Top-ten finish for Kennedy at Slieve Gullion Mountain Race

East Coast Athletic Club’s Stephen Kennedy joined almost 50 hardy mountain runners in poor conditions as they welcomed the start of the 2015 Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association season on Saturday.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Mar 2015, 05:00 BST
Pictured at the Albertville 5 MIle Race (l-r) are Justin Maxwell (chairman of East Coast AC), Gary Keenan (President of Athletics NI), Brian Maltman, Chris Davis and Ruth Kelly. INLT 11-919-CONPictured at the Albertville 5 MIle Race (l-r) are Justin Maxwell (chairman of East Coast AC), Gary Keenan (President of Athletics NI), Brian Maltman, Chris Davis and Ruth Kelly. INLT 11-919-CON
Pictured at the Albertville 5 MIle Race (l-r) are Justin Maxwell (chairman of East Coast AC), Gary Keenan (President of Athletics NI), Brian Maltman, Chris Davis and Ruth Kelly. INLT 11-919-CON

It kicked off with the Slieve Gullion Mountain Race in County Armagh and the experienced Kennedy climbed well and was rewarded for his efforts with a Male Vet 45 win when he crossed the line in 35:53 to secure seventh place overall.

Also on Saturday, three East Coast memers joined athletes from across the province as they descended on a blustery Duncrue Industrial Estate on the shores of Belfast Lough for the 23rd annual running of Albertville Harriers’ Albertville 5-mile road race.

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East Coast AC club captain, Chris Davis, was the first black and yellow vest home when he clocked 32:58 for the distance, taking 70th place in the competitive field.

In preparation for the upcoming Larne Half Marathon, Brian Maltman put in a strong performance to take 110th place after running 37:52.

Ruth Kelly took on the five-mile distance, performing well to claim 47th place in the ladies’ category when she crossed the line in 43:09.

At the Larne parkrun, Andy Guy was the first member home, claiming second place in 18:35, followed by parkrun regular Paul Clements in 22:46 (8th place).

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James Robinson ran well to take 10th spot in 23:15, before Hannah Clements secured a new 5k personal best of 25:40 (second place in the ladies’ category).

Other times: Conor Sheridan 25:49 (21st place), Tracey Parke 27:29 (5th place lady), Cyndy Hay 30:33 (8th place lady), Sarah Girvin 34:08 (13th place lady), Drew Girvin 34:10 (44th place).

n Larne-based North Belfast Harriers runners David and Carol Clarke competed at the recent Lough Fea 10-mile Trail Race. David finished eighth overall in 1:02:28 and Carol crossed the line in 1:23:56.

At the Albertville 5-mile Road Race, John Black ran 26:50 to claim sixth place overall and a new PB. David Clarke clocked 29:02 to win the V55 category and take 21st overall. Naoise McLoughlin produced an excellent performance setting another PB by over 90 seconds, timing 31:20.

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Trisha Campbell was second lady home for NBH (34:12 pb). Sarah Jane McFadden also set a PB in 34:23. The two Larne ladies were part of the winning North Belfast team who picked up the Female Team prize on the day. Carol set a PB by running 39:37.

At the Larne parkrun Nat Glenn was first in 18:14. At the Waterworks parkrun, Penny Lindsay broke 20 minutes for the first time in 19:58, while Janice Plumb set another PB in 20:16.