Victoria Park in East Belfast will be buzzing on Saturday the 23rd of August as clubs from across Northern Ireland, Ulster and beyond descend for the annual Belfast Victoria Park Road Relays a day of fast laps, fierce competition, and club camaraderie.
Organised by Victoria Park & Connswater AC, the event doubles as the NI & Ulster Senior and Masters Road Relay Championships, while also offering Open categories for clubs from outside NI and Ulster. That means a team from Dublin, Cork, Glasgow or London could be on the start line next to the best in the North and still leave with trophies and prize money, even if the Championship medals stay local.
A True Club Event
Each race is run in teams of four, with every runner completing either one short lap (1,690m) in the Mixed Relay or two longer laps (3,380m) in all other races. Races are scheduled throughout the day, starting with the Mixed Relay at 11.15am and ending with the Senior Men at 3.30pm.
The Senior Men’s and Women’s races form the Championship events, but all five races are open to clubs from further afield. There are also Masters categories for men and women, and for the first time this year, U17 Boys and U17 Girls races, both running alongside the Senior Women.
No Need to Finalise Your Team until Race Day
A change from previous years means clubs don’t have to declare their team members until 30 minutes before their race. That makes it easier to commit now, even if you’re not 100% sure who’ll be available — perfect for avoiding last-minute dropouts derailing an entry.
Strong Field Already Entered
There are already 42 teams entered across the various events, with visiting clubs from Scotland, England and the Republic of Ireland eligible for the Open categories. Last year, Scottish outfit Central AC won the Senior Men’s race outright, lifting the Open trophy and prize money while the Championship medals went to the top NI & Ulster teams. They’re back this year with a Senior Women’s team, while Harrow AC from London are also confirmed. Adding even more firepower, Candour Track Club, home to Irish middle-distance star Nick Griggs, will be sending two teams.
Race Director Ghislain Demeuldre says it’s exactly that mix of local pride and visiting competition that makes the day special: “We’d love to see more clubs from the Republic of Ireland coming up. They can’t win the NI & Ulster medals, but they can take home the Open trophies and prize money. The atmosphere is fantastic, it’s a short, fast course and a great day for the whole club to get involved.”
Trophies, Medals and Cash on the Line
Every race has an Open trophy, with £100, £80 and £60 going to the top three teams. In the Senior and Masters races, there’s also prize money for the fastest leg of the day. Championship medals are awarded separately to the top NI & Ulster clubs in the Senior Men’s and Women’s races.
Victoria Park: Perfect for Relays
The flat, tree-lined paths of Victoria Park make it ideal for relay racing, with changeovers in the heart of the action so clubmates can shout support from just metres away. With multiple races across the day, there’s always someone to cheer.
How to enter
- Entries close: Monday 18 August 2025 at 11.59pm
- Cost: £50 per team
- Eligibility: All athletes must be registered with Athletics NI, Athletics Ireland, Scottish Athletics, England Athletics, or another recognised federation
- Enter online: here
Full competition rules and all other details here
Race-day schedule
- 11.15am – Mixed Relay (4 x 1,690m, 2 female & 2 male per team)
- 12.00pm – Masters Women (4 x 3,380m)
- 1.30pm – Masters Men (4 x 3,380m)
- 2.30pm – Senior Women (NI & Ulster Championship and Open), U17 Boys, U17 Girls (all 4 x 3,380m)
- 3.30pm – Senior Men (NI & Ulster Championship and Open, 4 x 3,380m)
Outro
This is a brilliant event for any club to get involved in, open to everyone whether you’re based north or south of the border. And if you’re in Belfast or able to travel, it’s also a cracking day out with plenty of quality racing to watch.
