Ballymena Runners Brave Storm Amy for Cardiff Half Marathon Adventure
Not even Storm Amy could stop 4 Ballymena Runners from making it to the start line of the Cardiff Half Marathon. With missed flights, frantic rebookings, and last-minute car hire shenanigans, it was worth the effort!
Despite the chaos and fuelled with determination, everyone made it to the start line Starting at Cardiff castle & winding through the city's most iconic spots, the autumn sunshine made for perfect conditions.
With James Hamilton leading the way and first Ballymena Runner to cross the line, with a season's best performance of 1:16:21
To top it all off, the weekend doubled as a birthday celebration for one runner, complete with karaoke, questionable high notes, and plenty of laughter.
A weekend of resilience, camaraderie, and unforgettable memories. Cardiff, you were worth the hassle!
James Hamilton 1:16:21
Denver Robb 1:40:48
Lyndsey Robb 1:40:48
Lisa Ewart 1:44:56
Gr8 Dundrum Run... done ️
10 Ballymena Runners congregated early in the sleepy Co. Down town for the annual Gr8 Dundrum Run. With many first-time Dundrum-ers in the line-up, this was one eagerly anticipated race!
And it did not disappoint!
8+ scenic miles of sand, boardwalk, trails and roads where the majestic mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
A wonderful morning with Ballymena Runners, and superb hospitality and camaraderie from our friends in Murlough Athletics Club.
Lining up for the Club were:
Joanne, Clare, Teresa, Naomi, Brigid, Nikki, Catherine, Trisha, Tori and Linda
Mourne SkyTrail
The Mourne SkyTrail made its debut this weekend (11 October) as part of the Merrell World and UK & Ireland SkyRunner Series, joining the Mourne Skyline and Mourne SkyUltra to complete the trio of mountain running challenges in the Mournes.
Under cool, calm and dry conditions, runners took on a demanding 20 km route with over 1,300 m of elevation gain, showcasing the technical trails and dramatic mountains of the Mournes.
Mark Alexander represented Ballymena Runners as the club’s sole entrant, delivering a solid performance to finish 2nd in his age category at the event’s inaugural running.
Mark Alexander
A Slieve Bearnagh Mountain Race please, but hold the Bearnagh…
With mountain goats William and Mark representing BRAC on the continent, it was left to Duncan Millar, Jimmy Graham and Jason Wilson to represent the club at the final NIMRA Championship / Ulster Championship rounds of the season held in the Happy Valley area of the Mournes on Saturday 27th September.
With this being a “short” round, the thinking would be that the toughest championship challenges were already over. However, at the traditional toilet stop in Clough (in Co Down, not our own!), Jason made a fatal passing comment to Duncan that perhaps the bad weather forecast was “a little exaggerated.” How wrong he was…
Arriving at the road side car park, runners were greeted with heavy rain and wind, with the Gazebo sign-on area barely holding together. Basically, the type of conditions to leave you regretting some of your life choices!
With the poor weather and limited visibility on the mountains, the organisers made the wise decision to enact the “bad weather” option, which kept in Meelbeg and Meelmore but removed Bearnagh from the route.
This left the race being 3.5 miles long with around 1,900 feet of climbing to negotiate. The shout to start the race went at 11.03 am, and the 64 hardy souls went into the gloom.
There was no flat start to get eased in, it was immediate climbing towards the Mourne Wall and the first summit at Meelbeg. After this, it was a descent to the Meelbeg/Meelmore col leading to a rocky climb to Meelmore before descending back down Happy Valley to the finish line.
First BRAC home was Jason (15th), dropping a few places on the final descent but happy to get his fourth and final scoring round of the Ulster Championship. Next up was Jimmy (36th) to complete his seventh and final scoring round of the NIMRA Championship. Third home for the club was Duncan in 47th, down a place or two due to some wayward descending.
Many thanks for Mourne Runners for organising the race and the welcome refreshments afterwards, with special mention to the brave marshals at the key points on the route. A day which will live long in the memory of those in attendance!
Hall Booth at Chester Marathon!
Congratulations to Hall who ran 3:19:28 at Chester Marathon on Sunday 5 October.
On a tough course Hall ran a 10 minute PB ensuring he returned a qualifying time for both Boston and Chicago!
Well done Hall!
Hall Booth in Chester
Ballymena Runners at the Armagh 10 Mile Road Race!
Near perfect conditions this morning apart from some challenging headwinds at times but that didn’t stop our crew from putting in some fantastic performances and bagging a few PBs along the way!
Pablo 1:17:42, a new 10 mile PB and 8th in his age category!
Alana Cameron 1:28:23, another brilliant 10-mile PB!
Siobhan Blair 1:33:26
Tara Agnew 1:40:40
Carmel McHugh 1:40:40
A great morning of racing and team spirit from everyone representing the club.
Pablo, Alana, Siobhan, Tara and Caramel
Belfast City Half Marathon – Team BRAC!
What a day out in Belfast on Sunday 21st September! A brilliant turnout from Ballymena Runners with over 40 members at one of the biggest dates in the running calendar. The weather couldn’t have been better, and plenty of our crew used it as the perfect tune-up before autumn marathons.
It was a tight battle for first BRAC finisher with Colin Wright crossing in 1:23:15, just 2 seconds ahead of Conor Lynass.
Judith Worthington led the Ballymena ladies home in 1:32:48, followed by a strong run from Aine Hasson in 1:42:13.
Behind them came a wave of brilliant performances – PBs, first timers tackling the distance, and even some of our Cosy Sofa graduates smashing it on the day.
Huge thanks to everyone who cheered us along the course – the support really made it special!
Full results here: https://my.raceresult.com/358014/results
BRAC at Belfast Half
Great North Run Half Marathon!
Sunday 7th September, 6 Ballymena Runners stood on the start line of the world's biggest HM with 60,000 participants.
Crowds of people lined the streets & roads all the way from crossing the Tyne Bridge past the Gateside Stadium before turning off to South Shields for one of the most difficult parts of the course with a head wind all the way, then unto the sea front with a tail wind for the final stretch of mile to the welcoming finish line.
Congrats to all participants
Linda Petticrew 1:51:59
Alana Cameron 2:01:49
Siobhan Blair 2:03:30
Gemma Clyde 2:06:35
Emma Donnelly 2:23:55
Martin Harris 3:42:16
Linda Pettigrew
Cross Country season is back!
On Sunday afternoon 4 BRAC runners arrived in Armagh to compete in the annual TJ McElmeel Cup XC at the Palace Demesne country park. Club entries very low for this one but there was quite a lot else happening this weekend to be fair.
A beautiful day in Armagh with sun shining and with running conditions perfect under foot there was no need for spikes which will no doubt be needed as we get deeper into the XC season.
Up 1st competing in the Ladies Open/Masters race was Nena Cormican, giving the tarmac a break this weekend after 2 podium finishes in her previous 2 weekend road races and Geraldine Quigley who had an excellent run also considering she’s just back from a knee injury, with Nena finishing just 6 seconds ahead of her good friend.
Next up was the Men’s Open/Masters race with our 2 competitors Tony Scullion and Robert Clyde both coming back from slight calf injuries and they ran from start to finish together and had identical chip times (don’t worry I’m not being fooled probably the only time I’ll cross the line with Tony).
Our XC team in Armagh
The Italian Job! Trail Grigne Sud – Lake Como, Italy (Sprint, 22 km / +1,800 m)
After five days of roaming the Dolomites — 110 km on rugged trails and 6,500 m of climbing in the legs — you’d think William Fleck and Mark Alexander might have been ready to put their feet up. Instead, they lined up in Mandello del Lario, on the shores of Lake Como, for one final challenge: the Sprint edition of the Trail Grigne Sud.
On Saturday, 27 September 2025, the town stirred under damp autumn skies as over 300 mountain runners gathered beneath the looming Grigne massif.
The course promised no easy finish: 22 km of forest tracks, rocky switchbacks, and lung-burning ridgelines, with +1,800 m of climbing squeezed into the profile. Above them, the jagged skyline; below, Lake Como shimmering under a haze of mist.
The gun fired, and the field surged upwards from the lakeside. The opening climb set the tone: steep, technical, and relentless.
Fatigue from the Dolomites was still in the legs, but determination carried both runners higher into the heart of the massif. Each step demanded balance, pacing, and mountain awareness, with the trail offering both moments of beauty and brutal reminders of its difficulty.
William found his rhythm and pushed strongly across the ridges, finishing an excellent 47th overall — and claiming 2nd in his age category. Mark, digging deep on tired legs, brought it home in 159th place in a strong Italian field. For both, it was less about times and placings and more about closing the week’s adventure with grit, pride, and smiles.
From Dolomite giants to the rugged Grigne — the “Italian Job” was mission accomplished.
Mark and William in Italy
Annaghmore!
A handful of hardy Ballymena Runners made the trip to Annaghmore for the 18 mile road/half marathon race.
Conditions were wet to say the least but that didn’t dampen the spirits of our runners. Special mention to Judith brown on finishing 3rd place female home.
A fine run from everyone especially Jimmy Kerr finishing his 1st 18 miler in preparation for Dublin marathon
18 Miles
David Jones 2:03
Judith Brown 2:22
Colin Hoey 2:43
Sara Beggs 2:44
Jimmy Kerr 3:03
Patricia Mcrory 3:28
Karla Niklas 3:28
Half Marathon
Eamon Duffin 2:05
Megan Frew 2:33
some of our runners at Annaghmore