Queen’s alumni team wins Belfast Marathon relay 

A group of five Queen’s alumni saw off over 1900 other teams to win the coveted 2013 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon Relay race title.

QUB Old Boys finished in a highly commendable time of 02:24:29 – five minutes ahead of nearest rivals Ballymena Runners and a further minute and a half in front of a North Belfast Harriers team.

It’s the second such victory for the Queen’s team repeating a win in 2011. Individually and collectively the runners have been participating in the Belfast Marathon since their student days when, according to Noel Pollock (Medicine 2002), they were all “generally fitter and definitely younger!”

The former QUB Athletics Club and Harriers members – several of whom have Queen’s Blues and were winners of Irish University titles – included: Joe McAllister (PCGE 2007) a teacher at St Malachy's College, John Rogers (Medicine 1997), a Consultant in Sport & Exercise Medicine and team doctor to the GB Endurance squad, Paul Pollock (Medicine 2010), a doctor in Belfast City Hospital, Andrew Dunwoody (Environmental Biology 1999; Environmental Engineering 2000), a Senior Environmental Engineer, Arup in London and Noel Pollock, a Consultant in Sport & Exercise Medicine and team doctor for the GB Athletics team.

“We hope to be back next year and to regularly defend our title – until we're too old!” Noel told Queen’s. “Myself, John and Andrew all live over in England so it’s a good opportunity to come back to Northern Ireland to see our families.” 

Pictured in the team photograph are (L-R) John Rogers, Andrew Dunwoody, Noel and Paul Pollock and Joe McAllister.

   

           

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