24/10/2026
EAST COAST AC DUO ENJOY A SPOOKTACULAR NIGHT OF RACING IN BELFAST!
On Friday 16th October 2026, two East Coast AC athletes made the trip to Belfast to take on the Spooktacular CCU Galloper Thompson 5k, an event with a Halloween twist, hosted by North Belfast Harriers.
The route starts and finishes at Grove Park in North Belfast, taking runners through the surrounding streets of the city. The course is a loop, with the first half mostly uphill and final part downhill, making it a good test of speed and stamina.
What makes this race particularly special is the local legend of Gordon "Galloper" Thompson, a mysterious headless horseman said to haunt the streets around Jennymount (Shore Road). The Halloween theme brings plenty of costumes, spooky entertainment and a brilliant atmosphere, especially around the finish line.
The 2026 event attracted over 700 runners, growing from last years inaugural outing. James Wilson and Matt Maguire made the journey and were ready to put their speed to the test over the 5K distance.
James produced a superb performance, racing home in a fantastic time of 18:45, comfortably breaking the 19-minute barrier.
Matt Maguire was also in excellent form, putting in a cracking run to cross the epic finish line in a brilliant 19:29, ensuring both East Coast AC athletes finished well under the 20-minute mark!
A fantastic evening of racing for the East Coast AC duo, with both athletes delivering strong performances to outrun 'the Galloper', whilst still enjoying the unique Halloween atmosphere of this popular Belfast event.
Brilliant running, James and Matt! π₯π€π