I’ve obviously spent most the week reviewing political manifestos but it was another week another muddy field for the MH mudsuckers so I’d better keep off the politics and report on that instead.

Taking on the parkruns this week were:

Valley parkrun:
Paul Skillen 23:57, Yasmin Lynn 29:04, Joanne Milne 30:24, Owen Fulton 51:47

Waterworks parkrun:
Ken McAuley 21:45, Susan Thompson 24:36, Claire McCann 29:04

Antrim parkrun:
Maeve Kennedy 24:54, Anton Piatek 30:12, Tina Steele 31:03, Elaine Kennedy 1:00:48

Wallace parkrun:
Neil McCready 20:35PB

Carrickfergus parkrun:
Alan Kerr 26:01, Lorraine Ann Forsythe 49:37

Sixmilewater parkrun:
Tom Fleming 19:10, 1st place overall and matched his course PB. Well done Tom (again!)

And ADav was at the Valley 23:59

Waterworks junior parkrun:
Leo McAuley 8:45, Joseph Eager 9:14, Eloise McAuley 9:47

Jordanstown junior parkrun:
Ben Halliday 1133, Riley Kerr 11:40, Matthew Hawkins 16:23, Rhys Kerr 16:27

A late result off the vidiprinter from last week saw David Esler continue his take over of Las Vegas. After completing the 5k he then took on the half marathon distance, finishing in 2:36:47. His own description of this as #PartyPace is excellent and is now the leading principal of my current training regime. Matt Shields may disagree. And probably rightly so.

Elaine Kennedy continued her recent run of marathons, completing the latest EAMs Fatlad marathon in 5:23:48.

Earlier today, Bernard McKeaveney donned the tash, and God knows what else, to complete the MoRun 10k at Stormont in 57:10.

Also today, Ramunas Stanevicius continued his strong weekend of running with a PB performance of 18:34 in the Castleblaney 5k.

But the big event of the week was the latest XC league, the Malcolm Cup at Ballyclare. There was a great turnout from the Harriers. Most impressive were those runners who endured the horrors of Comber and still came back for more. Complete headers.

Ladies 3 mile race:
Sharon Dunn 24:48, Angela Stevens 25:19, Pamela McCafferty 26:01, Suzanne Brennan 26:03, Sarah “the comeback kid” McCafferty 26:27, Maeve Dunseath 26:29, Bernie “why did I do this again?” McAllister 26:35, Galina Stanevicius 29:00, Roseann McGeown 37:23

Men’s 4 mile race:
Lee O’Boyle 23:30, Ramunas Stanevicius 25:21, Prof Alan Ladd 26:15, Joe Mathers 27:12, Neil McCready 28:39, Mike Halliday 29:45, Sean Doherty 30:20, Stephen Smyth 31:20, Owen Fulton 32:04, Alan “out of his sickbed and it wasn’t even a hangover” Irwin 32:24, Brendan McGeown 33:46, Lord Ian “I don’t care cus I won an iPad” Brennan 33:46.1

The battle for 12th (or actually 11th this time for all you pendants out there) took on a new dimension as it saw its first ever sprint finish. McGeown won this one but it was a hollow victory as Lord Brennan had twisted an ankle mid-race and was not operating on all cylinders. The most impressive element was that both managed to keep their breakfasts down in the funnel afterwards. Just.
Those of you desperately awaiting the next instalment will have to wait a while as Lord Brennan cannot make the next race at Mighty Oaks. He says he is going to the Xmas panto with work.
Oh no he isn’t.
Oh yes he is.
Sorry.

So this week’s song is for all the mudsuckers, especially those who suffered at the end.

https://youtu.be/QgsqwdLntnE

Until next week, behave.

CAVILLATOR