Ballymena Runners AC (BRAC) 30th Anniversary Celebrations continue as Women’s Team win Bronze at the NI and Ulster Road Relay Championships.
On Saturday 25th September all the top athletic clubs descended on Victoria Park Belfast for this year’s NI and Ulster Road Relay Championships which is regarded as one of the highlights of the racing calendar. The four races incorporate everything great about running, adrenaline, nerves and the joy of representing their clubs.
The first race of the day was the Ladies Masters. This consisted of two laps each of the one mile course, and each team was made up of four runners. What a race this turned out to be! First off for Ballymena Runners was Naomi Hutchinson (13mins 31sec) who’s season to date has included new personal best times over 5K, 5 mile and most recently the Half Marathon. Naomi put in a great performance and finished her leg in 4th place, what a start for the team!
Naomi, Sinead, Geraldine and Paula
Sinead Scullion (14mins 01sec) put in a wonderful performance and despite coming under intense pressure held off the opposition. It was a wonderful run for Sinead who was racing at the relay Championship for the first time.
Sinead Scullion
International Master Geraldine Quigley, (13mins 45sec) our third runner quickly closed the gap between 3rd place and 4th place and then moved into 3rd place. Geraldine was keen to add to her impressive haul of five NI & Ulster Championship team medals in recent years and handed over a ten second lead between 3rd and 4th place to another Master International athlete Paula Worthington.
Paula Worthington
Paula (12mins 42sec) who has had a stellar running career at junior, senior and master levels had our fastest team leg. The World Police and Fire games triple Gold medallist was in top form and secured Bronze which resulted in wild cheers for all the Ballymena Runners, Coaches and supporters!
Winning the Bronze medal
Ladies Masters Results: 1st North Down AC , 2nd City of Lisburn 3rd Ballymena Runners AC
The Male Masters were next up and BRAC had two teams entered both teams had great runs with Team A which included Ben Morrow (10mis 48sec), James Turtle (11mins 12secs), Noel Connor ( 11mins 30sec) and John Hasson (11mins 40sec) finished in 8th.
Noel, James, Ben and John
John Hassan
Team B included Seamus Kelly (13mins 40sec), Peter Fleming (13mins 03sec), Robert Clyde (12min 50sec) and John Robinson (12mins 08sec) finished in 25th place (in total 33 teams competed).
Robert
Male Masters Results: 1st North Belfast Harriers A , 2nd City of Derry Spartans , North Belfast Harriers B
The last race of the day was the Male open which had 28 teams competing and BRAC had four runners who had never competed at the relay Championships. All four runners have been training brilliantly and have a great appetite to learn and improve. This was their opportunity to race at the highest level against the very best!
The team included Conor Crilly (11mins 36sec), Leon Dorrity (12mins 13sec), Colin Wright (13mins 37sec) and Matthew Morrow (12mins 08sec). Each put in great performances finishing in 25th position. We believe this squad will continue to improve and will move forward with confidence.
Matthew, Colin, Leon and Conor
Male Open Results: 1st Annadale Striders, 2nd North Belfast Harriers, 3rd St Malachy’s
Ballymena Runners would like to thank host club Victoria & Connswater AC, Athletics NI, Northern Ireland Masters Athletic Association, Glenn Grant and commentator Dave McKibbon for providing us with a great day's racing.
Great Manchester Run
Club Member Mandy Gregg pulled on the club colours to compete in the Great Manchester Run. Well done Mandy!
Mandy Gregg at the Great Manchester Run
Mandy Gregg
The famous ‘Buzzards Roost’ Mourne Mountain Run!
Congratulations to William Fleck who finished 12th in the NIMRA Championship Race in Annalong Valley - 'Buzzards Roost'.
Willie competed over 8 miles and climbed over 3,200 feet, taking in Lamagan and Slieve Binnian, en route to his superb 12th place finish!
William Fleck at the Buzzards Roost