Seaton Classic 10K
29 September 2025
Over thirteen hundred runners took to the roads around Bangor for the Seaton Classic 10k which was also the 2025 NI and Ulster 10k road championships. The athletes were greeted by some heavy rain showers and blustery winds; however, this did not detract from some great performances.
The men’s race proved to be a tactical affair with eight athletes still in contention after 8k, where Craig McMeechan (North Down) made a break for home with Andrew Milligan (NBH) Connor Rogers (Annadale) and Tom Elfenbien (CNDR) the only athletes to go with him. Craig managed to hold off a strong challenge from Andrew to take a very popular win for the local athlete in 31.13 Andrew finished second in 31.15 with Tom just holding off Connor for third in 31.21.
The women’s race was dominated by Emily Haggard Kearney (NBH) who despite the unfavourable conditions managed to break the course record in a very impressive 32.54 which placed her eleventh overall. Hannah Gilliland (Annadale) was second in 34.09 with teammate Lea Adamson third in 35.12.
The weekend also had the World Mountain Running Championships which were being held in Canfranc Spain. There was plenty of local interest with Zak Hanna (Newcastle) 44th, Aaron McGrady (East Down) 68th and Jared Martin (Ballydrain) 84th in the men’s uphill race. Edel Monaghan (DCH) ran in the women’s uphill race finishing 70th. In the U20 races Eoin McConnell (NBH) finished 47th in the men’s race with Anna McGookin (Ballymena) 46th in the women’s race.
On Sunday at the prestigious Rathfarnham 5k road race Rebecca Wallace (Lagan Valley) had a breakthrough performance smashing her pb by almost two minutes, finishing fourth in an impressive 16.08.