Ards Half Marathon

One week on and now the dust has settled I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped and supported this year's UHire Ards Half Marathon.

Firstly our marshalls and volunteers: This event could not go ahead without you, and you certainly made your presence known! From music, to clappers, sweets and extra water you all embraced our event and made it something incredibly special. We've had so much positive feedback and we're so so grateful to you all.

Our pacers: We have an incredible pacing team who smashed it again this year. Even in the much warmer conditions we had absolutely no concerns and knew you would all get back over that finish line, smiling and delighted to have hit your target. Thank you so much to every one of you. Especially those that finished with their 🎈.

Our Sponsors: we are so lucky to have UHire as our main sponsor again this year along with the continued support and sponsorship from Mawhinneys Sausages and Paul at the Physio Clinic. Thank you so much for helping us keep Ards half marathon on the racing calendar each year.

Key Interested parties: Huge thanks to Athletics NI, Paul, Emma, Sean, Ian & Claire in your respective areas at Ards and North Down Borough Council , Ambutran Event Medical Services for providing our medical cover. Andy @ Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex Glenn Grant Ireland as well as road traffic management we hope to see you all again next year ☺️

A million thank you's to the Ards half marathon organising committee, these ladies literally go above and beyond to make sure this event is a success every single year and could not go ahead with them. So huge thank you to: Lynn McGonigal, Amanda Martin, Elaine Mcgonigal, Nicola Forsythe, Kim & Georgia Reid.

George T McGonigal and Paulfor everything you did, from course set up, to water delivery, collecting cups in their very special bag, photos and being present for the entire race, your support means so much!

And finally the wonderful Joanne Wray, you jumped in from the very beginning and were literally my right hand woman throughout, your attention to detail as well as your belief in this race and want for it to be a success for all is amazing. The extras you added such as the marshalls meeting were a huge success and the start of us putting our own stamp on the race 🤩

Just to wrap up, we have seen the feedback the good, the bad and the in-between and are definitely looking at ways to improve as we go along, so if you have any feedback at all or want to share some photos (or good news stories) please add below or send it through to us directly.

Thanks again and we hope to see you all again next year.
Andrea
Race Director

Results are in! 🥳🥳🥳
Firstly huge congratulations to Jared Martin not only was he our outright winner he also smashed our previous course record of 1:11.57 to put down a new course record of 1:10.16 🏃🥇👀

All results are as follows:
Male
1st place: Jared Martin
2nd place: Chris Dean
3rd place: Cameron Grant

Female
1st place: Tori Smyth
2nd place: Amanda Perry
3rd place: Mary Slocum

Age category winners

35
Male: Danny Bradley
Female: Helen Morrow

40
Male: Aaron Beggs
Female: Emma Burgess

45
Male: David McNeilly
Female: Nuala Muldoon

50
Male: Martin Muldoon
Female: Emma Armstrong

55
Male: Thomas Carson
Female: Sarah Benton

60
Male: Francis Marsh
Female: Amanda Martin

65
Male: Norman Mawhinney

70
Male: Paul Acheson

Congratulations again to all our winners.
I can be at Londonderry park on Wednesday evening at 6:30 if you want to pick up your winnings. If this isn't possible please let me know and I'll arrange a transfer for you.

Some Scrabo road pics courtesy of Ned Connolly:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1D35k5mHWZ/

Results are now available! We'll post about age category winners etc soon

ChampionChip Ireland - Race Timing and Sporting Events ChampionChip Ireland is the sole operator of MyLaps chip timing in Ireland & Northern Ireland, providing timing solutions for sports events across the country.

Hey all while we're waiting on the official results coming through, here's some wonder pics taken by Phil Childs

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IMPORTANT RACE DAY INFORMATION

Water
Although slightly cooler than yesterday it's still very warm and expected to be in the 20's at race time. Hydration throughout today can help.
Although we do have 3 water stations please be aware demand may be higher than usual, if you feel you may need more water you can bring some with you as well.

T-shirts
For anyone due a t-shirt that was unable to collect on Wednesday night we'll have a dedicated table for t-shirt only pick ups, please come see us before your race if possible to get yours!

Prizes
Due to the rising costs of putting on our race we've had to make some amends to prizes.
Male & female 1st, 2nd and 3rd places remain unchanged.
Age categories remain unchanged however prizes will now be offered to 1st place in each category only.

Thank you to everyone supporting our race, we hope to see you all later! 🏃‍♀️🏃🥇🥈🥉

Ards Half Marathon important number collection information.
Race number bibs can be collected at Ards Blair Mayne leisure centre from 6:30-8:00 tonight and tomorrow night as well as limited collection from 4:30-6:00 on Friday.
Late entry is still available on a cash only basis of £35 with no medal or t-shirt on the above dates and times.
T SHIRTS
Unfortunately our supplier has let us down and t-shirts won't arrive until tomorrow. Anyone who collects their number tonight will be able to collect their finishers t-shirt in the bubble when they finish their race.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Championing the Community: Sponsor Spotlight ⭐

We are thrilled to highlight Paul Flynn and The Physio Clinic Ards & Ballymena as an official sponsor for our upcoming race.
Paul and his expert team are dedicated to keeping our community moving, healthy, and performing at their absolute best.
Why We Love Having Them on Board:
• Expert Care: Paul brings years of specialized physiotherapy experience to elite athletes and everyday runners alike.
• Injury Prevention: The clinic focuses on proactive body mechanics to keep you crossing finish lines safely.
•. Community Spirit: Their sponsorship directly supports local sports, grassroots athletics, and healthy lifestyles.
•. Tailored Recovery: Every treatment plan is custom-built to match your specific fitness goals.

A Message for Our Runners, whether you are aiming for a personal best or completing your very first race, your body deserves the highest level of care. If you are training through niggles or need a post-race recovery plan, Paul Flynn is the professional you want in your corner.
Thanks again Paul!

🌭 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: McWHINNEY'S SAUSAGES 🥇
We are thrilled to highlight our fantastic sponsor, Scott McWhinney and the iconic team at !
Spanning six generations since 1898, this local, family-run business produces top-tier Irish pork sausages using a closely guarded family recipe. Sausages are a staple comfort food for runners building up energy stores, and Scott knows all about that balance, he and his wife are taking to the roads to battle the Ards hills alongside us this Friday!

Keep an eye out for them on the route (and maybe even their legendary mascot, Big Foot!).

Thank you, Scott and McWhinney's, for your amazing support of local athletics! 🐷🏃‍♂️

🏃‍♂️ RACE DAY IS NEARLY HERE! 🏃‍♀️
As we make our final preparations for the 2026 U Hire NI Ards Half Marathon this Friday night, we want to extend a massive thank you to our incredible title sponsor, Niall and the whole team at !

From heavy plant machinery to essential DIY tool hire, U Hire NI keeps our local community moving, and their generous backing ensures we can put on an unforgettable event for our runners, volunteers, and spectators.
Thank you for championing local sports and making the Ards Half possible again this year! 🤝🎽📍

Need tool hire or equipment in North Down? Support the business that supports our community! Visit them at 15 Jubilee Road, Newtownards or Drop them a follow at