Nick Griggs and Emily Haggard-Kearney led convincing victories at the Armagh International Road Races, producing fast times and leaving little doubt about their form.
Topics covered
The Mall delivered a dramatic finish to the Armagh International Road Races as two locally linked runners took centre stage. Spectators packed the riverside loop to watch tightly bunched packs, tactical probing and furious final laps that kept the atmosphere electric.
Nick Griggs timed his sprint to perfection in the men’s 5km, surging on the last lap to cross in 13:37 — a mark that flirted with the course best. On the women’s side, Wirral-born Emily Haggard-Kearney made her move around the halfway point of the 3km, building a gap she never relinquished and finishing strongly in 9:07.
Both results underline their rising form across road and cross-country seasons.
A race of cat-and-mouse
The Mall’s roughly 1,000m circuit became a board for chess-like tactics. Laps passed with groups forming and splintering as athletes tested each other’s resolve.
In the men’s race, Griggs bided his time behind a brisk tempo laid down by Swedish pacemakers before switching gears in the final circuit and holding off a late charge. England’s Matthew Ramsden produced a strong finish for second, with clubmate Callum Morgan completing the podium. Former national cross-country champion Cormac Dalton was part of the bell-lap duel but couldn’t match Griggs’s kick, while Lughaidh Mallon’s closing lap earned him a top-seven placing.
The women’s contest was similarly compact early on. Midway through, Haggard-Kearney threaded through the field, then managed the closing laps with calm and efficiency. Danielle Donegan of Tullamore Harriers chased hard to take second in 9:12, a hair ahead of Louise Shanahan (9:13). National cross-country champion Fiona Everard ran a solid race but finished further back than some pundits had expected. With margins so fine, indisputable timing and clear lap splits are essential both for fair placings and to head off post-race disputes.
Emerging form in the open 3,000m
The open 3,000m produced its own tight battles. William Driscoll led a compact podium in 8:32, with Philip McGee and the Netherlands’ Wannes Van Uytven close behind and Russell White recording 8:41 for fourth. Those performances suggest several athletes are hitting a strong mid-season rhythm — promising for upcoming track campaigns and marathon preparations alike.
Local pride and wider implications
Home victories from Griggs and Haggard-Kearney gave the crowd plenty to cheer about, but the day was more about tactical nous than all-out tempo. Coaches will be looking closely at the competitive depth on display when shaping selections and training blocks for the months ahead.
Practical takeaways for future events
Organisers can build on this success by prioritising a few practical measures:
– Ensure meticulous course measurement and certification to protect performances. – Maintain high-precision timing and reliable split systems so results stand up to scrutiny. – Provide clear lap displays and real-time splits for athletes and coaches to aid tactical decisions. – Keep athlete welfare and spectator access balanced on the Mall’s compact loop.
The Armagh races offered a reminder that great road meets blend strategy with speed. On a day of narrow margins and decisive moves, the Mall confirmed its place as a testing, spectator-friendly stage for regional and national talent.
