On Saturday the 5th July Sinead Mcallister, along with other NIMRA members, travelled down to Donegal for the ‘Carnaween’ mountain race which is the fourth race following on from the local Cairncastle race as part of the ulster championship series.![]()
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The race is 4.7miles and 1700ft a lot of bog, mist and mud made for a good course. Sinead finished 5th female and 29th overall in a time of 1:05. This race sees sinead still holding her overall placing within the championship series with two more races to go.
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Carnlough Quarry 5K![]()
On Friday 27th June, a sizeable contingent of Larne Athletic Club runners made the short trip up the Coast Road to Carnlough to take part in the Quarry 5K race, superbly organised and marshalled by Glenlough Running Club. The route started in the heart of the village, travelled up a concrete lane for under a mile before hitting the quarry with its loose limestone paths under foot. This is where the real climbing started with epic views of the coastline. From here participants descended down the other side of the quarry and out onto the Largy Road, with a short out and back before a fast descent under one of the iconic limestone bridges to the finish line.![]()
Martan Keane was first finished for Larne AC, starting strongly and finishing in 6th place with a time of 20:45. Phelim McAllister next for the club in 10th place and a time of 21:19, while Philip Rennix was very close behind in 11th place and a time of 21:26.![]()
Fresh from her mountain running successes, Sinead McAllister was first Larne AC Lady finished in 26th place and a time of 24:42. Charlotte English had a fast finish for 35th place and a time of 25:46, followed home by Beverley Gaston, 38th in 26:21.![]()
The full list of Larne AC finishers is:![]()
6, Martan Keane, 20:45![]()
10, Phelim McAllister 21:19![]()
11, Philip Rennix, 21:26![]()
23, Andy Gregg, 23:16![]()
24, Dom Dorris, 23:22![]()
26, Sinead McAllister, 24:42![]()
29, Mark Todd, 24:57![]()
33, Matthew Johnston, 25:19![]()
34, David Johnston, 25:43![]()
35, Charlotte English, 25:46![]()
38, Beverley Gaston, 26:21![]()
41, Emma McKeen, 27:22![]()
43, Tommy Linton, 27:54![]()
47, Eddie Finn, 30:37![]()
Many Thanks to Glenlough Running Club for a very well organised and enjoyable event.
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Hill & Dale, Drinahilly![]()
On Friday 20th June, Andy Gregg travelled to Newcastle, County Down, to take part in the Drinahilly Race, the final round of this year’s Hill and Dale Series. Taking place on the gravel and forest paths through Donard Wood, the three-and-a-half mile course included some 260 metres of climbing.![]()
Andy ran well, competing in his only Hill and Dale race this year, finishing in a time of 31:47 and placing 81st in a field of almost 280 runners.
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Photos from East Coast Athletic Club’s post
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Cairncastle Fell Race![]()
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On Saturday, 7 June, three Larne AC runners joined our friends at East Coast Athletic Club, as they held their annual Cairncastle Classic Fell Race.![]()
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The Cairncastle Classic Fell Race is a medium distance fell race run over 10 miles with around 2,200ft (670m) of climbing. Starting at Cairncastle Primary School the runners climbed both on road and open mountainside to the top of Knock Dhu. From there it was a sharp descent to the valley and then straight back up for an out and back section along the Sallagh Braes. A swift descent to Linford car park was a short breather before the steady climb up to the top of Scawt. From there it was a fast descent through fields and paths back to the Coast Road, where a road section took them back to Ballygally.![]()
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The race was also part of both the NI Mountain Running Association (NIMRA) Championship and Irish Mountain Running Association (IMRA) Ulster Championship.![]()
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First home, and fresh from her recent adventures in Scotland and in the Mournes, was our perennial, and ever-smiling mountain stalwart, Sinead-marie Mcallister. Sinead ran strongly throughout to finish in 51st place (4th Female) in an excellent time of 1:45:09.![]()
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Returning to the hills after his Spring marathon exploits on the roads was Dom Dorris, who finished in 60th place at 1:51:38.![]()
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Sean Mcallister, undertaking his regular role of tail runner at this event, was the third Larne AC runner home, seeing all the runners off the mountains and safely back to the finish.![]()
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Special mention goes to Sinead, who also finished third in this round of the IMRA Ulster Championship.![]()
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As usual, this was an extremely well organised and well marshalled event by East Coast AC, and is an important local addition to the provincial and national mountain running calendar.
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Fairhill 5 Mile Race![]()
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On Thursday 5th June, Larne AC runners took part in Ballymena’s Fairhill 5 Mile Race. A pleasant evening along a beautiful course, winding through the ECOS Park, with a testing little hill in the last mile to keep us on our toes!![]()
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Well out in front, with a fab time of 26:11, our very own Jordan Heron, in the red vest of Larne, led a field of 500 runners to the finish line on Trostan Avenue to win the Fairhill 2025 title in great style!👏🏆👏![]()
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Next home for the club, and great to see getting closer to his old self, was Martan Keane, finishing in a great time of 31:11, 35th place overall ( 3rd Vet 45)![]()
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Our third athlete home was Billy Thompson, running superbly, 44th overall and winning the Male Vet 60 category prize in 32:06 🏆![]()
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Erin Millar was our first female home, earning a top 10 spot as 10th female overall! Erin completed the course in a cracking time of 34:19, pretty speedy considering she had just ran a marathon at the weekend!!![]()
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Next female home for the club was Juliane Keane, 18th female overall, pleased with her run, achieving a 5mile PB and winning the Female Vet 50 category prize in a time of 36:10.🏆![]()
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Beverly Gaston was 3rd female for the club, 33rd place female overall, completing the course in another great time of 38:57. Well done Beverly!![]()
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Well done to all Larne AC runners, another evening of great running and camaraderie. ![]()
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Thank you to Ballymena Runners for such a fantastic and well organised event! Beautiful course and we look forward to it next year!![]()
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Club Results:![]()
Jordan Heron 26:11 (🏆1st overall🏆)![]()
Martan Keane 31:11 ( 🥉3rd Vet 45)![]()
Billy Thompson 32.06 (🏆 Vet 60 1st Prize Winner)![]()
Philip McNeill 32:38![]()
Erin Millar 34:19 (10th female overall)![]()
Juliane Keane 36:10 PB (🏆 Vet 50 1st Prize Winner)![]()
Mark Todd 37:21![]()
Beverly Gaston 38:57![]()
Tommy Linton 39:14![]()
Laura Brennan 41:34![]()
Anna Jackson 42:48 PB![]()
Diane Hawthorne 45:37 PB![]()
Michele Mcintosh 45:38 PB![]()
Melissa Shieds 46:46![]()
Gail Montgomery 51:20![]()
Pearl Henry 53:17![]()
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Pictures courtesy of Ballymena Runners and Gail Montgomery
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Slieve Donard Mountain Race![]()
On Saturday 31st May, two Larne Athletic Club runners took part in the 80th annual Slieve Donard race, organised by Newcastle Athletic Club and included in this year’s Irish Mountain Running Championship. Starting in Newcastle town centre, the 160 runners ran along the Glen River to The Saddle, climbed to the top of Slieve Donard and descended back via the quarry, a distance of just under 6 miles and a demanding 2796 feet of climbing.![]()
Sinead McAllister, fresh from her experience last weekend on Jura, climbed steadily and was first finished for Larne AC in 101st place overall with a time of 1:29:53. This saw Sinead place as 14th female, 4th in the F35 category and should see her sitting in a superb Top-3 position in the Irish Mountain Running Championship after two races.![]()
Andy Gregg, competing in his first mountain race in 11 months, finished in 107th place in 1:30:51 with a time of exactly 1:00:00 to the summit of Donard.
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