Ballymena Runners out in force for Belfast City Marathon challenge

THERE was a massive turn out for the Belfast city marathon with over 20 BRAC members tackling the full distance.

Debuts, PB's and even 2 official pacers - well done to everyone on a difficult course!

Belfast is getting better and better every year, and the weather brought everyone out making the atmosphere electric - including our famous meeting cheer point on the Ormeau Bridge!

Michael Bennett 2:53:42

Darren Walker 3:07:14

Jim Moore 3:20:07

Colin Wright 3:27:58 (3:30 Pacer)

Raymond Ruck 3:29:12

George Buckley 3:41:58

Martin Davis 3:48:03

Lisa Ewart 3:51:08

John McClelland 3:52:40

Daniel Kuczur 4:08:26

Robin Alexander 4:08:39

Wendy McAuley 4:17:55

Caitlin Caldwell 4:43:16

Nicholas McGroggan 4:21:18

Siobhan Blair 4:25:08

Denise Doherty 4:25:53

Eleanor Forrest Reid 4:26:55 (4:30 Pacer)

Peter Ferris 4:27:03

Patricia Macrory 4:31:33

Terry Foley 4:37:59

Leon Dorrity 4:40:51

Nigel Bonar 4:40:52

Gemma Clyde 4:48:55

Laura McMullan 5:17:46

Ballymena Runners were also well represented in the relays with 8 teams taking to the streets.

The Fab Five - 4:21:51

Anne, Iverene, Corena, Karen and Lynda

We Got The Runs - 4:29:27

Lisa, Kate, Martin, Joanne and Claire

BRAC Dream Team - 4:34:46

Catherine, Barbara, Nikki, Helen, Kerry

BRAC Blues - 3:58:00

Jim, Kerri, Tanya, Gerry, Alana

BRAC Fun Bus - 3:43:40

Ciaran, Sara, Pablo, Mandy, Danny

Ray's Runners - 2:57:11

Alison, Jamie, Judith, James

(9th Place Mixed Team)

Mena Men - 2:58:23

Robert, Mark, John, Denver, Alan

(9th Place Men's Team)

BRAC Chicks - 4:04:56

Nena, Sinead, Skye, Hannah, Geraldine

Well done to everyone who turned out in club colours, or supported from the sidelines!

'Hen n Cock’ – Hill n Dale No. 5

On Thursday night (8th), the Chuckle Brothers were joined by the legendary Timmy Mallett for the fifth instalment of the Hill n Dale series.

This week’s route? Hen and Cock – a short but savage race spanning just 2 miles with a leg-burning 1,600 feet of climb!

Duncan, Nigel, and William took on the challenge this week.

As the race wrapped up, a wisp of white smoke rose mysteriously above the course. Some wondered if another wildfire had sparked—

But no—it was just Wills torching Wagon Wheel wrappers to signal his category win!

Well done lads!

Vancouver Half Marathon!

Last Sunday, as many Ballymena Runners competed in the Belfast marathon and relays, on the west coast of Canada Norman Murphy lined up with 25,000 other runners to take part in the Vancouver half marathon.

In what he described as a superbly organised event but with a very hilly second half of the course Norman put in a determined performance, clocking a finishing time of just over 2 hours.

As part of the tapering down of his training in Canada and to help acclimatise to the changeable weather conditions, Norman was able to schedule in a couple of different Parkruns.