Annadale track meet
The now annual Annadale summer track event took place at the Mary Peter’s track on Saturday 19th July.
The popular event had 3 graded A+B races for both male and female athletes 800m, 1500m and 5000m.
Daniel Hanna was up first in the 800m B race. Running 64 seconds through the first 400m and closing hard with a Hugh kick from 50m out, taking his competition by surprise, to place first in (2:13:10) a big 30sec pb from his school track days.
Cherith Wright took on the 1500m race in what was her first ever time competing over the distance. Cherith held her nerve as she lined out along with clubs like city of Lisburn, Armagh, city of Derry, BAAC. Cherith paced it well and finished strong in (5:15:66) gaining valuable experience with the cat and mouse tactics of track racing.
In the mens 1500m B race two ballymena club members took on the distance. Kieran Scullion moving slowly through the field putting in a big kick to go from 6th in the last 250m to place 2nd in (4:30:69).
Josh had a good strong run in what was his first ever track race gaining valuable experience and finished in (4:39:32)
Just to get value for money the 5000m B event saw Daniel and Kieran line out for a second time. With the pace being set at 76 seconds per lap it was a quick race from the gun that proved to be just a bridge too far and the pair finished the race in close succession with 17:11 & 17:15.
An excellent days racing at Mary Peter’s thanks to Annadale striders for continuing to put on such a great event.
Kieran, Daniel and Cherith at Annadale.
Sea to Sky 10km!
On Friday night of the 18th July two Ballymena runners, Kathryn Kealey and Barbara Crawford made their way to the Kingdom of Mourne for the 13th annual Sea to Sky 10km run!
A balmy sunny evening, the race boasted an awesome route starting on the promenade which included a mix of road, track before heading up through the foothills of the mournes.
Really good fun, great after race hospitality and of course the scenery was just amazing & made us forget the 474ft elevation
.. unfortunately we had forgotten to book into the Slieve Donard for our b&b so back up the road again it was!
Definitely would be a fab club night away next year!
Barbara and Kathryn at Sea to Sky
Portaferry 10 mile
Five Ballymena Runners took part in the Portaferry 10 mile road race on a quite warm but dry evening.
First home was Jamie Scott who was running his first 10 mile race in a time of 59:03 followed by Denver Robb in a time of 1:12:14. Next home was John Donnelly in a time of 1:12:53 Lynsey Robb in a time of 1:15:10 followed by George Buckley in 1:18:26.
Thank you to the organisers for a well run event as part of the Portaferry Galafest including a nice supper to finish.
Four of our runners at the Portaferry 10 mile race
Hillsborough Half & 10k
It’s not every day you get the chance to run around the King’s back garden but that’s what a group of Ballymena Runners were up to at the weekend.
With a choice of 10k and half marathon, at the Hillsborough Castle & Gardens Running Festival, there was something for everyone.
Both distances started in the beautiful gardens before entering the forest and making their way onto an ‘out and back’ undulating closed road route, which saw the half marathoners reach Annahilt before turning and rejoining the 10k runners for the final three-mile stretch.
To crown it all, once back in the Royal residence, the last two miles had their fair share of short, sharp mounds of opportunity. “Is this the last hill?” one runner was heard to say as we rounded a steep bend. Those of us who knew kept quiet! They don’t call it Hillsborough for nothing…
Special mention to Joshua Blair, who won this particular Game of Thrones because he was the first Ballymena Runner to cross the 10k line in 36.53 which saw him take 4th place overall.
A really well run event, with beautiful views, a runners’ and spectators’ village and supervised bag drop; not to mention a great opportunity to stay on and enjoy the gardens.
Definitely one to put in the calendar for next year. In th
Chip times 10k
Joshua Blair 36.53
Craig Docherty 49.49
Karen Fullerton 1.01.46
David Merriman 1.02.23
Warren Patton 1.00.25
Lynsey Stevenson 1.03.08
Matthew Stevenson 49.43
Half Marathon
Sara Beggs 2.06.28
Noreen Taggart 2.29.46
Doing the Double in Castleblayney
Davy Jones and Elle Forrest Reid made the trip to County Monaghan—not to see Coldplay, though some thought they were chasing a Sky Full of Stars. Nope, running comes first, and this was all about doing the double in Castleblayney.
The pair kicked things off at the stunning but hilly Castleblayney parkrun, where the forest trails felt like a journey through Paradise. Davy was in his place, finishing 2nd overall—clearly someone who’s built for speed of sound. Elle cruised through, saving energy for the main event.
Next up was the Blayney Rockets 10 Miler, where the rural roads undulated like the rhythms of Adventure of a Lifetime. The course wound around Lough Muckno—scenery straight out of A Rush of Blood to the Head—with climbs that made you feel the Gravity. But both runners powered through: Davy finished in a fiery 1:05:25 (you could say he was on fire), and Elle followed strong in 1:19:39, proving she’s ready to fix you if your pacing plan falls apart this autumn.
There was brilliant support along the route, swag that would give any Viva La Vida finisher bag a run for its money, and a welcome so warm it made you feel like the scientist had finally figured out how to bottle Irish hospitality.
Highly recommended events—if you’re looking for a race that’s more than just the same old story, Castleblayney might be the one.
Davy and Elle at Castleblaney parkrun.