Well, the good news this week was that training was back. The bad news, training was back.
Taking on the parkruns this week:
Valley parkrun:
Ben Davidson 22:05, Elijah Cushley 23:31, Nuala Muldoon 24:31, Leo McAuley 26:28, Eloise McAuley 26:39, Micky McAuley 26:45, ADav 28:17, Cathy Ryan 28:46, Stephen Curran 29:24, Sharon Dunn 30:05, Owen Fulton 30:06, Joe Mathers 30:07, Joanne Milne 32:44, Terri Ganley 32:53PB, Martin McCready 35:34, John Teer 38:56
Waterworks parkrun:
Stephen Murphy 22:17PB, Jim Hewitt 25:27
Victoria parkrun:
Martin O’Neill 17:30PB, Robbie ROTM Gould 18:31PB, Alan Erwin 20:20, Anton Piatek 21:22PB
ECOS parkrun:
Tom Fleming 16:46 and first finisher
Ormeau parkrun:
Lauren Penman 30:39
Antrim parkrun:
Maeve Kennedy 24:55, Johnny Carey 30:16, Elaine Kennedy 32:57
Congrats to Johnny on hitting 50 parkruns
Colin Glen parkrun:
Neil McCready 21:43PB and third finisher
Sixmilewater parkrun:
Lisa Kerr 35:58
Jordanstown Junior parkrun:
Joseph Eager 9:10, Matthew Hawkins 13:25, Andrea Bradley 14:14, Coach Sinead O’Hare 15:19
Portrush junior parkrun:
Rory Mason 10:27
Waterworks junior parkrun results are not available yet so if any of our elites were there today, we’ll catch up on their times next week.
The only other racing this week was a Harrier targeted event, the latest Born2Run event at Antrim Castle Gardens. Plenty of Harriers were out in the vest covering both the 5k and 10k distances:
5k
Coach Sinead O’Hare 27:08
10k
Mark Smith 35:52 and 6th overall, David Graham 36:25 and 10th overall, Kevin Donnelly 36:36, Stevo Armour 40:17PB, Ciaran Wright 43:11, Johnny Carey 44:25, Karen McKee 47:54, Elaine Kennedy 58:04, And Obviously Dermot Boyd 1:04:35, Clare Gallagher 1:20:21, Louise Ladd 1:20:21, Mairead O’Hare 1:36:34, Calla Crossan 1:36:35
But I know you’ve scanned quickly down through all that running nonsense just to get to the Alan Erwin Quiz.
First of all, last week’s answer – Alan Erwin. So well done again if you got that one.
This week’s question is:
Which Harrier takes a Paw Patrol friend (Chase, obviously) to bed to help them sleep?
Answers to itsalanagain@compuserve.com
I can’t find any decent tunes about Antrim (nope, not doing that one about green glens) so here is one about a garden. And it’s a tune. And I know these links are thinner than my highlight reel but give me a break. Run somewhere with better links!
“Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, that dost not bite so nigh as benefits forgot: Though thou the waters warp, thy sting is not so sharp as friend remembered not.”
No, not the thoughts of the modern day philosopher, Taylor Swift, but actually some auld fella called Shakespeare. Not sure what he was on about to be honest but it was definitely baltic this week. It was so cold that Lee and Micky only went out running twice some days.
Taking on the surviving parkruns this week:
Waterworks parkrun:
Eloise McAuley 24:49 and 2nd female finisher, Micky McAuley 25:00, Lord Ian Brennan 26:36, ADav 26:37, Suzanne Brennan 29:04, Joanne Milne 34:08, Martin McCready 40:24
Victoria parkrun:
Tom Fleming 16:25 and second finisher, David Graham 17:39, Stevo Armour 19:03PB, Robbie ROTM Gould 19:08PB, Sharon Dunn 24:52
Wallace parkrun:
Stephen Semple 24:51, Maeve Kennedy 24:53PB, Elaine Kennedy 29:55
Ormeau parkrun:
Johnny Carey 22:15, Nuala Muldoon 24:07PB, And obviously Dermot Boyd 32:26, Anita Piatek 36:31
Stormont parkrun:
Coach Sinead O’Hare 27:28
Jordanstown Junior parkrun:
Joseph Eager 9:15, Matthew Hawkins 10:46, Coach Sinead O’Hare 11:16
Waterworks junior parkrun:
Leo McAuley 7:50 and first finisher, Eloise McAuley 8:13, Caleb Ladd 15:17
So no other racing this week, given the conditions. But, have no fear, not even the weather gods can stop the juggernaut that is the Alan Erwin Quiz.
First of all, last week’s answer – Alan Erwin. So well done again if you got that one.
This week’s question is:
Which Harrier is frightened by white chocolate and raspberry scones, if toasted?
Answers to the usual address.
So, I can’t cope with any more songs about cold and ice, etc so here is a tune because it is good. That’s it.
A new year miracle today as the sun actually shone on the Mallusk Harrier XC event, a bit. But at least the rain stayed away. And the wind. And the snow. Result! Mud was still there though. And those hills. And the mud. Did I mention the mud?
First of all, a late result off the Vidiprinter as Coach Sinead O’Hare’s Born2Run Loughall time is finally available. Sinead completed the 5k in 27:27.
David Graham 19:13, Robbie ROTM Gould 22:44, Sean Doherty 25:16, Kevin Donnelly 25:17, Joe Mathers 26:30, Cathy Ryan 27:28, Jim Hewitt 29:28, Susan Thompson 30:20, Sharon Dunn 31:21, Joanne Milne 33:45, Terri Ganley 34:20, Clare Gallagher 40:47, Louise Ladd 40:48
Wallace parkrun:
Anton Piatek 26:40, Elaine Kennedy 29:34
Limavady parkrun:
Johnny Carey 26:01
Sixmilewater parkrun:
Tom Fleming 16:28PB and first finisher, Stephen Murphy 22:26, Stephen Semple 23:56PB, Joseph Eager 24:18PB
And we even had a Winter tourist as Lauren Penman completed the Edinburgh parkrun in 32:00. Only the 626 runners in this one!
Jordanstown Junior parkrun:
Joseph Eager 9:48, Matthew Hawkins 12:13, Riley Kerr 12:21, Andrea Bradley 15:04, Rhys Kerr 15:48
Waterworks junior parkrun:
Aaron Ladd 11:04PB, Caleb Ladd 14:05PB
A quieter week (until today!) for other racing.
David Esler, Head of International Operations, completed the Trinidad & Tobago Shine 10k in 1:09:09. I’ll have to double check but I think this is a club record for this event. Well done David!
You are now officially in charge of organising our first Harrier warm weather training camp.
Slightly closer to home, Coach Sinead O’Hare continued her Run Forest Run campaign, completing the Tollymore 5k in 27:38. And Obviously Dermot Boyd completed the 10k event in 1:11:11.
But the big event of the week was the Mallusk Harriers XC League event on home soil. Full results will be available via the event’s own Facebook page but the Harrier times were as follows:
Primary Boys 800m:
Kayden McClelland 2:50, Andrew Scott 2:57, Kobe McClelland 2:58
Primary Girls 800m:
Eloise McAuley 2:39, Alice the legend McAuley (turns out that is her real name) 5:17
U13 Boys 2k:
Leo McAuley 8:02
U13 Girls 2k:
Emily Murphy 9:18, Coach Sinead O’Hare 11:06
U15 Girls 4k:
Mali Skillen 22:06
Ladies Race 6k:
Dawn Blain 29:57, Sharon Dunn 33:59
Men’s Race 8k:
Lee O’Boyle 29:17, Prof Alan Ladd 31:16, Michael Crossan 32:09, David Graham 32:28, Andrew McNevison 32:31, Kevin Donnelly 33:15, Patrick Shields 33:32, Robbie ROTM Gould 33:39, Sean Doherty 33:40, Stevo Armour 34:18, Stephen Gallagher 34:41, Johnny Carey 38:41, Brendan McGeown 40:42, Alan Kerr 40:46
Fair play to all who took part, Harrier or not. The event continues to grow and has become a real credit to the club.
Huge congratulations to Paul and Leanne and all those who were involved in the organising before and during. It’s not easy making it look that easy!
And many thanks to all those who volunteered on the day. Even big Marty who went on his hoop.
But the other big news of the week is the answer to last week’s quiz question. Well, the answer was Alan Erwin. So well done to everyone who got that one.
An even harder question this week in the Alan Erwin quiz:
Which Harrier has named all their toes?
Send your answers to alanistheanswer@hotmail.com
Answer next week.
So, this week’s tune is for everyone who ran the XC today. We feel your pain.
Hopefully by this stage you’ve finally finished off the last of the brie and the Christmas cake and the new year’s resolutions are still intact. My resolution to stay off PBs for the whole year is working really well so far. Just need to hang in there.
Taking on the parkruns this week:
Valley parkrun:
Johnny Carey 23:38, Alan Stewart 25:01, Ciaran Hawkins 28:56, Paul Skillen 29:08, ADav 29:08, Joanne Milne 30:24, Owen Fulton 33:23, Martin McCready 56:29
Waterworks parkrun:
Joe Mathers 24:25, Jim Hewitt 25:04, Lord Ian Brennan 25:36
Victoria parkrun:
Alan Erwin 22:23
Antrim parkrun:
Stephen Semple 24:37, Maeve Kennedy 24:40, Elaine Kennedy 30:06
Carrick parkrun:
Stevo Armour 19:51 and third finisher, Alan Kerr 25:09, Sharon Dunn 28:40
Stormont parkrun:
Robbie ROTM Gould 20:09, Rab Gould 21:35
Colin Glen parkrun:
Neil McCready 22:59
Jordanstown Junior parkrun:
Coach Sinead O’Hare 9:33, Joseph Eager 10:52, Matthew Hawkins 13:27, Riley Kerr 13:29, Andrea Bradley 15:03, Rhys Kerr 19:12, Alice McAuley 20:52, Eloise McAuley 20:52
And congratulations to Riley on completing your 50th junior parkrun and to Eloise on completing your 150th!
Waterworks junior parkrun:
Caleb Ladd 15:17PB
Other racing this week started way back on Monday 2nd (remember then? when you were still on your holidays!!) with the Expleo Festival events:
3k:
Leo McAuley 12:11, Eloise McAuley 12:53, Calum Murphy 16:20
5k:
Tom Fleming 16:18 and 5th place overall, Emily Murphy 21:27, Coach Sinead O’Hare 24:58, Aidy Hughes 26:03, Clare Gallagher 35:11PB
10k:
Prof Alan Ladd 36:08PB, Stephen Murphy 45:37PB
A few hardy Harriers headed west to take part in the rescheduled City of Derry Spartans XC League event yesterday:
Juniors:
Leo McAuley 1.5k 6:08 and 6th place
Eloise McAuley 1k 4:14 and 5th place
Senior Men:
David Graham 26:12, Sean Doherty 27:11, Kevin Donnelly 27:25, Stephen Gallagher 28:15
And well done to all (junior & senior) for travelling to represent the club so well.
Also out west were Lee and Aidy who took on the latest Sperrin Harriers trail league event, An Creagan 5 mile:
Lee O’Boyle 28:31PB, Aidy Hughes 45:22
The latest Born2Run trail race at Loughall also took place this week:
5k:
Coach Sinead O’Hare (time not yet available)
10k:
And Obviously Dermot Boyd 1:12:26
But never mind results and PBs, what you all want to know is, what was the answer to last week’s quiz question? Well, the answer was Alan Erwin. So well done to everyone who got that one.
A harder question this week though:
Which Harrier watches the first Alvin & the Chipmunks movie on a weekly basis?
Send your answers on a postcard to:
The Alan Erwin Quiz
Pebble Mill
Birmingham
B16 2FU
And one last reminder about the club’s very own XC event next week. One more chance to enter or volunteer or both.
So, this week’s tune is to encourage you to step up and get involved at the XC next week.
If you don’t then I will give you this tune every week for the rest of the year. You have been warned.
Apologies for the lack of reports over Xmas. Being the elite athlete that I am, (stop sniggering at the back) I was away at a high altitude training camp over the holidays. Bet the Hill Tavern’s never been called that before.
So quite a few parkruns to catch up on:
Christmas Eve
Valley parkrun:
Tom Fleming 17:00 and first finisher, David Graham 19:37 and second finisher, Marty O’Neill 19:56, Leo McAuley 22:59PB, Eloise McAuley 24:06 and first female finisher, Alan Stewart 25:17, Sharon Dunn 26:29, Aidy Hughes 27:16, Marie McBrien 28:16, Coach Sinead O’Hare 28:38, Neill McGlinchey 29:32, Jasper Brooks 33:05, Roisin Brooks 33:09, Anton Piatek 43:23, Anita Piatek 49:01, Martin McCready 51:54, ADav 1:00:51
Waterworks parkrun:
Sean Doherty 22:42, Kevin Donnelly 24:40, Suzanne Brennan the Younger 25:18
Antrim parkrun:
Maeve Kennedy 24:11, Stephen Semple 25:28, Elaine Kennedy 32:07, Stephen Murphy 33:32
Larne parkrun:
Alan Kerr 25:55
Limavady parkrun:
Johnny Carey 23:32
Stretford parkrun:
Owen Fulton 32:07
Sixmilewater parkrun:
Rory Mason 26:54
Knockbracken Reservoir parkrun:
And obviously Dermot Boyd 31:57
Hillsborough Forest parkrun:
Elijah Cushley 25:31
Christmas Day
Valley parkrun:
Stevo Armour 20:31 and third finisher, Craig Goodall 23:50, Ben Davidson 24:47, Sharon Dunn 28:45, Marie McBrien 28:56, Neill McGlinchey 29:06, Bernard McKeaveney 29:40PB, Coach Sinead O’Hare 29:45, Emily Murphy 29:46, Calum Murphy 30:15, Stephen Murphy 30:16, Clare Gallagher 40:12PB, Martin McCready 57:31, ADav 57:55, Joanne Milne 57:56, Carrie Murphy 58:27
Waterworks parkrun:
Robbie ROTM Gould 19:50, Rab Gould 21:34, Neil McCready 21:53, Joe Mathers 25:12, Kevin Donnelly 25:23, Maeve Kennedy 26:51, Stephen Semple 26:53, Lord Ian Brennan 27:06, Leo McAuley 28:32, Eloise McAuley 28:35
Derry City parkrun:
David Graham 18:46, Johnny Carey 22:45PB
Wallace Park parkrun:
Elaine Kennedy 31:43
New Year’s Eve
Valley parkrun:
Tom Fleming 17:06 and first finisher, Aidy Hughes 27:18, Marie McBrien 27:37, Coach Sinead O’Hare 28:17, Cathy Ryan 28:44, Ciaran Hawkins 30:11, Roisin Brooks 31:10, Clare Gallagher 38:45PB, Martin McCready 58:30
Waterworks parkrun:
Robbie ROTM Gould 21:14, Rab Gould 23:02, Suzanne Brennan the Elder 28:45, ADav 28:45, Anita Piatek 45:23, Anton Piatek 50:49
Portrush parkrun:
Rory Mason 26:54
Ormeau parkrun:
And Obviously Dermot Boyd 32:19PB
Antrim parkrun:
Stephen Semple 24:48, Maeve Kennedy 25:03
Carrickfergus parkrun:
Alan Kerr 25:31
Limavady parkrun:
Johnny Carey 28:12
Stormont parkrun:
Stephen Murphy 26:46, Emily Murphy 27:09
Colin Glen parkrun:
Ciaran Wright 23:56
New Year’s Day
Valley parkrun:
Alan Stewart 24:40, Neill McGlinchey 28:52, Martin McCready 48:17, Calla Crossan 55:49, Terri Ganley 55:51, Clare Gallagher 55:52, ADav 57:24, Joanne Milne 57:25
Waterworks parkrun:
Lord Ian Brennan 24:35, Cathy Ryan 27:08
And congratulations to Cathy Ryan who started off 2023 with her 200th parkrun.
Coach Sinead O’Hare 9:29 and second finisher, Andrea Bradley 13:59, Matthew Hawkins 14:11
And the award for full attendance at all 4 parkruns over the holiday season goes to Martin McCready, ADav, Maeve Kennedy and Stephen Semple.
But there was plenty of other racing over the holidays to help burn off those Xmas calories.
On Boxing Day, we had 2 representatives at the Greencastle Oliver McCullough 5 mile race:
David Graham 31:27, Ciaran Wright 36:42
On the same day, 2 other Harriers were at Brocagh Bay:
5k
Aidy Hughes 25:34
10k
Kevin Donnelly 38:11 and 6th overall
There were several masochistic Harriers at the annual Newcastle AC Castlewellan Christmas Cracker pairs event. Even the Brennans!
Aaron Stevenson +1, 1:20:08, Andrew Nevison +1 1:13:15, Gareth McLoughlin & Stephen Gallagher 1:35:17, Anton Piatek +1 1:39:29, Lord & Lady Brennan 1:43:12, Bernard McKeaveney +1 1:50:13
Elaine Kennedy took part in the EAMS B2B 10k event on 30th and 31st with times of 1:03:37 and 1:02:24.
On NYE, David Graham finished off the year in style completing the Lough 5 miler in 31:10.
But no better way to shake off the hangover and start the new year than with the traditional Ballymena Runners Race over the Glens. Obviously, I was nowhere near this nonsense but several Harriers were:
Lee O’Boyle 44:25 and 9th place overall, Aaron Stevenson 55:36, Stephen Gallagher 56:16, Ciaran Wright 1:02:21, Anton Piatek 1:02:46, Alan Kerr 1:09:30, Bernard McKeaveney 1:13:06
And breathe…
So that’s 2022 finished and 2023 already started.
Training starts back on Tuesday 3rd and don’t forget to sign up for our own XC event on Sunday Jan 15th (you can run or volunteer but its even better to do both!)
I still don’t like any of you but just to help ease in the new year I am starting a new segment for 2023. It’s called the Alan Erwin Quiz. Each week there will be a general knowledge question and the answer will be given in the following report. There are absolutely no prizes as I am not paid for this rubbish.
So this week’s question – Which Harrier shares their birthday with some other people?
The answer to this very first ever Alan Erwin Quiz question will be published next week. Bet you can’t wait. And please don’t post the answer on Facebook (Aidy).
So, this week’s tune is for me and everyone who feels like me after those Xmas celebrations.
