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Club News 2010

Details of the Premier Power Larne Half Marathon can be found at:

http://www.freewebs.com/larnehalfmarathon

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Premier Power Larne Half Marathon

A record entry of 1000 runners took to the streets of Larne last Saturday to compete for honours in the Premier Power Larne Half Marathon. With previous men’s winners absent, the race for 1st overall was wide open. Although none of the countries top stars turned out to race, the depth of field was the best ever. This was evident in the final results with over 120 athlete’s running under 1 hour 30 minutes, a standard seen by many as a very competitive club athlete. Although a bright sunny spring day with perfect running temperature, the coast road had the usual North wind, so the runners had it tough over the first 5 miles. It was Robin Brown who moved clear of the field early, battling the elements on his own, a decision which proved decisive as he went on to take the crown in a time of 1 hour 12 minutes and 33 seconds. Robin, who runs for North Down, was relatively unknown before the start of the race as he has been racing in England where he attends university. Simon Taylor of Abbey AC was next just 20 seconds behind holding off a late challenge from Robin’s North Down team mate Francis Marsh.

Promoted by Larne Athletic Club and sponsored for the seventh year by Premier Power Limited, the event was also raising funds for ‘Action For Children’, this year’s race charity partners.

The ladies race was more predictable with former Olympian and pre-race favourite Maria McCambridge of Letterkenny AC leading from start to finish in 1 hour 18 minutes and 56 seconds. Sharon Bird had a great run finishing 2nd in 1 hour 21 minutes and 15 seconds with North Belfast team mate and former ladies winner Breege Connolly finishing 3rd, another 2 minutes adrift.

North Belfast Harriers also dominated the team prizes this year taking both male and female categories.

Winners of the male veteran categories went to Phil Wood over 35, Mark Wright over 40 for the second year in succession, Gary Keenan over 45, Robert Wilson over 50, also for the second year, Jim Breen over 55, Francis Boal over 60 and Fred Murdoch over 65.

Winners of the female veteran categories went to Louise Smith over 35, Rona Harkens over 40, Joanne Bingham over 45, Liz Turton over 50, Colette Meenan over 60 and Brigid Quinn over 65.

Host club Larne AC had 39 members taking part which included 20 ladies, outnumbering the men for the first time. Hannah Fletcher led the ladies home in 1 hour 46 minutes and Nat Glenn led the men home in 1 hour 19 minutes, finishing 4th over 40 and 21st overall.

It wasn’t all about fast times though because another record turnout of over 100 walkers took to the course one hour before the main event. The walkers enjoyed the sunshine and views along the coast and with the banter along the way they added to the amazing atmosphere of the whole event.

Larne Athletic Club would like to express thanks and appreciation for the continued sponsorship and support of Premier Power; without it the half marathon would simply not exist in its present form. Thanks must also go to Ambutran for the provision of first aid; to the officials from the NIAF for their assistance with timekeeping and with the prize presentation, to the PSNI for their assistance with traffic control, to Glenn Grant for race timing, to Marty McToal and his team for the excellent catering service provided and to Lusty’s Centra, Larne for providing water for the finish. Finally thanks to all those from Action For Children and to all those club members and their families and friends who turned out to take entries, to prepare the course, to marshal, man water stations and to assist in every way.

Category Results

Female Open

1, Maria McCambridge, Letterkenny AC, 1:18:56
2, Sharon Bird, North Belfast Harriers, 1:21:17
3, Breege Connolly, North Belfast Harriers, 1:23:33

Female Vet 35

1, Louise Smith, North Belfast Harriers, 1:25:11
2, Roberta Dornan, North Down AC, 1:26:53

Female Vet 40

1, Rona Harkens, Lagan Valley AC, 1:27:40
2, Stephanie Hambling, North Down AC, 1:28:27

Female Vet 45

1, Bingham, Joanne Olympian Tri Club, 1:40:57
2, Janice Reid, Dromore, 1:43:39

Female Vet 50

1, Liz Turton, Stockport Harriers, 1:40:23
2, Heather Bamford, Olympian Triathlon, 1:42:00

Female Vet 60

1, Colette Meenan, 2:10:27

Female Vet 65

1, Brigid Quinn, Ballymena Runners AC, 1:54:25

Male Open

1, Robin Brown, North Down AC, 1:12:35
2, Simon Taylor, Abbey AC, 1:12:53
3, Francis Marsh, North Down AC, 1:12:58

Male Vet 35

1, Phil Wood, 1:15:50
2, Conor Curran, 1:16:51

Male Vet 40

1, Mark Wright, Annadale Striders, 1:14:04
2, Jim Benson, North Belfast Harriers, 1:14:56

Male Vet 45

1, Gary Keenan, Orangegrove AC, 1:19:12
2, Bryan Edgar, Springwell, 1:21:36

Male Vet 50

1, Robert Wilson, Willowfield Harriers, 1:22:20
2, Greg McClure, North Belfast Harriers, 1:24:39

Male Vet 55

1, Jim Breen, Springwell, 1:27:05
2, Hugh Boyle, Springwell, 1:27:25

Male Vet 60

1, Francis Boal, Ballydrain Harriers, 1:35:30
2, Mike Smith, Dub Runners, 1:40:22

Male Vet 65

1, Fred Murdoch, North Down AC, 1:45:52
2, Sam Hogg, 1:46:50

Team Race - Male

1, North Belfast Harriers, 30 pts

Team Race – Female

1, North Belfast Harriers, 17 pts

Female Relay

1, Team Curves (Bernie McAllister), 2:05:09

Mixed Relay

1, Lagan Valley AC, 1:30:25

Male Relay

1, Ballymena Runners, 1:21:56

Larne Athletic Club Finishers

21, Nat Glenn, 1:19:19
30, Samuel Drummond, 1:21:34
43, Bernard Brady, 1:22:57
48, Greg Lavery, 1:23:26
71, Phelim McAllister, 1:25:26
112, Brian Heron, 1:29:03
137, Paul Tilson, 1:31:56
146, James Robinson, 1:33:00
173, Ryan Todd, 1:34:38
190, Chris Gilbert, 1:35:42
191, Dale Smith, 1:35:43
207, Brian Spence, 1:37:06
290, Alvyn McQuitty, 1:41:09
381, Jackie Wallace, 1:46:02
409, Hannah Fletcher, 1:47:20
481, Laura Simpson 1:50:27
538, Trevor Gardiner 1:53:12
548, Andrew Beattie, 1:53:44
590, Mandy Johnston, 1:56:15
599, Elaine Hall, 1:56:32
601, Amy Beggs, 1:56:37
606, Jayne Liddle, 1:56:49
661, Ruth Wilson, 1:59:19
686, Eddie Finn, 2:00:20
718, Maria Glenn, 2:02:29
719, Toni Ramsey, 2:02:30
726, Nicola Hylands, 2:02:56
727, Alexis Hay, 2:03:02
736, Bernie Regan, 2:03:46
742, Shirley McGuckin, 2:04:01
779, Rhonda Wallace, 2:05:58
780, Elaine McKay, 2:05:58
830, Jeanette Hylands, 2:10:29
865, George Sloan, 2:14:21
873, Claire Knox, 2:15:08
874, Roisin Lavery, 2:15:08
949, Sharon Lynn-McGregor, 2:33:28
951, Lorraine Houston, 2:34:34
976, Ruth Harrison, 2:55:39

Results