Club Report – Sunday 28th October 2018

A quiet week this week, until the weekend, as most of you were gearing up for the two big events – the latest XC league event and the Dublin marathon.

The headers had their second outing of the XC season on Saturday (Suzanne HOTM Brennan could be heard gurning the whole way from Florida). Taking on the Bobby Rea races at Greenmount Campus were:

Men’s Race

Mark Smith 29:03, Peter McGarry 29:44, Joe Mathers 31:33, Danny Donaldson 32:17, Lee O’Boyle 32:20 (slacker!), Stephen Gallagher 34:18, Robert Gould 35:49

Ladies Race

Sarah McCafferty 29:35, Pamela McCafferty 29:40, Joanne Milne 32:59, Jackie McCreesh 33:14, Claire McCann 34:10, Louise Ladd 35:08, Fidelma McCoppin 36:18, Marie McFarlane 36:48, Mairead O’Hare 41:55, Tiffany Donaldson 41:56

Special mention to Lee O’Boyle who ran the XC after winning the EAMS Marathon that very morning in 2:55:15. Great run Lee!

Tom Fleming represented the club in the junior Even Age Group XC race coming 7th in the Boys U12 race in 7:24.

Doing the rounds of the parkruns were:

Valley parkrun:

Nuala Muldoon 23:57 (and 1st female finisher), Yasmin Lynn 28:13, Lee-Anne Hutchinson 29:26, Yvonne Thompson 35:36, Frances Kane 45:39, Rosalind Stitt 51:05, Patricia Kane 51:05, Galina Stanevicius 51:16

Waterworks parkrun:

Kevin Donnelly 27:49

Queens parkrun:

Stephen Semple 23:23, Maeve Kennedy 25:14

Antrim parkrun:

Dawn Dubois 37:35, Jo Smyth 39:40

Ormeau parkrun:

Debbie Sterritt 34:18, Marie McFarlane 34:20, Fidelma McCoppin 34:21

Colin Glen parkrun:

Danny Donaldson 21:26, Tiffany Donaldson 38:25

MUSA parkrun:

Adrian Hughes 24:05

This week’s tourists have done it properly – Florida – with the Micky and Minnie Mouse of Mallusk Harriers taking part in the Clermont Waterfront parkrun:

Suzanne “really would rather be at the XC” Brennan 22:30 (and 2nd female finisher), Lord Ian Brennan 23:24

Waterworks junior parkrun:

Joseph Eager 9:48, Leo McAuley 10:18, Matthew Hawkins 10:42, Eloise McAuley 11:44

Jordanstown Junior parkrun:

Riley Kerr 13:25, Rhys Kerr 14:31

Sunday saw 29 Harriers don their woolly hats and head for Dublin for this year’s marathon. Rightly regarded as one of the best supported and organised on the calendar, the Harriers had a ball, both on and off the roads.

Dublin marathon:

Neil Campbell 2:58:10PB, Alan Ladd 2:58:46PB, Chris Quinn 3:08:36PB, Martin O’Neill 3:14:01PB, Kevin Donnelly 3:18:41PB, , Laura Rose 3:26:00PB, Alan Erwin 3:37:20PB, Brendan McGeown 3:38:02PB, Patricia Curistan 3:38:04PB, Karen McKee 3:41:53PB, Sarah Ross 3:41:57PB, Danny “barefoot” Donaldson 3:42:18, Susan Thompson 3:49:29, Jonny Smith 3:55:26, Damien Cole 4:07:25, Alan “big 50” Kerr 4:10:20PB, Christiaan Spies 4:11:51,Deborah Ewing 4:15:04, Tina Steele 4:15:12PB, Janet Grew 4:29:56, Ken “win one for the Gipper” McAuley 4:41:31, Tiffany Donaldson 4:48:05PB, Leeanne Skillen 4:51:27PB, Alex “long run” Davidson 4:51:28, Frances Kane 4:58:33 (1st marathon), Roseann “virgin from Belfast” McGeown 5:04:25 (1st timer), Laura Campbell 5:24:48, Neil “lovin’ it” McGlinchey 5:58:51PB, David “biggest cheer of the day” Esler 6:16:41

From the number of PBs and the general feedback from the runners, I think a big thank you is due to the coaches, run leaders and those who created the training plans. The runners obviously put the effort in but couldn’t reach these levels without the knowledge, encouragement and commitment of the coaching team. We salute you.

Also need to thank those Harriers who came down to support on the day even though they weren’t running. It was much appreciated by those struggling around the course.

I also hear the owners of a certain pub in Dublin have been able to close up and head to Spain for a fortnight based on Sunday’s takings.

So this week’s tune is for Lee and the Dubliners.

At mile 20 I thought I was dead.

At mile 22 I wished I was dead.

At mile 24 I knew I was dead.

At mile 26.2 I realized I had become too tough to kill

https://youtu.be/TY41o-iZStI

Until next week, behave.

CAVILLATOR

Club Report – Sunday 21st October 2018

Downhill.
Buns.
It seems these two words are all that is needed to get Harriers out of bed.
At least the crowd at this morning’s 10@10 would definitely suggest so.
Lee is definitely back on a lot of Santa lists after that one.

But there was an awful lot of other running this week so let’s crack on:

Dundrum Gr8:
Gabrielle McMillan 1:07:30, Sarah McCafferty 1:10:21, Pamela McCafferty 1:10:23, Yasmin Lynn 1:20:46, David McMillan 1:22:00, Andrew Kerr 1:22:01, Lisa ROTM Kerr 1:22:11, Roisin McLaughlin 1:31:52 (finish time not chip time)

Our vest in the west, Aidy Hughes took on the Killyclogher 5k, running it in 24:38.

Saturday saw the start of the XC season. (Yes, Suzanne is VERY excited). Comber XC was first on the list:
Men’s Race:
Mark Smith 27:23, Lee O’Boyle 28:15, Peter McGarry 28:56, Alan Ladd 29:18, Danny Donaldson 31:21, ADav 33:05, Stephen Gallagher 33:52, Neill McGlinchey 42:18, David Esler 43:00
Ladies’ Race:
Laura Rose 24:53, Karen McKee 25:52, Suzanne XC Brennan 26:24, Sarah Ross 27:39, Tiffany Donaldson 33:40, Roisin Brooks 34:12, Laura Campbell 34:32, Louise Ladd 36:04, Mairead O’Hare 41:07

This was all preceded by the junior cross country races which saw some of our young folks excel:
Primary race – Sophie Davidson 04:09
Under 13s – Adam McCann 06:29, Tom Fleming 06:30
Under 15s – Ben Davidson 11:09

Also on Saturday, our headers department were allowed a wee day out and they headed for the Mournes, as they tend to do. Taking on the Mourne Skyline challenge was Micky McAuley 5:24:06, and Nuala Muldoon.

Doing the rounds of the parkruns were:
Valley parkrun:
Neil Campbell 18:42PB (and 2nd place overall), Brendan McGeown 24:04, Galina Stanevicius 27:40PB, Philip Fleck 28:29, Lee-Anne Hutchinson 30:19, Emily Dowling 30:27, Frances Kane 31:47, Yvonne Thompson 34:55, Rosalind Stitt 41:51, Patricia Kane 41:52

Waterworks parkrun:
Alan Erwin 21:16PB, Stephen Semple 23:31, Jim Hewitt 24:44, Susan Thompson 24:45, Maeve Kennedy 25:01, Roisin Bradley 32:41

Wallace Park parkrun:
Jim Guinn 25:58

Antrim parkrun:
Deborah Ewing 26:14, Tina Steele 26:14

Stormont parkrun:
Maria McFarlane 30:33PB, Freda Stubbs 32:44, Sharon Thompson 34:38

This week’s tourists went north and west to Falcarragh:
Sarah “sweatin’ it out” Knowles 28:29, Jo Smyth 48:38, Elaine Kennedy 48:40

Waterworks junior parkrun:
Leo McAuley 11:18, Matthew Hawkins 11:19

Jordanstown Junior parkrun:
Tom Fleming 8:26 (and 1st place), Riley Kerr 12:42, Rhys Kerr 14:13PB

Taking on the tarmac at the Runher 5k today was Suzanne Brennan, finishing in a 5k PB of 22:27.
Suzanne has fully recovered; Lord Ian has not.

Our international division were in the Netherlands this weekend as several Harriers took on the Amsterdam Marathon and Half Marathon:
Joe Mathers 3:04:00PB, Alastair CHO Houldsworth 3:32:59, Sharon Dunn 4:05:41PB, Sam Hastings 4:14:56PB, Joanne Milne 4:39:26PB
Half Marathon – Owen Fulton 2:04:48

This week’s tune is to honour our Amsterdam heroes.
(Just listen to the first line of lyrics if you don’t know this classic – and you should!)
God only knows what shape they, and Amsterdam, are in by now.

https://youtu.be/rqCPRGnrBqQ

Until next week, behave.

CAVILLATOR

Runner of the Month – September 2018

Nominations this month were dominated with Belfast Half Marathon success stories and it’s great to see so many Harriers exceeding their goals after working so hard over the last few months and keeping to their training plans.

Tony McKeating, Karen McKee, Sharon Dunn and Joe Mathers all received nominations for their efforts, well done!

There were also nominations for Mairead O’Hare and Alex Davidson for their grit and determination to achieve their goals and fight through injury to represent the club.

This month it was a tight call at the top of the nominations with so many outstanding performances:

Laura Rose and Alan Ladd have put their all in to training and achieved unbelievable PBs at Belfast Half marathon, far exceeding what they expected.

“Laura shows great dedication to a very intensive marathon training program, culminating in some great PBs, especially at the recent Belfast Half Marathon.”

“Alan has been going from strength to strength over the last month putting in brilliant performances and a massive PB recently at Belfast HM. Alan worked hard to create half marathon training plans for club members and mentored first timers with Q&A sessions, it is great testament to this preparation that so many club members achieved PBs.”

But there can only be one winner, and ROTM for September goes to….

Lisa Kerr!

Lisa had a great month in September and has really been going from strength to strength with dedication to training rewarded with multiple PBs across several distances.

“Great work training for Belfast half marathon getting a 5k PB at Magheralin, 10k PB at Storming the castle and a 10-minute PB at Belfast Half.”

“Lisa has been flying lately, looks like the training is paying off, another good showing at Belfast half, Lisa is just getting faster and stronger with every run.”

“Hard work in training really paying off, multiple PBs across various distances this month, great work!”

Well done Lisa, thoroughly deserved and well done to all the nominees 

Club Report – Sunday 14th October 2018

I had a whole spiel organised giving off about the rain.

I wrote it yesterday. I binned it this morning.

Instead I will have to give you my favourite metaphysical poet, John Donne:

“No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face”

This week’s long run was definitely more enjoyable than last week!

Yesterday, our own Mark Smith and Nuala Muldoon took part in the Northern Ireland Masters Athletics Association (NIMAA) XC at the Dub Playing Fields. Mark’s time over 8k was 28:29 but more importantly he qualified for the NI Masters XC Team and will be part of the squad competing in Wales next month. Nuala’s time in the women’s race over 6k was 30:14.

The Harriers should be very proud to have representation at this level. Well done Sir.

Over in Saintfield, a couple of Harriers were taking on the Atlas Running Saintfield 10k:

Maeve Dunseith 56:24, Lisa Kerr 59:32

Doing the rounds of the parkruns were:

Valley parkrun:

Joe Mathers 19:23PB, Tom Fleming 19:49PB, Laura Rose (1st female finisher) 22:16PB, Alan Erwin 23:02, Brendan McGeown 23:55, Sarah Ross 24:07, Susan Thompson 24:59, Lord Ian Brennan 25:04PB, Janine McNevison 26:47PB (3rd week in a row!), Leanne Skillen 28:13, Neil Campbell 28:14, Oran McKee 29:35, Karen McKee 29:35, Lee-Anne Hutchinson 29:46, Frances Kane 29:55, Emily Dowling 30:22, Roisin Brooks 31:18, Sharon Dunn 31:18, Patricia Kane 41:39

Waterworks parkrun:

Robert Gould 22:32

Queens parkrun:

Jim Guinn 27:29, Jackie McCreesh 28:46, Marie McFarlane 30:39, Sharon Thompson 35:06, Josi McKeating 35:07, Miriam Clarke 39:20, Deirdre McCann 40:30

Antrim parkrun:

Maeve Kennedy 24:50PB, Deborah Ewing 28:44, Tina Steele 28:44

Dungannon parkrun:

Aidy Hughes 25:37

Newbie Galina Stanevicius thought she was this week’s best tourist as she completed the Omagh parkrun in 28:38 but she didn’t count on Mr & Mrs Donaldson. They went as far as Boston, Massachusetts to take part in the excellently named Jamaica Pond parkrun. Danny finished 3rd overall in 18:56 and Tiffany finished in 31:48.

And ADav went to Orangefield 22:30

Waterworks junior parkrun:

Joseph Eager 9:40, Ryan McCready 9:43, Matthew Hawkins 11:26, Olivia McCready 12:20, Aaron Ladd 14:24

Sophie Magee and Orin Calder headed to Manchester for the Half Marathon today, both finishing in 1:53:49 (you’ll be kept Sir!)

This week’s tune is to mark Sarah’s departure for New Zealand. Before you say anything, Crowded House only have one Kiwi, Neil Finn, so they’re basically Australian/American. Ladyhawke is 100% NZ.

Until next week, behave.

CAVILLATOR

Club Report – Sunday 7th October 2018

Winter is coming, as yer man says, and it was definitely felt by any of us out doing long runs this morning. As the coaches told me “If you feel good during a long run, don’t worry, you’ll get over it.”

The vest in the west found yet another Tyrone road race yesterday completing the Omagh 5 mile race in a PB time of 39:31.

Going further and farther were Stephen Semple and Maeve Kennedy who headed off to Galway. Stephen completed the marathon in 4:18:40 and Maeve completed the half marathon in 1:54:55.

Pints of black stuff were then completed in much shorter times.

Doing the rounds of the parkruns were:

Valley parkrun:

Alan Erwin 22:16, Brendan McGeown 27:09, Janine McNevison 27:25PB (again), Emily McKeown 29:35, John Teer 34:20, Patricia Kane 38:49, Rosalind Stitt 38:55

Waterworks parkrun:

Susan Thompson 23:35, Michael McFarlane 26:16, Marie McFarlane 29:08, Deirdre McCann 44:35

Victoria parkrun:

Danny Donaldson 24:12, Tiffany Donaldson 36:29

Queens parkrun:

Jim Guinn 24:01

Antrim parkrun:

Alan Kerr 26:20, Deborah Ewing 27:33, Tina Steele 27:33, Jo Smyth 40:44, Elaine NY Kennedy 49:49

Orangefield parkrun:

Ben Davidson 22:42, Joanne Milne 28:42

And ADav went to Orangefield 27:09

Waterworks junior parkrun:

Ryan McCready 9:52, Leo McAuley 10:15, Eloise McAuley 11:17, Aaron Ladd 13:51PB, Olivia McCready 14:37

Yesterday saw the latest running of the very popular NI & Ulster Road Relay Championships hosted at Victoria Park by Orangegrove AC.

Senior Men

Team A 47:29, Team B 56:43

Senior Ladies

Team A 43:42, Team B 46:16, Team C 51:52

Masters Men

Team A 46:31 (10th place and faster than the young ‘uns!), Team B 56:37

Masters Ladies

Team A 44:40, Team B 54:38

And not forgetting the juniors with Ryan McCready in the U13 race finishing in 7:20, and Adam McCann in the U15 race finishing in 06:29

This morning Kevin Donnelly took on the Run Anon Lough View 10k finishing in 42:41 (unofficial).

At the same time other Harriers were at the Born 2 Run Cultra Charity Challenge. Great to see volunteers from the club at the event. Of those running,

5k:

Joanne Haddock 43:44

10k:

Hilary Faith 58:36

The songs have been much too good lately. I don’t like you all that much really.

The big music news of the week was not the jaw dropping use of Abba’s Dancing Queen but the announcement of the return of Westlife! So, if I’m in pain today then you will all join me.

https://youtu.be/vKPGxGCFgTs

Until next week, behave.

CAVILLATOR

Club Report – Sunday 30th September 2018

Wee bit later this week. Maybe I was too wrapped up in the Ryder Cup or maybe I just had to wait until the end of the Strictly results. Some things are just better left unspoken to be honest.

Doing the rounds of the parkruns were:

Valley parkrun:

Owen Fulton 26:49, Alan “too many questions” Erwin 26:51, Philip Fleck 27:15, Janine McNevison 27:42PB, Nikki Fleck 27:48, David Esler 28:15, Jackie McCreesh 29:07, Lee-Anne Hutchinson 30:09, Marie McFarlane 32:52, John Teer 33:49, Tracey Whittley 34:08, Fidelma McCoppin 34:13, Josi McKeating 35:01PB, Sharon Thompson 35:27, Patricia Kane 38:21, Rosalind Stitt 38:25, Deirdre McCann 41:01

Waterworks parkrun:

Robert Gould 22:18, Jim Hewitt 24:16

Victoria parkrun:

Lee ROTM O’Boyle, 17:37PB, Alan Ladd 18:01PB, Danny Donaldson 18:11PB, Tiffany Donaldson 29:14PB, Mairead O’Hare 31:45PB

PB full house! Well done guys.

Queens parkrun:

Maeve Kennedy 24:15PB

(Technically another full house!)

Antrim parkrun:

Susan Thompson 24:25, Tina Steele 27:31, Deborah Ewing 27:32, Elaine NY Kennedy 47:30

And ADav went to Orangefield 20:52

Waterworks junior parkrun:

Joseph Eager 9:40, Leo McAuley 9:55, Eloise McAuley 12:06

Jordanstown Junior parkrun:

Riley Kerr 11:44, Rhys Kerr 14:20PB

A crowd of our marathon runners headed off to Annaghmore to take part in their 18 mile event as part of their prep for Amsterdam and Dublin:

Joe Mathers 2:04:08, Neil Campbell 2:04:30, Alastair CHO Houldsworth 2:12:32, Kevin Donnelly 2:17:02, Laura Rose 2:19:07, Karen McKee 2:26:46, Sarah Ross 2:37:22, Suzanne Brennan 2:39:56, Sharon Dunn 2:40:43, James Guinn 2:42:59, Noel Bloomfield 2:53:23, Sam Hastings 2:56:38, Joanne Milne 2:57:11, Emily Dowling 2:59:45, Leeanne Skillen 3:09:28, Frances Kane 3:19:04

Jennifer Maguire took on the 5k distance, finishing in 32:21

Saturday also saw the Bangor 10k:

Mark Smith 34:40PB (and age category win), Andrew Kerr 56:13, Anna Seaward 57:02, Roisin McLaughlin 1:02:18

Same day, our vest in the west found yet another race in Tyrone, this time the Brockagh 5k, finishing in 24:19.

Then, this morning, it was Nuala’s latest Leg It Event, the Cavehill 5 mile trail race, a gentle dander around the castle – with some inclines:

Lee O’Boyle 38:06, Danny Donaldson 42:16, Ben Davidson 50:42, Sarah McCafferty 51:54, Pamela McCafferty 53:48, Tiffany Donaldson 1:00:03, David Esler 1:01:16

Further south, it was the Monaghan Phoenix Half Marathon:

Brian McDonald 1:55:44, Elaine Kennedy 3:29:54

Meanwhile, at the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow, Hilary Faith ran the 10k in 60:46.

I wanted this week’s song to celebrate today’s golfing victory. I thought about REM’s Radio Free Europe. I was determined not to play The Final Countdown by Europe. Then I saw Poulter dressed as a post box and I knew what I had to do. Enjoy.

https://youtu.be/I0n9ix1P6ms

Until next week, behave.

CAVILLATOR