Club Report: Sunday 13th August 2017

Running isn’t a sport for pretty boys and girls. It’s about the sweat in your hair and the blisters on your feet. It’s the frozen spit on your chin and the nausea in your gut. It’s about throbbing calves and cramps at midnight that are strong enough to wake the dead. It’s about getting out the door and running when the rest of the world is only dreaming about having the passion that you need to live each and every day with. It’s about being on a lonely road and running like a champion even when there’s not a single soul in sight to cheer you on. Running is all about having the desire to train and persevere until every fibre in your legs, mind, and heart is turned to steel. And when you’ve finally forged hard enough, you will have become the best runner you can be. And that’s all that you can ask for.

Friday 11th August 2017.

Mallusk 5 Mile Race:
The fourth holding of the club race on Friday evening was another major success for Mallusk Harriers. Almost 350 runners from across the Province arrived to our little hamlet in the County Antrim hills. A little after 7.30pm competitors were locked and loaded as they waited for the starter Councillor Paul Hamill, the Mayor of Antrim & Newtownabbey to set them off, before they attacked the big hill of Sealstown as it unleashed its fire and fury.

Heel and toe together as they turned from the Hydepark Road to approach the finish were Dennis Scott of North Down AC and Finn Johnson of Hercules Wimbledon AC, and nothing could separate the pair as they broke the tape in a dramatic photo finish in 28:01. 3rd across the finish line was Mark Jennings of North Belfast Harriers in 28:49.

The Ladies race was won by Karen Wilton in an excellent 32:22, followed by Paula Worthington in 2nd place of Ballymena Runners in 33:11, with Sara-Jane McFadden 3rd for North Belfast Harriers in 33:32.

For Mallusk, Mark Smith was our 1st man home in a terrific 29:55. 2nd was Patrick McGuickin 33:15, with Alastair Houldsworth 3rd in 36:32. Martin McCready arrived in 36:56, as Matthew Allen closed in with a time of 37:11. Nothing could separate Ken McAuley & Brendan McGeown as they crossed together in 37:14. One second separated Terry McIvor 39:11 and Neil McCready 39:12, with Gareth McLoughlin just behind in 39:14. Stephen Semple finished in 39:24, Darren Taggart won’t need reminding of his 40:01. Alan Kerr with a race PB in 40:54. Dave Gibson arrived in 41:28 (TBC).

1st Mallusk lady was Sarah Dinsmore in 42:13 and Suzanne Brennan 42:14 as both jostled for most of the downhill section. Excellent running by Junior Harrier Ethan Hutchinson in 42:46, James Hewitt arrived in 43:33. Terrific running by Tina Steele in 44:17, with Sharon McCavana shortly behind in 44:20. Clare Teer knocked off a massive 5 minutes from last year with a race PB in 44:27. Maeve Kennedy arrived next in 44:50, as Neil Mcglinchey sprinted over the line in 44:53. Anthony McKeating arrived smiling in 45:00, with Patrick Hamil next in 45:08. Ian Dinsmore looked hardly out of breath in 45:11. Delighted with h2er time was Yasmin Lynn 47:36. Lee-Anne Hutchinson crossed the line in 50:00. As Stephen Weir finished in 50:52. Frances Kane was next in 51:22. Great effort by Dermot Boyd in 52:27. Terrific display in a tough race from John McLean 53:56 and David McCavana 1.03:15.

Great effort by all runners and a terrific organised event by the race committee.

Saturday 12th August 2017:

Seven Sevens Mourne Mountains:
The objective of the Seven Sevens, is to climb all of the seven peaks in the Mourne Mountains that rise above 700 metres. Carved from granite Mallusk’s resident mountain man Mickey McAuley finished in a remarkable 5 hours 34 minutes. If Mickey isn’t saving trapped sheep he’s climbing mountains.

Dublin Rock n Roll 5K:
Part of Dublin’s Rock n Roll Festival at Phoenix Park saw Laura Rose with a PB in 22:58, Jennifer Butler next in 27:00. Noel Bloomfield 27:01. Lee-Anne Skillen 30:37, Laura Campbell 30:39.

Groomsport Half Marathon:
This sleepy seaside village was awakened to the sound of runners and Mallusk’s half marathon team with Danny Donaldson claiming 1st position for the club in a perfect 1.29:12. Next to arrive was Kevin Donnelly with a terrific 1.43:33. Once more nothing could separate Catherine Boyd & Anna-Marie Nolan as they both dived for the line in 2.02:53. Next home was Tiffany Donaldson in 2.38:41.

parkrun.

Antrim:
At Lough Neagh Mallusk’s Jackie McCreesh was 1st home in 28:57, with Fiona Wylie in 31:22. Jennifer McCoppin 33:35, Maureen Ward 34:41, Deirdre McCann 36:07, Miriam Clarke 39:53, Dawn Dubois 40:29.

Pomprey Hill, Bristol:
A rural setting for this Bristol parkrun in the North Somerset city on the road to Chippenham, with Harrier Nikki Fleck finishing in 27:35.

Queens:
Upper Malone saw Harriers Susan Thompson home in 23:37, Ken McAuley just behind in 23:38 and Elaine Kennedy in 27:33.

Valley:
Clearing his head at the Valley after a terrific evening for the club the night before was Mallusk race director Alex Davidson in 21:08. Next came Alan Ladd 21:27, with Patrick McGuickin 23:09. Neil Campbell 23:10, Gabrielle Mcmillan with a PB in 27:20, Martin McCready 28:32, Debbie Sterritt 33:21, Frances Kane 34:30, Freda Stubbs 35:37, Patricia Kane 43:29.
parkrun thanks Mallusk Volunteers Owen Fulton, Louise Ladd.

Waterworks:
1st Harrier home was Matthew Cromie in 24:56, with Patrick Hamil 26:17 and James Hewitt is second run in a little over 12 hours in 27:10. Junior Harrier Joseph Eager in his first parkrun 27:36, Maeve Kennedy 27:40, Junior Harrier Ryan McCready 30:36, Duncan Baxter 30:51, Fidelma McCoppin 30:52, Kelly Carlisle 43:11.
parkrun thanks Mallusk Volunteer Neil McCready.

Sunday 13th August 2017.

Feile 10K:
Taking to the streets of North and West Belfast in festival conditions saw Mallusk’s Stephen Semple 1st for Mallusk in 48:59, Sharon McCavana next in 51:45, with Maeve Kennedy 54:22, and David McCavana 1.14:53

Dublin Rock n Roll Half Marathon:
A well supported event, but an early 8.30am start for this terrific Half Marathon beginning at the former Dublin Point Debut before meandering around the hilly city streets and finishing in the beautiful Phoenix Park. Mallusk’s Patricia Curistan was 1st home for the club with a PB in 1.41:51, next came Laura Rose also a PB in 1.45:23. Noel Bloomfield & Jennifer Butler arrived together in 2.08:03. Great effort by Lee-Anne Skillen 2.22:10 and Laura Campbell shortly behind in 2.22:34 on a very warm morning. Showing he’s still running crazy was Neil McGlinchey in 2.29:10.

Another excellent productive week for the club.

Until next week.

Stay safe…

The Insider.