Newcastle AC and Queen’s University AC were crowned NI & Ulster Senior Champions, and Acorns AC and City of Lisburn AC retained their Northern Ireland Masters Athletic Association (NIMAA) titles as record numbers took on the NI & Ulster Road Relay Championships at Victoria Park in Belfast on Saturday 7th October.
In a top quality field of athletes, NI 10,000m and 5,000m Champion Emma Mitchell inspired her QUB AC team to victory in the Senior Ladies 3 x 3,380m contest.
Yasmin Wilson and Sinead Sweeney opened well for the university trio, with Emma taking over in the final leg, with the girls in third place behind leaders Letterkenny AC and Newcastle AC, who had led early on following a strong performance by Olympian Kerry O’Flaherty. Emma clocked the fastest 3,380m leg of the race (10.31) as she powered through to break the tape to win in 34.37. Letterkenny AC, which consisted of Nakita Burke, Maria Ni Mhaoilagh and Noeleen Scanlon, claimed second place in 35.15, while the Jodi Smith put in an excellent final leg for North Down AC to finish third in 36.38.
Springwell Running Club dominated the Senior Men’s 4 x 3,380m until the latter stages following a blistering opening leg from Neil Johnston. Patrick McNiff put Newcastle AC in control during the penultimate leg, leaving Northern Ireland and Ireland Mountain running international Zak Hanna in the lead going into the final 3,380m. Matt Doherty (City of Derry AC) and Mark McKinstry (North Belfast Harriers) pushed all the way, but Zak sealed the title for the County Down men in 39.46; NI & Ulster 10,000m Champion Eoghan Totten and silver medallist David O’Flaherty had opened for the Newcastle AC team. An exceptional finish from Mark McKinstry helped North Belfast Harriers secure 2nd place in 39.49, while City of Derry AC completed the top three in 40.04.
Springwell RC’s Senior Men Neil Johnston, Jonathan McKee, John Gordon and Luke Dinsmore.
Springwell RC Senior Mens team narrowly missed out on a podium place as Neil Johnston (9.29), Jonathan McKee (10.02), John Gordon (10.32) and Luke Dinsmore (10.08) finished fourth in a time of 40.10.
In the Masters race Jimmy Stewart (11.35), Alister Bratten (14.03), Nigel Armstrong (12.46) and Gerry O'Doherty (12.40) finished 28th in a time of 51.13.
Saturday 7th October saw over 4,000 runners descend on Galway for the annual Run Galway Bay 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon. The spectacular course straddles the quaint Latin Quarter of Galway City, the famous Claddagh Quay and the majestic coast road with its panoramic views of the Burren in County Clare across the Atlantic waters of Galway Bay.
Congratulations to Karen McLaughlin who finished 19th overall and 4th lady, with a personal best while running sub 3.20 for the first time.
On Sunday 8th October over 750 runners took part in the Born 2 Run Cultra Challenge in support of MacMillan Cancer. Set in the scenic grounds of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum the runners had a challenging course on the hills and country lanes around Cultra.
This week Springwell RC had 43 members out parkrunning at 7 venues with six year old Adam Kincaid, a stalwart of the Limavady Parkrun organisation, know to many runners as a marshal, course builder, finish token assistant, tail runner and occasional contributor to the pre-race briefing, receiving his 25th volunteer milestone t-shirt.
Adam Kincaid, Stacey Montgomery, Julie Corbett and Lorraine Mullan at Saturdays Limavady Parkrun.