Marathon effort from Larne AC

Andy Guy produced an excellent performance to lead the local athletes home in 2:57:18, finishing well below the three-hour barrier, and he was followed by the ever-consistent Phelim McAllister in 2:58:53 and official Belfast City Marathon three-hour pacer Justin Maxwell, who fulfilled his role perfectly, crossing the line as the clock struck 2:59:00, meaning that his followers achieved their sub-3:00:00 finish. Billy Thompson covered the distance in a superb 3:05:49.

The club’s ladies’ relay team, which included Rhonda Montgomery, Rhonda Brady, Trisha Campbell, Bernadette Campbell and Ruth Wilson finished as third-placed female team in 3:19:21 (37th place overall, out of 1,900 teams).

Bert Shaw followed in 3:19:49, with John McManus (3:23:30), who was completing his third marathon in a month, just behind. Kirsty Sharratt ran an excellent race, clocking the second-fastest time ever by a Larne AC lady over 26.2 miles. She crossed the line in an excellent 3:25:33. Paul Tilson battled well through the closing miles to finish in 3:51:59, before Alan Poag (4:14:13), David Noble (4:29:26) and Andrew Carson (4:38:07) completed the course.

On Saturday, Andy Gregg, Bryan Magee and Corey Urwin took part in the Annalong Horseshoe Mountain Race - a 13.1-mile journey through the Mourne Mountains and includes 1,550m of ascended terrain. Gregg was first home in 2:37:39 (19th place), with Magee finishing close behind in 2:41:13 (23rd place). Urwin continued his return to competition with a 2:50:00 (31st place) finish.

Elsewhere, Amy Beggs and Eddie Finn took on the 26extreme Lost Worlds Causeway Crossing. This was a 100k foot race from Waterfoot, across the Moyle Way and onto the Casueway Coast, finishing at Larrybane Quarry, close to Carrick-a-Rede rope-bridge. Amy completed the gruelling course in 15:46:30, to claim third place prize in the ladies’ category. Unfortunately, Eddie had to withdraw at 70k due to a knee injury.

On Sunday, Heather Baxter completed the Cincinnati Marathon in America. Despite the hilly course, Heather managed to run a new personal best of 3:48:29, smashing her previous 26.2-mile best by over 10 minutes.