind her in an equally great time of 72:11.
The remaining event of the week was ‘Run for Coach Francis’, a run arranged by Magherafelt Harriers. Earlier in the year Coach Francis Stewart was involved in a cycling accident and in true running family spirit throughout Ireland and beyond many runners, walkers and joggers came to show their support for Francis. We are pleased that quite a good handful of our runners travelled to show our support to this very worthy cause, none more than our very own Martin McCready who also doubled up in helping with the registrations… ‘All at the Mallusk Harriers wish to send our gratitude to Magherafelt Harriers and to Francis wishing him a full recovery’…
Again apologies if any of our runners have been missed out in this week’s report, as I am sure someone may have been overlooked…
Safe running to you all, ‘pay it forward…’ and remember ‘Right to the Line…’