Purple Ladies 5k 29th April 2026 - Race Report

The sun was shining on Ballymoney on Wednesday evening for the 2026 edition of our Purple Ladies 5k race. The event has been on the go now since 2013 and has remained an ever popular ladies only race on the running calendar since its inception back then. This year the 300 entries were snapped up in record time - just under a week!

There was a vibrant energy about the registration hall as it started to fill up with runners about an hour before the scheduled start time, with everyone looking forward to the event. Some were running the event for the first time, and some running their first ever 5k.

After collecting their numbers in the hall, everyone gathered outside to make the most of the beautiful evening sun before making way down to the start line on the playing fields, where running clubs and groups gathered for team photos while Peter Jack entertained the crowd.

After Race Director Kenny Bacon's pre-race safety briefing, Peter Jack got the race underway on time at 7:30, and the race favourites Gemma Turley (2025 winner), Grace Evans and Naomi McClelland made their way to the front and led the field on a lap of the pitch before disappearing down the pathway to the rest of the course.

The race for top honours remained close throughout, with Gemma Turley leading Grace Evans as they emerged back to the playing fields to run a lap before finishing. Gemma led right up to the final 100 metres, at which point Grace (18:20) put in a strong kick to outsprint Gemma (18:22) to the finish line and claim the Debbie Tutty Memorial Cup. Naomi McClelland was not far behind the top 2 to finish 3rd in 19:09. Age category winners and runners up are listed below.

This year the McAllister Family donated a trophy in memory of Ali McAllister, a former Springwell Member who passed away earlier in the year. Ali was one of the ladies who came up with the idea for the race and she pushed to get it started. The Ali McAlister Memorial Trophy will be presented to the first Springwell lady home at the race now going forward. Congratulations to Deborah Rushman, a relatively new member of the club, who was the first winner of this trophy, presented on the evening by Sam McAllister. We appreciate the family donating this trophy to the club, which will allow us to remember Ali at the event now annually.

Well done to everyone who took part in the event! We would like to thank all of the local running clubs, running groups, gym groups etc who supported the events, and of course all of the volunteers - without them the event wouldn't happen!

Hopefully see you all again next year!!

1st Grace Evans - Mid-Ulster Athletic Club - 0:18:20

2nd Gemma Turley - Ballycastle Runners AC - 0:18:22

3rd Naomi McClelland Ballymena & Antrim Athletic Club - 0:19:09

Ali McAllister Memorial Trophy - 1st Springwell Lady

Deborah Rushman

F35

1st Jo Harris - East Coast Athletic Club

2nd Grainne Rankin - Foyle Valley Athletics Club

F40

1st Louise Gunn

=2nd Yolande Wilson - East Coast Athletic Club

=2nd Lynsey Robb - Ballymena Runners

F45

1st Paula Worthington - Ballymena Runners

2nd Veronica Nellins - Ballymena & Antrim Athletic Club

F50

1st Pauline Mullan - Springwell Running Club

2nd Celia Sanchez-Martinez

F55

1st Sylvia Pollock - Springwell Running Club

2nd Fran McFadden - Springwell Running Club

F60

1st Deborah Rushman - Springwell Running Club

2nd Janet Patrick - Springwell Running Club

F65

1st Rosemary Hargan

2nd Christine Bonham - Springwell Running Club

F70

1st Kate Montgomery - Lagan Valley AC

2nd Alison Clarke - Springwell Running Club