Co Down woman to become first from NI to reach impressive milestone at Belfast City Marathon this weekend
Elaine McAnulty from Banbridge has travelled the world to compete in marathons, fundraising for charity Cancer Focus NI.
Referring to her extensive fundraising, the seasoned runner said: 'The achievement of completing my 400th marathon will be made sweeter knowing I have made a difference to local people on their cancer journey.
'I have been proud to fundraise for Cancer Focus NI over the past number of years and I am always delighted to see everyone at the charity's cheering station, spurring me on as I make my way around the route.'
Ahead of the Moy Park Belfast City Marathon this weekend, McAnulty spoke about the atmosphere runners can expect: 'The Belfast City marathon can be just as enjoyable as the New York marathon, it's all about the atmosphere and making your family proud'.
She's offered some advice to first-time marathon runners, saying: 'Anything can happen on the day, the most important thing is to have fun. The atmosphere is electric and the support from the local community across Belfast is unbelievable, it really helps get you across the finish line'.
Over 22,000 participants are expected to take to Belfast for the marathon this bank holiday weekend.
John Allen, chairman of the Belfast City Marathon organising committee, said: "This year's Bank Holiday weekend will see the biggest marathon in our 43-year history, with 6,500 runners taking on the 26.2-mile challenge. 2,750 relay teams and 1,200 8 mile walkers will join in to soak up in the marathon atmosphere, making it Northern Ireland's biggest mass sport participatory event.'
The 26.2 mile race on Sunday will start at Stormont Estate, passing through the north, south, east and west of the city, before finishing in Ormeau Park.
Motorists can expect some disruption throughout the morning and early afternoon as participants make their way through the city.
The 2025 Moy Park Belfast City Marathon route is similar to the 2024 route, although there are some slight changes.
The route has minor alterations at the City Hall, this year remaining on Chichester Street, directly onto Wellington Place before turning left onto Fisherwick Place and continuing on the route.
A further change takes place on the Falls Road, turning left onto North Howard Street, left onto Cupar Way, right onto Lanark Way, right onto the Shankill Road, left onto Tennent Street, across the Crumlin Road onto Hillview Road and left onto the Oldpark Road and continuing the route.
Roads will start to close wholly or partially at various parts of the city from around 6am until 4pm.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Top holiday resort approves huge fines for public sex and nudity in major crackdown on badly-behaved Brit tourists
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TOP holiday resort has approved huge fines for public sex and nudity in a major crackdown on badly-behaved Brit tourists. The Algarve party resort of Albufeira has gone to war against boozy tourists and slapped new rules to curb alcohol-fueled debauchery. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Going topless at night in Algarve will now lead to a fine Credit: Olivia West 9 Badly behaved tourists who go starkers in public will now be fined Credit: Olivia West 9 A group of Brits stripped naked and mounted the bar in Algrarve 9 A reveller pours fruity punch into a young lad's mouth Credit: Olivia West Enraged City Hall officials on Friday approved huge new penalties of up to £3,375 for holidaymakers flouting a strict new 'good behaviour' code. Hefty fines will now be imposed for everything from urinating in the street to getting naked. The rules will kick in within weeks, in time for the summer season, aiming to curb anti-social behaviour. And locals hope they will turn the tide, with nakedness, vomiting in the street and having sex in public all now coming at a heavy price. Badly behaved tourists who go starkers in public, or get caught bonking or simulating sex, face paying anything from £1,685 to £3,375. Spitting or urinating in the street will be punished with fines of between £125 and £630. And entering bars and other businesses topless could lead to a £1,250 levy. Bars and cafes which let customers in without the proper dress code will also be fined. Brit tourists were first warned about the new get-tough rules in February when Albufeira's mayor Jose Carlos Rolo announced the "Code of Conduct" plans. Last summer, a group of partying Brit tourists put on a shocking display of public nudity, leaving the locals fuming. 'Can't believe it' cry locals as 'tourist' filmed cycling NAKED through Lanzarote amid anti-visitor fury plaguing Spain Footage of their drunken antics, showing them starkers on their knees in a line on top of a bar counter, went viral. Rolo called the display 'deeply negative' and said he would call for police reinforcements. He said last night: "Tourists who fall down drunk aren't needed here at all." Predictably, Albufeira is fast becoming the go-to spot for young revellers looking for a boozy break. During The Sun's investigation into tourist revelry in the town, we saw how cops and medics are already patrolling the mile-long strip — nicknamed 'The Chaos' by locals — to keep a firm eye on the crazy, drunken antics of holidaymakers. Little wonder some end up in a terrible state, as girls are plied with free drinks at many pubs in a bid to lure in paying lads, while every bar offers shots from £1.70. Local taxi driver Guilherme, 25, told The Sun: 'Stay here more than one night and you'll see tourists having sex in the street. Sometimes it's groups of naked men on balconies. It's shocking.' Furious locals decided to bring in the new code of conduct after a group of British louts got naked on a bar top and proceeded to crawl around in broad daylight last year. 9 Tourists throw up on the streets Credit: Olivia West 9 Couple caught getting frisky at the roadside Credit: Olivia West 9 Tourists lying on pavement Credit: Olivia West 9 Topless youths clamber clumsily up a stone wall Credit: Olivia West It comes as a 21-year-old Brit was found dead at the foot of a set of steps in Albufeira's old town last Wednesday. Cops are said to believe booze is behind the tragedy. The news, which emerged on Saturday, came days after reveller Greg Monks, 38, from Glasgow, was found dead in a ravine near Albufeira. He was there on a stag do and had left the party early to return to his hotel when it is thought he jumped over a wall while drunk, unaware there was a steep drop on the other side. He was missing for a week. The fatalities shine an unwelcome light on the more dangerous and seedier side of the Algarve resort. Once marketed as a family-friendly getaway, now a much younger crew of holidaymakers is descending on the cobbled streets, turning it into a nocturnal party town.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Top holiday resort approves huge fines for public sex and nudity in major crackdown on badly-behaved Brit tourists
A TOP holiday resort has approved huge fines for public sex and nudity in a major crackdown on badly-behaved Brit tourists. The Algarve party resort of Albufeira has gone to war against boozy tourists and slapped new rules to curb alcohol-fueled debauchery. 9 9 9 9 Enraged City Hall officials on Friday approved huge new penalties of up to £3,375 for holidaymakers flouting a strict new 'good behaviour' code. Hefty fines will now be imposed for everything from urinating in the street to getting naked. The rules will kick in within weeks, in time for the summer season, aiming to curb anti-social behaviour. And locals hope they will turn the tide, with nakedness, vomiting in the street and having sex in public all now coming at a heavy price. Badly behaved tourists who go starkers in public, or get caught bonking or simulating sex, face paying anything from £1,685 to £3,375. Spitting or urinating in the street will be punished with fines of between £125 and £630. And entering bars and other businesses topless could lead to a £1,250 levy. Bars and cafes which let customers in without the proper dress code will also be fined. Brit tourists were first warned about the new get-tough rules in February when Albufeira's mayor Jose Carlos Rolo announced the "Code of Conduct" plans. Last summer, a group of partying Brit tourists put on a shocking display of public nudity, leaving the locals fuming. 'Can't believe it' cry locals as 'tourist' filmed cycling NAKED through Lanzarote amid anti-visitor fury plaguing Spain Footage of their drunken antics, showing them starkers on their knees in a line on top of a bar counter, went viral. Rolo called the display 'deeply negative' and said he would call for police reinforcements. He said last night: "Tourists who fall down drunk aren't needed here at all." Predictably, Albufeira is fast becoming the go-to spot for young revellers looking for a boozy break. During The Sun's investigation into tourist revelry in the town, we saw how cops and medics are already patrolling the mile-long strip — nicknamed 'The Chaos' by locals — to keep a firm eye on the crazy, drunken antics of holidaymakers. Little wonder some end up in a terrible state, as girls are plied with free drinks at many pubs in a bid to lure in paying lads, while every bar offers shots from £1.70. Local taxi driver Guilherme, 25, told The Sun: 'Stay here more than one night and you'll see tourists having sex in the street. Sometimes it's groups of naked men on balconies. It's shocking.' Furious locals decided to bring in the new code of conduct after a group of British louts got naked on a bar top and proceeded to crawl around in broad daylight last year. 9 9 9 9 It comes as a 21-year-old Brit was found dead at the foot of a set of steps in Albufeira's old town last Wednesday. Cops are said to believe booze is behind the tragedy. The news, which emerged on Saturday, came days after reveller Greg Monks, 38, from Glasgow, was found dead in a ravine near Albufeira. He was there on a stag do and had left the party early to return to his hotel when it is thought he jumped over a wall while drunk, unaware there was a steep drop on the other side. He was missing for a week. The fatalities shine an unwelcome light on the more dangerous and seedier side of the Algarve resort. Once marketed as a family-friendly getaway, now a much younger crew of holidaymakers is descending on the cobbled streets, turning it into a nocturnal party town. 9
ITV News
2 days ago
- ITV News
Hull KR snatch victory and end 40-year-run without a trophy
Hull KR will celebrate their Betfred Challenge Cup Final 2025 win with a parade through the city on Sunday 8 June. Mikey Lewis held his nerve to kick the conversion that ended 40 years of Hull KR hurt in a dramatic finish to the Betfred Challenge Cup final at rain-lashed Wembley. The Super League leaders looked set to extend the agony as opponents Warrington entered the last three minutes with a four-point lead, before Tom Davies flopped onto Tyrone May's kick to haul the Robins level. Lewis then stepped up to boot his side into the history books, completing an 8-6 win. The team will be celebrating with an open top bus parade tomorrow from Sewell Group Craven Park to the city centre. The players and staff will set off from their home ground at 5pm, arriving at the City Hall approximately an hour later. The parade route will be Sewell Group Craven Park, Preston Road, Marfleet Lane/Maybury Road, Holderness Road, Freetown Way, Ferensway, Carr Lane, finishing on Paragon Street alongside Hull City Hall The event outside the City Hall in Queen Victoria Square will get underway from 5pm, hosted by Neil Rudd, with the celebrations featuring a range of music and entertainment, ahead of the team appearing on the City Hall balcony at 6:15pm. A big screen will show highlights of the team's journey in reaching the final, along with footage of their win over Warrington Wolves. The event will finish at 7:30pm, with the crowd joining in with a big sing-song of the 'Red Red Robin'. An accessible viewing area for wheelchair users will be available to the front of the stage area. This area will be clearly indicated on the day. No bookings are necessary, though numbers will be limited to 25 people, to include wheelchair users and one helper, which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. A small number of road closures will be in place on Sunday to allow for the event including Paragon Street which will be closed from 8am to 8pm, while Carr Lane will shut from 4-8pm. Bus users are advised to check with local operators to find out any changes to routes.
