2009 Premier Power Larne Half Marathon

Premier Power Larne Half Marathon 2009 Report

A huge record entry of 700 runners saw St Malachy’s AC athlete Joe McAllister win the Premier Power Larne Half Marathon in a thrilling race on Saturday afternoon. With previous race winners Brian Campbell and Alan McCullough also competing, an exciting race was always in prospect between McAllister and the Willowfield Harriers pair.

Promoted by Larne Athletic Club and sponsored for the sixth year by Premier Power Limited, the event was also raising funds for the RNLI and Roddensvale special school, this year’s race charity partners.

Although conditions improved as the race progressed, a strong, coastal headwind greeted the runners as they made their way from Tower Road along a scenic, coastal route to Ballygalley, before climbing uphill to Cairncastle. At this stage McAllister, Campbell and McCullough were running together with Scot, Stephen Wylie of Cambuslang just behind and a large gap to the fifth placed runner.

Positions remained unchanged on the return from Ballygalley through Drains Bay, until McAllister moved clear as they reached the promenade to the finish at Larne Leisure Centre, becoming the sixteenth winner of the race with a time of 1:09:08. Campbell was second, just seven seconds behind, with McCullough third.

The Ladies race was equally exciting, as Suzanne McCormick of Lagan Valley AC led over the first six miles, before being overtaken by Breege Connolly of North Belfast Harriers. Connolly won in a time of 1:22:53, with a fast finish from Karen Alexander of Sperrin Harriers taking her into second place, in her second half marathon in as many weeks. McCormick was third in a time of 1:24:03.

Fresh from his win in the Omagh Half Marathon, Paul Hannon won the wheelchair event in a time of 1:16:48.

North Belfast won the Half Marathon team race with six to count, with East Antrim Harriers second and Larne Athletic Club third.

In the Veterans categories, Stephen Wylie (Cambuslang) was first Over 35, in fourth place overall. Mark Wright of Annadale Striders finished fifth overall to win the Over 40 category, Gary Keenan, (Albertville) was first over 45 and Robert Wilson (Willowfield Harriers) was first Over 50. Winner of the Over 55 category was Gene Kelly (North East Runners) while Desi McHenry kept Willowfield Harriers in the prizes with a win in the Over 60 category. Christy McMonagle (City of Derry) finished in a time many a younger athlete would be proud of to win the Over 65 category, in a time of 1:32:41.

First Lady over 35 was Amanda Perry of North Belfast Harriers,in a time of 1:29:58. Fiona Johnston (Up & Runners) was first Over 40, Lynne Kerr (North Down AC) first over 45 and Mary Mackin (Dromore AC) first over 50. The Over 55 Category was won by Stella Jolly while Brigid Quinn (Ballymena Runners) and Rosemary Armstrong , both regular prizewinners in the Premier Power Larne Half Marathon, won the Over 60 and Over 65 categories respectively.

Around forty participants took part in the walk, starting at mid-day, and thirteen teams competed in the relay race, incorporated into the Half Marathon with three in each team and changeover points in Ballygalley.

Ryan Maxwell was first of the finishers for Larne Athletic Club finishing sixteenth overall in a time of 1:17:02, a superb result given the windy conditions. Justin Maxwell was next 19th place with Sam Drummond in 26th. Craig Hutchinson, in 34th overall, finished well up in the Vet 45 category, while Phelim McAllister ran a new personal best time of 1:26:25. Bernard Brady completed the first six home for Larne with an excellent run and a time of 1:29:37.

Rhonda Brady was the first of the Larne Athletic Club ladies in a time of 1:53:28, with Heather Baxter next in 1:54:46, and strong finishes by Bernie Regan and Elaine Hall giving them a time of 1:55:04 and 1:55:08 respectively. Special mention also goes to Amy Beggs, competing for the first time for Larne AC and deservedly delighted with her time of 2:00:38 and to Clare McGuiness, completing the ladies team in a time of 2:06:40.

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 New Balance for the superb range of top quality spot prizes on offer; 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 and to Marty McToal and his team for the excellent catering service provided. Finally thanks to all those from the RNLI, Roddensvale School 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, Breege Connolly, North Belfast Harriers, 1:22:53
2, Karen Alexander, Sperrin Harriers, 1:23:58
3, Suzanne McCormick, Lagan Valley AC, 1:24:03

Female Vet 35

1, Amanda Perry, North Belfast Harriers, 1:29:58
2, Clare Duffield, 1:36:28

Female Vet 40

1, Fiona Johnston, Up & Runners, 1:38:23
2, Mary McKee, Randalstown RC 1:39:32

Female Vet 45

1, Lynne Kerr, North Down AC, 1:37:42
2, Sandra Wilson, 1:38:20

Female Vet 50

1, Mary Mackin, Dromore AC, 1:38:15
2, Heather Bamford, Lunchtime Legends, 1:45:09

Female Vet 55

1, Stella Jolly, 2:12:15
2, Nina Rollins, 2:15:35

Female Vet 60

1, Brigid Quinn, Ballymena Runners, 1:53:33
2, Violet Davidson, Marine Marauders, 2:12:48

Female Vet 65

1, Rosemary Armstrong, 2:03:49

Wheelchair

1, Paul Hannan, 1:16:48

Male Open

1, Joe McAllister, St Malachy’s AC, 1:09:08
2, Brian Campbell, Willowfield Harriers, 1:09:15
3, Alan McCullough, Willowfield Harriers, 1:09:49

Male Vet 35

1, Stephen Wylie, Cambuslang, 1:10:46
2, Paul Carroll, Annadale Striders, 1:13:34

Male Vet 40

1, Mark Wright, Annadale Striders, 1:15:25
2, Stephen McGrory, Annadale Striders, 1:15:52

Male Vet 45

1, Gary Keenan, Albertville, 1:18:26
2, Nigel Grier, Dromore AC, 1:19:28

Male Vet 50

1, Robert Wilson, Willowfield Harriers, 1:23:28
2, Greg McClure, North Belfast Harriers, 1:26:34

Male Vet 55

1, Gene Kelly, North East Runners, 1:32:20
2, Thomas Mulholland, 1:37:39

Male Vet 60

1, Desi McHenry, Willowfield Harriers, 1:28:51
2, Brian Hamilton, East Down AC, 1:34:17

Male Vet 65

1, Christy McMonagle, City of Derry, 1:32:41
2, David Matthews, Lunchtime Legends, 1:50:47

Team Race

1, North Belfast Harriers, 129 pts
2, East Antrim Harriers, 226 pts
3, Larne Athletic Club, 238 pts

Female Relay

1, Team Eileen Gormley, 1:45:59

Mixed Relay

1, Lagan Valley Mixers, 1:27:04

Note: If you are a prizewinner listed above and did not receive your prize on the day, it will be posted to you over the next few days.

28.03.2009                                      2009 Results

Thank you and a big well done to everyone who took part today.  Provisional results are now available.

A full report and photo's will follow.