July 2016 – Mallusk Harriers

A close encounter of the running kind…

How quickly the weeks pass whilst you are in full holiday mode, but here it goes…

The opening race over the holiday period, began with the NI Duathlon race at Victoria Park with the inaugural 5k race on the 12th July, the club had 1 member with Nuala Muldoon completing the race in 23:46, well done Nuala…

Next up on the 15th July was the annual Sea to Sky 10k in Newcastle Co. Down where the club loaned 6 runners to Slieve Donard Mountain. First home for the harriers was Noel Bloomfield returning in 57:49, followed by Dave Gibson 58:46, Catherine Boyd 58:48, Elaine Kennedy 59:33, Jennifer Butler 64:06 and Laura Campbell 70:28.

Parkruns for Saturday 16th July 2016:
Waterworks parkrun – Danny Donaldson 19:05, Matthew Cromie 20:52, James Hewitt 23:44 new PB, Patrick J Hamill 26:07, Tiffany McAllister 28:58 new PB, Dorothy Ramsey 39:33
Antrim – Tom Wylie 28:00, Martin McCready 28:04, Kelly Forsythe 30:31
Valley – Collecting first place home was our very own Neil Campbell in a time of 20:27 next home in 5th place after collecting 3rd in his age category in a 10k race in New York was Alan Ladd returning in 21:24. Matthew Lavery 23:03, 2nd lady home, Nuala Muldoon 24:01, Louise Keenan 25:31, Paul Skillen 25:41 completing his 50th parkrun, Ben Davidson 26:37, Noel Bloomfield 26:41, Laura Rose 27:39, Sarah McAuley 27:53 new PB, Jackie McCreesh 27:59, Keith Thompson 28:12 new PB, Lisa Hamilton 28:25 new PB, Jennifer Butler 29:08, Fidelma McCoppin 30:40, Chloe Davidson 32:04, Jennifer Mc Coppin new PB 34:24, Deirdre Lavery 34:37 new PB, Tail runner – Lorraine Ann Forsythe 52:21.
Larne – Sarah Dinsmore 27:51.

Across the pond, of course whilst on holidays in Florida, there’s only one thing that is a must and that is to do the Clermont Waterfront parkrun. The club’s Brendan and Roseann Mc Geown took on the 5k run, Benny retuning in 24: 45 and Roseann in 36:22, very well done folks hope you enjoyed the rest of the holidays.

Tuesday 19th saw the Portaferry 10mile road race and relay, where the club had Matthew Cromie and Michael McAuley taking on the relay. Earlier that day the run for the lads was put in jeopardy when Matthew was taken off his bike by a motorist, luckily no harm done to Matthew but the bike came off worse. Race they must, with a flip of the coin Michael ran the first leg with Matthew bringing the vest home. The lads put in a stirling performance and finished in 2nd place of the relay places in a time of 71mins, very well done lads…

Parkruns for 23rd July 2016:
Waterworks parkrun – Matthew Cromie 20:49, Susan Thompson 21:13, Big ‘gentleman Jim’ Hewitt running his 50th parkrun in 23:39 and notching up a new PB, Patrick J Hamill 25:04, Laura Rose 27:27, Jennifer Butler 28:48, Noel Bloomfield 28:49, Alan Magee 29:20, Alyson Taylor 30:13, Maeve McGinley 30:39, Laura Hutcheson-Magee 32:42, Emma Thompson 36:41, Julie Fittis 38:29, Joanne Haddock 39:02, Maili Skillen 40:03, Leeanne Skillen 40:04
Belfast Victoria parkrun – Robert Gould 21:58, Robbie Gould 26:41, Jennifer McCoppin 44:23, Rosalind Stitt 44:24.
Falls parkrun – David Mullan 26:00.
Larne – Sarah Dinsmore 25:54.
Carrickfergus parkrun – Ben Davidson 30:14, Chloe Davidson 30:14 and Dermot Boyd 33:06.
Valley parkrun – Alex Davidson 22:13, Patricia Curistan 23:20, Nuala Muldoon 23:39, Sarah McCafferty 29:13, Pamela McCafferty 29:16, Tom Wylie 37:46, Fidelma McCoppin 48:25.

Friday 22nd saw the Dalriada 5k and 10k race in Glenarm and the club had 3 runners taking on both runs. Club junior, Jack McCready ran right to the line in a great time of 27:11, very well done wee man…!!! On to the 10k, with Jack’s ‘great’ uncle Martin McCready returning in 46:08 in 24th place, Martin was outdone by his close friend Patrick McGuckin, Patrick finished in 12th place in 42:30… did I say ex-best friend, running off and leaving your mate to fend for himself, tut tut…

The Dervock 10k and half marathon ran on the 23rd July with the club having 6 runners taking on 10k and half Marathon and the lads and lassies returning with some smashing times, for what is a tough testing course. Darren Taggart and Catherine completed the 10k, with Darren in 50:59 and Cat going home in 54:15, great running folks…
On to the half … Danny has been competing in every half marathon in the series and has been putting in some absolutely smashing times, Dervock run was no different… Danny returned in overall 15th place in a time of 1hr 27mins, cracking run Danny very well done sir…!!! Deborah Ewing arrived home in 1hr 58, followed by Elaine Kennedy in 2 hrs and 21 seconds and Tina Steele came home in 2hrs 11mins.

On Sunday the club were extremely proud to be asked to help volunteer and marshal, by race organiser and club member Nuala Muldoon in a cracking 10k run with a bit of difference all in aid of the charity Action on Hearing Loss. First up the 2k race and fun run, the club had two club juniors running alongside Louise Ladd and little 2 year old Aaron Ladd joining in, indeed young Aaron showing his dad Alan he is soon to have some competition. Ellen Butler came home in 6th place. Ellen was followed by Maili Skillen in 11th place, smashing stuff ladies and young Aaron…

In the 10k, 6 members braved the climb for the scenic views with Alan Ladd coming across the line for the Harriers in 47:26, closely followed Mathew Cromie 48:00, Michael McAuley 48:33, Susan Thompson 51:14, Sarah McAuley 65:17, Duncan Baxter 71:03 and Laura Campbell 73:04, absolutely great running folks.

The final shout out for the week goes to Darren Taggart and Cat Boyd… With the Dervock 10k not hard enough, both club members took on the Blood, Sweat and Tears 10k in the mud, well each to their own I say…

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…’

No one gets left behind, not even bikes…

Where to begin…

A few weeks have passed without acknowledging the achievements from many of the Mallusk Harrier runners, so here it goes…

Best to start with the parkrun events…

At the Waterworks 11/06/16:
Danny Donaldson 18:52, Matthew Lavery 22:09, James Hewitt 24:13, Patrick J Hamill 25:03, Dave McComiskey 29:11 & Tiffany McAllister 31:21.

At Victoria 11/06/16:
Dave Gibson 22:01 (new course PB) & Gillian Bainbridge 28:29.

At Ecos Ballymena 11/06/16:
Deborah Ewing 24:25 & Tina Steele 26:57.

At Carrickfergus 11/06/16:
Marianna McBride 33:00.

At the Valley 11/06/16:
Alex Davidson 20:25, Brendan McGeown 23:02, Catherine Boyd 25:51, Louise Keenan 26:17, Nuala Lyttle 35:25, Noel Bloomfield 35:30, Jennifer McCoppin 41:00, Rosalind Stitt 43:04.

At the Waterworks 18/06/16:
Danny Donaldson 19:02, Matthew Lavery 20:43, Robert Gould 21:28, Patrick McGuckin 21:53, Patrick J Hamill 25:14, James Hewitt 25:31, Jolene O’Donnell 28:08, Sean Lavery 29:31, Martine Murphy 31:24, Tiffany McAllister 32:10 & Joanne Haddock 41:10.

At the Valley 18/06/16:
Neil Campbell 20:07 (new course PB), Susan Thompson 22:17 (1st Lady), Martin McCourt 23:08, Brendan McGeown 23:12, Tom Wylie 25:02, Louise Keenan 26:03, Elaine Kennedy 26:23 (new course PB), Chloe Davidson 27:57, Christopher Campbell 30:13(new course PB), Ben Davidson 30:31, Nuala Lyttle 34:01, Noel Bloomfield 34:36, Rosalind Stitt 37:31 & Jennifer Butler 37:37.

At Stormont 18/06/16:
Martin McCready 25:20 & Duncan Baxter 26:44

At Victoria 18/06/16:
Darren Linton 39:07

Oh by the way there were also plenty of races to include for the past few weeks, starting with the choice of events on Saturday 11th June.
Joanne Haddock was the only Harrier to travel to Enniskillen for the 10k and recorded a very notable time of 87:31 on a hilly hot course.
For plenty of our other lady Harriers (self acclaimed, Harrietes) there was the Stunnerz N’ Runnerz 5 mile Road Race. Leading the charge home for Mallusk and very fresh from her parkrun hours earlier was, Deborah Ewing. Deborah finished in 27th place and in a great time of 38:22 and was closely followed by her ever improving sidekick Tina Steele in a time 42:59. Next saw the sister act of Jennifer Butler 43:10 and Laura Rose 46:22. Clare Teer was next home for the Harriers in 46:57 followed by Kelly Carlisle 49:51, Leeanne Skillen 53:03 and Jolene Byrne competing in her first race just a week after graduating from the C2 5K in a great time of 53:18.

A little mile or two down the road allowed for further running from the Mallusk Harriers, well a few miles in the Mourne Way Marathon event.
The club had 3 competing in the full marathon and two folk competing in the Half marathon. Certainly a race not for the faint hearted and if you have trained on or dislike any type of hills or obstacles, well just give the run a miss and come back stronger the next time round.
The three harriers in the full Marathon completed and returned safely home, all bones in check, a big Harrier very well done to Nuala Muldoon, Michael McAuley and competing in his very first Marathon Martin McCourt…!!!
The two folk running in the half marathon decided at the last minute ‘why not’ and gave it a bash. Neil Campbell came home in 25th place in 1:48:57 and Elaine Kennedy returned in 2:22:49, extremely well done Neil and Elaine…!!!

Over to Lisburn 10k & half marathon on Wednesday 15th June where the club had 8 members running in the 10k and 4 running in the half marathon.
The 10k results as follows:
Brendan McGeown 47:21, James Hewitt 51:58, Elaine Kennedy 54:37, Laura Rose 55:39, Jennifer Butler 55:39, Brian Mc Donald 56:14, Laura Campbell 1:03:15 & Joanne Haddock 01:24:41.
The four runners who took on the half marathon certainly didn’t hold back and left nothing on the course, a very well done to Danny Donaldson who finished in 81st place and continued in good form in the half marathon series in a time of 01:32:40. Next up was Susan ‘The machine’ Thompson, where Susan finished 4th in her age category in a smashing time of 01:38:52, the wee woman is hot on your heels Danny…!!! Next home was Ian Simpson 2:21:27 and Tiffany McAllister 2:30:39 smashing running Ian and Tiff very well done to all…!!!

Phew almost there… If it wasn’t for that mountain goat McAuley, I would be finished… Of course Michael loves a great challenge and has featured heavily in the Hill and Dales series of running. Fresh from his Mourne marathon 5 days earlier, Michael took on Hill & Dale Series – Race 10 ‘The Meels’ and returned home in 37th place in a time of 40:20 for the climb… All joking aside, extremely well done…!!!

Sorry, almost done with the running, as Nuala Muldoon and David Mullan took on the EAMS Knockathon half marathon event with Nuala returning 2nd lady overall and David returning in 2:13.

I hope I haven’t missed any runs, however I am sure I may have, apologies for that as it hasnt been intentional…

The final shout for the day goes to the Harriers who have taken to a little bit of biking over the summer months, Barry Macauley, Tom Wylie, Martin McCourt, Neil McCready and Paul Skillen all travelled to Portadown for the 40 mile round trip to Newry and back along the canal.
The day started well, a little rain sprinkled the cars as the lads headed off from Mallusk along the M1. Paul had taken to the cycling to ease the aging joints and has quietly enjoyed clocking up speeds of nearly 40mph heading downhill along the Boghill road, however nothing could have prepared him as he watched his bike come of the bike rack and travel around 60+mph back down the M1, thankfully no other cars collided with the bike and strangely the bike escaped with scuffs and tears…. On to the cycle, ‘Things couldn’t get any worse, could it…?’
The heavens opened and the downpour continued, not a chance would this put the lads off, on they went with the first pit stop recorded at Scarva with no fighting taking place, just scone eating and coffee drinking lads. Pushing on, the gents got the Newry in no time and with a quick turn round were homeward bound wet and cold.
A few miles back, Tom hit the wall, nope he literary hit a wall. Trying to maneuver around a cattle gate and quickly connected with the adjoining wall…. ‘Things couldn’t get any worse, could they..?’
Moving on and with 13 mile to run, Barry got a flat tyre…. ‘Things couldn’t get any worse, could they..?’
Finally finished the cycle, a smashing run all the same… ‘Things couldn’t get any worse, could they…?’

The final journey home the bike came off the rack again, thankfully the lock kept it on the car and Neil caught it in good time and pulled on to the hard shoulder and fixed the rack yet again… ‘Things couldn’t get any worse, could they…?’
A few miles up the M1 Neil’s nerve’s got the better of him, he had enough. Off came the bikes and the bike rack and into the back of the car they went, Martin must have thought he was the bionic man with the amount of metal around him. And relax, I kid you not a sigh of relief came over the car.

‘Things couldn’t get any worse, could they…?’ – well, yes of course they could, Martin received a call from Barry, who was stranded along the M2 as his car had run out of petrol… The end…!!

So much for the Summer…

So much for the weekend…

There may be a limited number of races over the holiday period, but no matter ‘have race, will travel’.

Parkruns for Saturday 9th July 2016:
Waterworks parkrun – Danny Donaldson 18:31, Patrick J Hamill 25:12, Tiffany McAllister 30:03, Anne Marie Craig 36:00, Elizabeth Peeples 38:53
Belfast Victoria – Susan Thompson 21:06, Matthew Lavery 22:15, Brian ’the prodigal runner’ McDonald 23:35, Sean Lavery 28:34, Gordon Ward 29:52, Jennifer McCoppin 36:40, Rosalind Stitt 36:45
Up at the Antrim parkrun –Catherine Boyd completed her first run at Antrim in 25:07, although more concerning was, she brought her parents to take on the Castle grounds, only to run off and leave them. However Dermot Boyd returned in 32:39 and Anne Boyd 36:12, very well done to Dermot and Anne, as for Cat she will be on bread and water for the next few weeks, tut tut… Ben Davidson (27:49) was ushered over the line by Martin McCready 27:52, although Ben told us, he couldn’t understand Marty’s joke so just pushed on to the finish. Chloe Davidson returned in 31:48 & Dawn Dubois 41:20
Valley – Patrick McGuckin 20:52, Neil Campbell 21:57, first lady over the line Nuala Muldoon 24:36, Paul Skillen 27:20, Noel Bloomfield 27:25, Jackie McCreesh 27:38, Laura Rose 27:42, Jennifer Butler 27:46, Sarah McAuley 27:55 with a new PB, Lisa Hamilton 29:15 with a new PB, Lauren Whitehouse 31:42 with a new PB, Maeve McGinley 33:20 with a new PB, Marianna McBride 33:23 with a new PB and tail running was Lorraine Forsythe 54:20.
The last of our members taking on the Queens parkrun was Elaine Kennedy who returned home in 26:08.
Very well done to all taking on the parkruns over the weekend, more importantly though a shoutout to those who took on the volunteering roles. Without the volunteers none of us can take part in these events, please try and volunteer at least 3 times per year…

On Wednesday the club had just the one member take on the North coast 10k, Louise Keenan came across the finish line in a highly respectable 62nd place in a time of 51:58 , very well done Louise…

On to Sunday, where the Skillen clan packed up and travelled to Sligo ‘Ponsa’ for a short break, not before spying a run in Ardboe… well it was kind of on the way (luckily Lee-anne’s geography isn’t great…). A great event and something for everyone, the Great Rossa Run offered a charity walk, a 5km, a 10km and a half marathon. Paul Skillen took on the 10k race, accompanied by Michael McAuley and Martin McCready who both took on the half marathon. Paul crossed the line in 54:10 and felt he didn’t do the course justice, so will just have to come back next year for the challenge. Both Michael & Martin ran a great race in the half. With just over a mile left to race, Martin spied Michael in his sights and pushed on up the hill to the finish encouraged by a fellow athlete from Co. Antrim Harriers Stephen Semple. The exuberance on Martin’s face at the finish could have been bottled and sold; the lad was delighted to notch up a new personal best for the half marathon in a time of 1:39:42 in 40th place. Michael, probably found the course far too flat for his liking, certainly after his Hill and Dale & Spelga mountain runs, however Michael wasn’t too far behind and crossed the line in 1:40:13 in 46th place.

Also on holiday in Blackpool, Duncan Baxter and Kelly Carlisle took on the summer 10k. Duncan traded in his ever present red baseball cap for a kiss me quick hat and returned in 58:46, Kelly collected a stick of Blackpool rock and ran right to the line in a time of 66:40… very well done, enjoy the rest of your hols’…!!!

Nearly there…

Back to the running, well almost…

Beginning with the weekly parkrun events, the Mallusk Harriers had 60 plus runners attending numerous events over the last two weeks, although more importantly had many out and about in volunteering roles. Just a kind reminder, without the humble volunteer giving some time back into the events, there would be no such great events. This is something that the club prides itself on, when it comes to volunteering in running events. Therefore a short note to all our members in the coming weeks, if you can help out at any of your local events please pitch in wherever possible, it shall be greatly appreciated.

Parkruns for Saturday 25th June 2016:
Waterworks parkrun – James Hewitt 24:30, Patrick Hamill 24:49, Patrick McGuckin 26:34, Deirdre Lavery 34:19, Joanne Haddock 38:44, Sean Lavery 51:55
Belfast Victoria – Danny Donaldson 19:20, Tiffany McAllister 36:03, Rosalind Stitt 42:28, Marion Harrison 42:52.
Lisburn – Darren Linton 30:24
Antrim – Martin McCready 21:22 new course PB, Tom Wylie 23:21, Noel Bloomfield 25:12 new course PB, Jennifer Butler 25:38 new course PB, Paul Skillen 26:13, Ciaran Skillen 26:13 new course PB, Chloe Davidson 27:05, Elaine Kennedy 27:28, Laura Rose 32:53, Gordon Ward 32:59, Susan Thompson 33:00, Deborah Ewing 35:34, Tina Steele 35:34.
Carrickfergus – Marianna McBride 32:16.
Valley – Alex Davidson 20:39, Neil Campbell 21:15, Robert Gould 22:15, Patricia Curistan 23:50, Jackie McCreesh 28:09, Nuala Lyttle 34:31, Darcia Turner 34:56
–————
Parkruns for Saturday 2nd July 2016:
Belfast Victoria – Jennifer McCoppin 34:07, Rosalind Stitt 35:38.
Colin Glen – Darren Linton 32:11.
Lisburn – Elaine Kennedy 27:55.
Carrickfergus – First lady home; Susan Thompson 21:21, Gordon Ward 31:16, Tina Steele 37:01.
Valley – Alex Davidson 20:27, Robert Gould 21:57, Martin McCready 22:01, first lady home; Nuala Muldoon 24:01, Louise Keenan 26:48, Robbie Gould 27:47, Noel Bloomfield 27:48, Jennifer Butler 27:51, Jackie McCreesh 28:20, Fidelma McCoppin 30:46, Rebekah Morrison 31:19 new course PB, Gemma Fowler 31:19 new course PB, Laura Campbell 31:58 new course PB, Maeve McGinley 34:29, Christopher Campbell 34:29, Marianna McBride 35:30
Waterworks – Danny Donaldson 18:56, Mathew Lavery 22:37, James Hewitt 24:24, Patrick J Hamill 26:03, Tiffany McAllister 31:01 Deirdre Lavery 33:50.

The first of the race events took place on a nice Friday evening of the 24th June down in Newtownards. The club had the effervescent couple to the half marathon series, Tiffany McAllister and Danny Donaldson. On the ‘nice’ tough course, Tiffany certainly wasn’t deterred and returned with a new personal best for herself in the half marathon distance by 4 minutes, returning in a time of 2:20:33. Absolutely smashing Tiff, very well done we are pleased to see you have stuck it out and put in fantastic training to begin to smash your goals. Tiffany’s other half Danny continued in the same vain that has taken him through all the other half marathons in great shape. Danny notched up a 50th place finish in a great time of 1:28:05, brilliant stuff Danny.

Next race up was the Fields for Life 10k, where Ian Simpson flew the flag for the Harriers in the 10k race; Ian came home in a time of 65:20. Very well done sir, another one under the belt and on to the next one.

Tuesday 28th June saw the conclusion of the East Antrim Harrier forest trail series with the 4mile trail run at Woodburn Forest. The club had 16 members taking on the trails and returning in great times for many, special mention goes out to Sarah McAuley, Sarah was competing in her first race following her graduation from the couch to 5k programme, although she does have a wee bit to go to keep up with her other half Michael. First home for the Harriers was Alex Davidson in a time 29:48, next home was the young lady who not only managed to complete the series, but also collected herself top spot in her age category – Susan Thompson, Susan returned in 31:50. Another young lady making giant strides in her training and running events, Deborah Ewing finished in 35:17, well done Debs keep up the great running. Alan Kerr was next home in 37:10, followed by Sarah McAuley & Jennifer Butler in a time of 42:57. Tina Steele returned in 43:16, followed by Darren Linton in 49:45

On to the next one…
Michael ‘Roads are for driving on, Mountains are for running up’ McAuley took on the Spelga Skyline Mountain Race. Michael raced home in 20th place in a cracking time of 3:28:54. Smashing running buddy…!!!

The final race of the last two weeks, the Comber 10k hosted by Ballydrain Harriers where 8 Mallusk Harriers accompanied the other 500 runners to take on the new flatter, faster course. Top marks to Ballydrain and their band of volunteers for putting on a fantastic event, from registration, to the fantastic course support, even the little downpour for cooling us down right through to the fantastic spread at the end, greatly enjoyed and appreciated by us Mallusk Harriers, well done Lads and Lassies. First Harrier home was Paul Skillen in a time of 51:07, followed by Elaine Kennedy in a time of 53:25. Next up was Jennifer Butler 55:16 managing just to nip home in front of her wee sister Laura Rose in 55:29. Mr Simpson got yet another 10k under his belt returning in 62:55, followed by Duncan Baxter 64:12, however Duncan did have the added disadvantage of wearing an under armour, a t-shirt, a woolly jumper, a club vest and a rain jacket along with the extra 2 stone carried as the downpour kicked in, I’m sure (as you said) ‘you did stay warm’. Our final two across the line for the Harriers were Kelly Carlisle 65:43 and Joanne Haddock 84:16, great work ladies and gents, now on to the next one.
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…’

Monthly Archives: July 2016

A close encounter of the running kind…

No one gets left behind, not even bikes…

So much for the Summer…

Nearly there…