The Armagh 5k styles itself as the fastest race in the world, with athletes coming from all over Europe to run loops around the park in the centre of the city. After his stellar performance in Saturday’s Surrey League cross-country on Wimbledon Common, we knew Kieran Barnes was in good shape – and so it proved as he took almost 10 seconds of his previous personal best to finish the race in 14.32.

The race had over 150 athletes duck under 15.00 minutes, a real benchmark for any aspiring club runner competing on the road over 5k. With a winning time of 13.36, Ireland’s Nick Griggs took home the honours this year, accelerating away from the field with about 500 metres to go. A great event, we hope to have more Holland Sports AC runners taking the short flight across the Irish Sea to run in this ‘stacked’ race next February.