This week has seen Ballymena Runners out and about at Tokyo, Glenariffe, the Walled City, Coleraine and Portadown claiming a host of PBs and medals along the way.
Futakotamagawa ParkRun
Ballymena runners don’t only run the town they run all over the world. John and Aine Hasson took part in the Futakotamagawa ParkRun in Tokyo with them both finishing with a time of 25:22.
Aine and John
Fast & Fabulous, Hasson's Tokyo Drift!
John Hasson ran the 2023 Tokyo Marathon on Sunday morning with a fantastic time of 3hrs 03 mins.
John completed the 6 marathon majors to get his Six Star medal.
John Hasson with his medals in Tokyo.
Spud u Like... Glenariff Mountain Race!
Saturday 11th March saw the opening round of the Northern Ireland Mountain Running Championships in Glenariff Glen, County Antrim.
With Lurig Mountain as a backdrop and Glenariffe in the distance, all roads led to Cushendall this morning as a few club members took part in the Annual Charity Run organised by Glens Runners. Tackling routes ranging from 5 miles to 15 miles, runners made their way out of Ballycastle and back down into Cushendall.
Thanks to our friends in Glens Runners for a superbly organised event... and the Big Feed after! Lots of funds raised this morning in support of their nominated charity, St. Vincent de Paul.
Ballymena Runners fielded 8 mountain running athletes for the 6 mile run and 1,100 feet climb of the snow covered Glenariff Mountain.
Notable performances of the day were Jack McKenna securing 4th and Ruth Aiken winning her age category (V45).
Thank you to Glens Runners and their sponsors, Glens of Antrim potatoes, for a fabulously promoted event - now in it's 20th year!
....and finally. In the queen(s) of the Glen, when the chips were down all came up champ(s). We run for tatties!
Runners who competed in the Glenariff Mountain Race
Runners who competed in the Glenariff Mountain Race
WALLED CITY 10 MILE RACE
Cracking conditions this morning in the Walled City for the return of the 10 miler. We were lucky to miss the snow & ice, and only just with the wind & rain battering the windscreen on the way home!
Great to see so many sky blue vests around the city & over the bridges with some cracker times.
Notable performances were Suzanna Allen debuting in new age category & smashing it in first (F60) and Stephen Gage who was first club runner over the line finishing 10th over all, even beating Olympian Tommy Hughes
Stephen Gage 00:57:10
Colin Wright 01:09:14
Daniel McClelland 01:09:18
Paul Connelly 01:13:01
Thomas Bradley 01:17:46
Naomi Hutchinson 01:18:40
Susanna Allen 01:25:46
Mandy Gregg 01:25:48
Lisa Ewart 01:26:46
Pablo McClurkin 01:29:03
Barbara Crawford 01:29:08
Sara Beggs 01:31:58
Alana Cameron 01:33:42
Siobhan Blair 01:34:39
Roy White 01:34:57
Cathy McQuillan 01:38:16
Paddy Millar 01:38:42
Lorraine Craig 01:39:35
Brigit Quinn 01:49:16
Geraldine McClintock 01:50:24
Runners who took part in the Walled City 10 mile race.
NI &Ulster 5K Championships Coleraine
Ballymena Runners Ladies win team Bronze at the NI &Ulster 5K Championship and 7 runners record personal bests!
Ballymena Runners ladies win NI &Ulster team bronze at Friday evening Campus 5K which incorporated this year's 5K NI & Ulster Road Championship.
Ballymena Runners AC ladies have a great history in this championship and the girls didn’t disappoint on Friday evening.
Multiple championship medal winners Paula Worthington and Geraldine Quigley had Emma Lamberton, Katie Agnew, who was starting her first race for Ballymena Runner’s and young Gemma Clyde in their starting line up.
Paula who has been in great form in training after a period out due to serious illness was the first of our ladies home and recorded a great time of 19mins 37 sec.
Geraldine Quigley 20 mins 13 sec added another Championship 5K team medal to her impressive collection. Emma Lamberton who has been training with our senior ladies at the track was towing the line in her first NI Championship race looked very strong throughout and recorded 22 min 02 seconds. Katie Agnew no stranger to winning Championship medals at youth level finished strongly in 21mins 37sec.
Gemma Clyde who also a has moved up to train with our senior athletes at the track put in a strong showing to finish in 23 mins 51sec.
Meanwhile our male athletes fresh from an outstanding Armagh International 3K where 10 of the club’s runners achieved personal best times were lead home in Race 2 by Tony Scullion in a new personal best of 17 mins 07sec.
Tony who was defending his win in Race 2 at the Campus 5K last year showed a great turn of speed to hold off the opposition to cross the line in first place.
In what was another night off personal bests for our male athletes.
Tony was followed home by
Sean Hasson 17 mins 42 sec.
Brendan Kerr 18 mins19 sec. PB
Robert Clyde 18.45 PB
Nigel McClintock 18 mins 46 sec.
John McClelland 19 mins 56 sec
Ian McCracken 18 mins 21sec. PB
Timothy Bamber 18 mins 45 sec. PB
Darren Walker 19 mins 21 sec. PB
Mark McCaul 19 mins 23sec PB
Louis Fleming 19 mins 28 sec.PB
Peter Fleming 20 mins 07 Sec.
Rodney Livingstone 22 mins 05sec.
In the Elite race Kieran Scullion put in a scorching performance to break the 16 min barrier again in what was an outstanding field off athletes to finish in a time off 15 mins 59 sec.
The outstanding achievements is just rewards for the entire performance squad after a very challenging block off training.
Ballymena Runners would like to thank the organisers for hosting a great evening off athletics and our ever faithful supporters Naomi and Andrew Hutchinson, coaches Ray Curran, Ben Morrow and Robert McGaughey for on the night support.
Special mention to Kieran Scullion and Mark McCaul who have been assisting Robert as they venture into the world of coaching.
Robert
Portadown Half marathon
George Buckley competed Portadown Half marathon on Sunday finishing in under 1.42 for a new PB
George Buckley.