Fantastic performance from our Junior Athletes at the Firmus Fab5 at Mary Peters on the 21st April 2022. Our Juniors who took part were Owen Dunseath, Leo Mcauley, Joseph Eager, Maili Skillen, Eloise McAuley , Jessie Smith , Kobe McClelland, Sinead O’Hare, Amelia Fleming, Peter Fleming and Tom Fleming, Andrew Scott.
Every one of them were outstanding, especially Eliose, who was first in the U11 girls Turbo Javelin #Juniorathletes#futureathletes
A massive thanks to Danny Corr and The Dojo – Non Profit Organisation for delivering a self defence class for some of our Harrier Ladies tonight. The ladies are buzzing after the session and the feedback has been brilliant. We think some of our ladies didn’t realise their own strength. A great environment to learn. Thank you again guys!
Well, whether you’re in the middle of your taper or the middle of a few beers, let’s hope you are enjoying the good weather while it lasts. Either way, hydrate!
Taking on just the 9 different parkruns this week were:
Valley parkrun:
ADav and his fancy shoes 19:22, David Esler 24:21PB, Clare Teer 28:39, Sinead ROTM O’Hare 30:01, Joanne Milne 30:05, Dermot Boyd 32:06, Marie McBrien 33:41, John Teer 38:40, Martin McCready 41:53
Waterworks parkrun:
Kevin Donnelly 18:52, Lord Ian “mother of dragons” Brennan 25:33, Joe Mathers 25:33, Jim Hewitt 26:05, Suzanne “wife of mother of dragons” Brennan 27:27, Claire McCann 36:15
Victoria parkrun:
Adam McCann 19:36
Queens parkrun:
Anita Piatek 28:50
Portrush parkrun:
Nicky Fleck 32:24
Antrim parkrun:
Tom Fleming 17:22PB and first finisher, Maeve Kennedy 24:44, Stephen Semple 24:52
Comber parkrun:
Elijah Cushley 21:46PB
Sixmilewater parkrun:
Karen McKee 24:38, Paul Skillen 24:39, Elaine Kennedy 30:45PB Craig Alexander 22.35
Only one tourist this week but probably one of the furthest away we have had. Sarah Ross took part in the Noosa parkrun, finishing in 24:06. Noosa parkrun takes place in Noosaville (obviously), in the State School car park (sure, why not). For the few of you who may not know, Noosaville is in Queensland, Australia. As the locals say there, Australia is like the Spice Girls – everyone is doing their best, but Victoria is ruining it for everyone.
Jordanstown junior parkrun:
Elijah Cushley 8:03 and first finisher, Emily Murphy 8:20PB and second finisher, Sinead ROTM O’Hare 9:52, Matthew Hawkins 12:50
Waterworks junior parkrun:
Eloise McAuley 8:02PB, Leo McAuley 8:34, Jessie Smith 11:39, Lexi Smith 14:17PB
In other racing, the juniors were leading the way as usual. Several junior Harriers took part in the Firmus Fab 5 on Thursday evening:
60m U11 Boys Races:
Kayden McClelland 10:24, Andrew Scott 10:58, Kobe McClelland 10:73
100mU13 Girls:
Sinead O’Hare 17.10
100m U13 Boys Races:
Owen Dunseath 14:59, Joseph Eager 16:27, Leo McAuley 16:35
600m U11 Girls
Eloise McAuley 2:08:88 and race winner, Jessie Smith 2:42:41
800m U13 Boys
Leo McAuley 3:01:00
800m U13 Girls
Sinead O’Hare 3:29:35
800m U15 Girls
Mali Skillen 3:24:58
U11 girls Turbo Javelin
Jessie Smith 4.60
U13 Girls Shot
Sinead O’Hare 3.40
Not to be totally outdone by the juniors, our own header in chief, Lee O’Boyle, took on another Ultra. This one was the 39.3 mile ultra distance at the Connemarathon race series in Connemara.
No official results yet but, unofficially, Lee finished 4th overall in an amazing 4:36:08. And not to be outdone, Angela Stevens also completed the ultra in 8:15:40.
So this week’s tune is for our parkrun tourist trip. Here is an absolute belter from Australian Nick Cave’s side project Grinderman. Sit back in the sun and enjoy.
The arrival of spring was the signal for many Harriers to step up training plans and get in their first races of the season. Amid the excitement of donning the club vest again, a mix of junior and senior members all caught your attention during March.
Here are those nominated for Runner of the Month, and what you had to say about them.
Alan Ladd
“Absolutely fantastic result at Manchester Marathon.”
“Excellent performance at Manchester marathon.”
Fidelma McCoppin
“Fidelma’s running this month has made me smile with delight for her. She got a PB at Portrush Parkrun and she followed that up at a super run the Spar Craic. Well done, Fidelma!”
Alan Kerr
“Alan Kerr always put his full attention into a race without anyone knowing and trains really hard. He consistently achieves his race goals, has been a valuable member of the club for many years, and really enjoys his running.”
Roisin Brooks
“Roisin has been working hard over the past few months, and gives her all in intervals training.”
Martin O’Neill
“The big fella’s ankles and knees are made from chocolate, but he never complains. He keeps training and coaching, keeping others’ morale up.”
Joseph Eager
“Joe is one of our fab juniors who works hard in training and parkruns. This paid off with an outstanding performance in the Craic 10k which he ran a sub 50min. Absolutely incredible. Well done Joe!”
Emily Murphy
“Emily has been training so hard and she is getting PB after PB. Such a lovely child and deserves everything she gets. Well done Emily!”
But after knocking on the door for months, one young Harrier’s continued commitment, effort and stellar running finally paid off…
Sinead O’Hare
“Continuing to improve all the time. PBs at parkrun and junior parkrun most weeks lately. Represents the club at junior XC as well.”
“Sinead has gone from strength to strength with her running. She has no fear of races and is constantly achieving PBs in parkruns. You go girl!”
“Amazing results at parkrun this year Getting better and better.” Congratulations Sinead on the richly-deserved Runner of the Month
Officially, the report is a few days later than usual to allow me to include results from Boston and Whitehead. Unofficially, its late as I’ve just re-emerged from a chocolate coma.
Taking on just the 10 different parkruns this week were:
Valley parkrun:
Elijah Cushley 22:26, Eloise McAuley 23:53PB, Sinead O’Hare 27:28, Clare Teer 28:15, Neill McGlinchey 31:31, Martin McCready 32:17, Sophie Davidson 32:38, Joanne Milne 33:58, John Teer 37:47
Waterworks parkrun:
Joe Mathers 21:42, Neil McCready 22:33, ADav 23:23, Lord Ian Brennan 25:05, Suzanne Brennan 26:41, Susan Thompson 26:48, Jim Hewitt 26:50, Cathy Ryan 27:04
Dungannon parkrun:
Aidy Hughes 26:17
Sixmilewater parkrun:
Tom Fleming 17:30 and first finisher (again)
Victoria parkrun:
Alan Irwin 18:29
Ormeau parkrun:
Robbie Gould 22:07, Robert Gould 22:33, David Esler 23:32PB
Antrim parkrun:
Brendan McGeown 22:06, Paul Skillen 22:56, Stephen Semple 23:57, Maeve Kennedy 24:39, Karen McKee 26:48, Marie McBrien 29:51, Roseann McGeown 32:13PB
Dunleath Playing Fields parkrun:
Adam McCann 19:15
This is a new parkrun (4th event this week) near Downpatrick. Yes, I had to look it up.
And, it being Easter weekend, there were a few parkrun tourists this week (sorry Aidy, but Dungannon doesn’t count).
The Piateks were at Hogmoor Inclosure parkrun. Anton finished in 24:29 and Anita in 29:33. Hogmoor Inclosure parkrun is in Bordon. Yeah, me neither. Turns out it is in East Hampshire in the south of England (which is near France). Hogmoor Inclosure was often used for army manoeuvres. Luckily neither Anton nor Anita tanked on their runs, boom boom!
Nicky Fleck was at Clevedon Salthouse Fields parkrun (yes, I think someone is making these names up too) finishing in 31:09. This parkrun is in Clevedon near Bristol which I have heard of. This location has something to do with salt but, to be honest, I got bored and so have no further details.
Jordanstown junior parkrun:
Elijah Cushley 7:55 and first finisher, Emily Murphy 8:48, Sinead O’Hare 9:14, Matthew Hawkins 11:40, Joseph Eager 11:40
Waterworks junior parkrun:
Leo McAuley 8:25, Eloise McAuley 13:24
Bangor junior parkrun:
Hollie Brennan 14:27PB
The above may disagree, but there is also life outside of parkrun and several Harriers were burning off the Easter eggs in the sunshine at the Whitehead 5 mile race:
Micky McAuley 31:59, Stephen Gallagher 34:28, Neil McCready 34:35, Ciaran Wright 36:47, Bernard McKeaveney 42:04, Dermot Boyd 52:07
Last result of the week has to go to our own speedy specs as Kevin Donnelly proudly brought the club vest to the Boston Marathon. Kevin finished the toughest of the majors in an amazing 3:13:46.
So this week’s tune is for Kevin. I wanted to pick a band from Boston for him. It could have been Aerosmith, or the Pixies (sorry Lee), The Cars, The Lemonheads, even the mighty New Kids on the Block (a close 2nd choice – not). But I’ll take any chance to play this classic and its aptly describes how Kevin took on Heartbreak Hill. Mr Donnelly, we salute you.
Another busy week for the Harriers with everyone involved in distances from 5k races to 20 mile long runs. Plenty of PBs, some near misses, injuries and achievements. Sure, where else would you get it?
Taking on 9 different parkruns this week were:
Valley parkrun:
Ramunas Stanevicius 23:08, Sinead O’Hare 26:24PB, ADav 26:25, Joe Mathers 26:46, Lord Ian Brennan 26:47, Joanne Milne 29:11, Cathy Ryan 29:52, Neill McGlinchey 30:34, Marie McBrien 31:58, Michael Whittley 32:00, Martin McCready 57:51
Well done Sinead on yet another PB and congrats to Michael on completing his first parkrun. And only 2 years after he registered. We look forward to his next one in early 2024.
Waterworks parkrun:
Jim Hewitt 25:57, Maili Skillen 32:24, Claire McCann 33:09
Victoria parkrun:
Adam McCann 18:33
ECOS parkrun:
Anton Piatek 24:24
MUSA Cookstown parkrun:
Aidy Hughes 25:22
Ormeau parkrun:
Robbie Gould 20:01, Robert Gould 21:39
Antrim parkrun:
Stephen Armour 20:33, Maeve Kennedy 27:47, Stephen Semple 27:48
And big congrats to Maeve on completing her 200th parkrun!
Carrickfergus parkrun:
Elijah Cushley 20:22PB
Sixmilewater parkrun:
Tom Fleming 17:09
Jordanstown junior parkrun:
Elijah Cushley 7:44PB (a weekend PB double), Sinead O’Hare 9:10, Matthew Hawkins 9:51PB
Waterworks junior parkrun:
Eloise McAuley 8:36 (and 3rd finisher), Kayden McClelland 8:45PB, Kobe McClelland 8:59PB, Leo McAuley 10:27, Jessie Smith 12:02, Lexi Smith 14:52
Mid-week racing again this week with the Queens 5k on Wednesday night:
Tom Fleming 16:46, Kevin Donnelly 17:39PB, Alan Erwin 17:58PB, Adan McCann 18:09, Patrick Shields 19:36, Stephen Gallagher 19:55, Emily Murphy 22:31, Lord Ian Brennan 22:35PB, Stephen Murphy 22:40, Sinead O’Hare 25:47, Aidy Hughes 25:49, Roisin Brooks 30:15
This weekend, our regular racing tourists, Alan and Dermot, were at it again, this time at the Born2Run Glenarm Castle Challenge events.
Dermot Boyd completed the 10k in 1:09:35 and Alan Kerr completed the half marathon distance in 2:20:29.
So this week’s tune is for all those who took part at the Queens 5k on Wednesday. You’ll now be expected to go at that pace every time!
Meet Emily Murphy, one of our rising stars at juniors. Consistently turning up to training, listening to coaches, pushing every week herself to improve, all evidenced with her continuous PBs seen over the last few months at events.
Emily represented the club at the Titianic 1k run with an amazing result. Congratulations Emily, on this well deserved 3rd place podium spot at the Titanic 1K this morning. You are amazing!
Emily has gone from strength to strenght, we can’t wait to see what the future brings. 🏆
Eloise McAuley is one of our rising stars at Mallusk Harriers juniors. Showing us all how its done, especially with your performances in XC Congratulations Eloise, on your 2nd place with EastCoast XC, collecting her trophy on the 3rd of April. You are amazing!
Smoke coming out of the Vidiprinter right enough Mrs McKee, with Harriers competing in 6 other events on top of the usual parkruns and junior parkruns. The Cavillator Towers wine cellar may have to be raided after this one.
Taking on the parkruns this week were:
Valley parkrun:
Elijah Cushley 22:10, Emily Murphy 23:45PB, Aidy Hughes 27:29, Paul Skillen 28:15, Clare Teer 29:07, Marie McBrien 32:05, Ramunas Stanevicius 33:07, Galina Stanevicius 33:07, Martin McCready 35:45, John Teer 38:52
Waterworks parkrun:
Robbie Gould 22:09, Robert Gould 22:45, Lord Ian Brennan 23:16, Neil McCready 23:50, Stephen Semple 24:04, ADav 24:59, Kevin Donnelly 25:00, Maeve Kennedy 25:11, Jim Hewitt 25:19, Claire McCann 33:34
Victoria parkrun:
Alan Erwin 19:12, Sinead O’Hare 25:03PB, Dermot Boyd 31:26
And congrats to Victoria parkrun on their 500th event.
Sixmilewater parkrun:
Tom Fleming 17:26, David Esler 23:59
Jordanstown junior parkrun:
Elijah Cushley 7:57, Sinead O’Hare 9:09PB (the weekend PB double!), Matthew Hawkins 10:22
Waterworks junior parkrun:
Leo McAuley 8:31, Eloise McAuley 8:38, Jessie Smith 12:08
In other racing, our very own Prof Ladd was back in the homeland, this time not running from hospital to hospital over the Pennines but at the Manchester marathon. Prof Alan finished in an amazing PB time of 2:48:11. Johnny Carey was also in the home of proper music and was also on a PB mission, finishing in 3:56:01.
But Alan wasn’t the only Harrier competing across the water. Fidelma McCoppin was in the home of rubbish football teams, taking on the London Landmarks half marathon in 2:29:34.
Closer to home, Ramunas Stanevicius took part in the Omagh Half marathon, finishing in 1:30:46.
Even closer to home again, Anton Piatek was pitying the fools who had to climb to Knockagh monument twice. Anton completed the two loop, 20 mile event in 3:18:02.
Finally, this morning saw the latest running of the flat and fast Titanic 10k:
Martin O’Neill 37:58, Adam McCann 39:19PB, Craig Goodall 46:55, Stephen Semple 48:54, Maeve Kennedy 52:54
Athletics NI and ChampionChip Ireland showing slightly different times. So I went with the quickest ones! And well done in particular to Adam, going sub 40 in his very first 10k. Time I retired, I think.
And in the kid’s 1k race, our own Emily Murphy had a podium finish, being the third girl home in 3:58. And this after her Waterworks 5k PB the day before. Well done Emily!
And one more gentle reminder that memberships (both new and renewals) are now overdue if not recently paid. Please pay up if you ever want mentioned here again.
And the membership officer knows where you live, so be afraid. Very afraid. Honestly. I’m not joking. I’m not. At all.
So thank you to Prof Ladd for going to Manchester this week and giving me an excuse to play a Madchester classic. A fairly obvious choice but good advice for everyone racing and long running this weekend. And a proper tune.