Runner of the Month – February 2020

We are very nearly out of the dark nights and I for one cannot wait – although it hasn’t stopped the hardy Harriers and they continue to plod around the ‘not the bermuda triangle’ of Glengormley or crawl up and down the hills of Mallusk …..some even choose to run 50k from castle to castle!!

We had some lovely words about our nominees this month;

Suzanne Brennan was nominated for continuously giving 100% to her training.

Pamela McCafferty was nominated for her dedication to training and cross country, most recently she finished her long rung with Stormont cross country – her can do relaxed attitude makes her a great runner.

Dermot Boyd was nominated for representing the club so well at the Born to Run series, and still manages to find time to support the club as photographer at other events – thank you from us all Dermot!

This month we had one harrier who stood out for not only his commitment to his training, but also as an all-round great guy and fellow club member….our very own Ken McAuley.

Ken is a gentleman, he is encouraging at training, he listens intently to advice and cares about other club members training as much as he does his own.

He hasn’t always had it easy and has suffered his fair share of injuries…but his positive attitude has got him back running and he is in amazing form, which culminated in a PB at the Carlingford Half marathon at the weekend.

It’s always great to see Ken’s smiling face and hear his words of encouragement as we train. Well done Ken, a very worthy recipient of Runner of the Month

It wasn’t cold that night at all.

Club Report – Sunday 8th March 2020

Eleanor Roosevelt said “Well-behaved women rarely make history”. I can only say that we must be one history making club.

A couple of late results off the vidiprinter last week from Malta. The results of the Malta jury were:
Half Marathon – Neil HOTM Campbell 1:23:50 and Marathon – Jay Scott 4:59:46

Taking the parkruns this week were:

Valley parkrun:
Paul Skillen 23:18, Ben Davidson 23:23, Karen McKee 26:16, Maeve Dunseath 26:48, Clare Teer 27:18, Anton Piatek 28:17, Bernie McAllister 28:50, Frances Kane 30:27, Dermot Boyd 32:53, Roseann McGeown 33:34, Neill McGlinchey 38:29, John Teer 39:37

Waterworks parkrun:
Dawn Blain 23:54, Maeve Kennedy 24:52, Ciaran Wright 26:25, Joseph Eager 27:06, Claire McCann 28:11, Tiffany Donaldson 35:23, Danny Donaldson 35:26

Victoria parkrun:
Angela Stevens 33:27PB

Antrim parkrun:
Tina Steele 30:07

Carrickfergus parkrun:
Lorraine Ann Forsythe 47:56, Zoe O’Prey 54:24
And congratulations to Lorraine on completing your 100th parkrun!

Stranmillis parkrun:
Elaine Kennedy 29:37PB

Sixmilewater parkrun:
Tom Fleming 19:13 (and first finisher)

The only tourist this week was Prof Alan Ladd who completed the Stretford parkrun in 17:10. This parkrun is in Manchester, the home of football, music and rain. It is also the name of the revered Stretford End in Old Trafford Stadium (2-0, mic drop, the end).

And the Rt. Hon. ADav was at the Valley finishing in 29:54

Waterworks junior parkrun:
Leo McAuley 8:55, Eloise McAuley 10:28, Hollie Brennan 13:57PB

Jordanstown junior parkrun:
Ben Halliday 11:25, Matthew Hawkins 16:37

Plenty of other racing this week too as the road racing season really kicks into gear.

Yesterday, our own Team Kerr took on the Walled City 10 miler:
Andrew Kerr 1:21:00, Lisa Kerr 1:56:41

Yesterday also saw the latest Carlingford Half Marathon. They forgot to add the wind and rain this year, possibly a result of Coronavirus. But it didn’t stop the Harriers who caught it, binned it and killed it:
Ken McAuley 1:37:48PB, Patricia Curistan 1:43:39, Susan Thompson 1:57:36

Also yesterday was the Shane’s Castle Atlas Running Series. Taking on the Half Marathon for the Harriers there included:
Neil McCready 1:36:02, Jonny Smith 1:58:15

Today our own hasty header took on his latest ultra challenge. Lee O’Boyle, for it is he, took part in the We Run Wild Castle 2 Castle Ultra. This is a 50km run from Glenarm to Carrickfergus (see, castle to castle – geddit?) with over 4,000ft elevation. Not only did Lee take part, he went and won it, finishing in 4:17:18. Micky McAuley also got the headband out to finish in 5:15:55.

Finally, the Race to Recovery 10k also took place today. Nuala Muldoon finished in 49:20 and Anita Piatek in 56:32.

Another not so gentle reminder that not every race result notes your club name and not every race makes results widely available. So, if you want to show off your latest PB, please post in the results section in Team App to make sure you are included in the weekly report. If you’d rather not associate yourself with this drivel then don’t mention it and I won’t mention you. Totally understandable.

So, this week’s tune relates to International Women’s Day. I know it should be Beyoncé’s Run the World (Girls) but this is just better. Fact.

https://youtu.be/6FOUqQt3Kg0

Until next week, behave.

CAVILLATOR

Club Report – Sunday 1st March 2020

On Feb 29th 2012, construction was completed on the Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in the world. On Feb 29th 2020, Ian Simpson and the Harriers took over the Valley parkrun, changed the route and survived. Not sure which was the more impressive organisational feat but I know which one involved the most Guinness.

Taking on just the 13 different parkruns this week were:

Valley parkrun:

Ramunas Stanevicius 19:50, Paul Skillen 23:56, Nuala Muldoon 24:14, Ciaran Hawkins 26:14, Clare Teer 27:27, Claire McCann 29:05PB, Anita Piatek 30:45, John Teer 41:20, Zoe O’Prey 47:31

Waterworks parkrun:

Mike Halliday 21:34PB, Ciaran Wright 22:16, Kevin Donnelly 22:53, Dawn Blain 24:06, Nikki Fleck 28:44, Roisin Brooks 30:17, Fidelma McCoppin 31:25, Philip Fleck 32:08, Aaron Ladd 34:53PB, Prof Alan Ladd 34:55, Louise Ladd 44:31

Victoria parkrun:

Stephen Gallagher 19:30, Karen McKee 24:01, Bernard ROTM McKeaveney 25:49, Susan Thompson 27:26

Queens parkrun:

Jim Guinn 28:59

Portrush parkrun:

Johnny Smith 29:48

Antrim parkrun:

Alan Kerr 25:07, Frances Kane 30:22, Tina Steele 55:38

Carrickfergus parkrun:

Patrick Hughes 26:00, Lorraine Ann “ice-cream with a flake” Forsythe

Bangor parkrun:

David Esler 29:27

Colin Glen parkrun:

Maeve Kennedy 25:40PB, Stephen Semple 26:05

Orangefield parkrun:

Neil McCready 20:35

Stranmillis parkrun:

Elaine Kennedy 36:43

Sixmilewater parkrun:

Tom Fleming 19:47, Peter Fleming 22:14

The only tourist this week was Owen Fulton. The Big O was on one of his frequent visits to Stretford parkrun, finishing in 24:38.

And the Rt. Hon. ADav was at the Valley finishing in 24:12

Waterworks junior parkrun:

Leo McAuley 8:40 (and first finisher!!), Joseph Eager 9:44, Eloise McAuley 10:23

Jordanstown junior parkrun:

Matthew Hawkins 12:16, Ben Halliday 13:52

In non-parkrun news, some of the Harriers took on the Gaithouse Back to Basics events at Victoria Park today.

5k

Dermot Boyd 33:40

10k

Martin O’Neill 37:52 (and 9th place finish), Andrew McNevison 38:42

Results from Malta have not made it home yet so I’ll catch them up next week.

So, this week’s tune was going to be Robert Plant’s 29 Palms to celebrate leap day. But then I remembered it was rubbish. So I have yet another storm song. And its class. So there.

https://youtu.be/4hWMTSnP1AQ

Until next week, behave.

CAVILLATOR