August 2009

A weekend trip to Caernarfon proved profitable for Prestatyn Running Club when four members returned as North Wales champions.

A total of nine members competed in the Caernarfon 10k, which incorporated the regional championships, and although the usual strong wind along the Strait made progress difficult over the first four kilometers there were some excellent performances.

The first member home in eighth place overall was George Nicholls, who won his first M40 title. George Nixon, in his first race of the new season, took the M55 award and Roger Harrison-Jones achieved his aim of breaking 50 minutes to win the M70 class. Club captain Glenda Davies grabbed some glory for the ladies by coming first in the L45 category.

The placings were: 8 George Nicholls 38.15 (1st M40 in open race and championship), 16 George Nixon 39.47 (1st M55 in open and closed races), 30 Des Davies 41.54, 36 Paul Brandrick 42.47, 49 John Hughes-Roberts 44.19, 70 Glenda Davies 46.47 (1st L45 in open and closed), 95 Roger Harrison-Jones (1st M70 in open and closed), 110 Eleri Goddard 52.19, 151 Gill Brandrick 59.56 (3rd L50 in open race).

The decision to stage the club’s first relay races in 15 years proved justified when 22 members turned up for the event and produced some keen competition and much friendly rivalry..

The four teams comprised a mixture of men, women and juniors, and to cover a total of six legs two of the men ran twice. The event was held on the paths around the community woodland down Tip Lane, with each lap being about 1,500 metres.

Matt Sims recorded the two fastest laps of the evening, clocking 5-08 first time and 5.06 the second time, with other top performances coming from Jayne Penrhyn-Jones (6.05), and youngsters Josh, Leon and Amy Bagnall.

The results were:- 1st Yellows 37.51. Chris Taft 6.01, Helen Ashworth 6.56, Leon Bagnall 6.43, Shelly Ward 6.32, John Hughes-Roberts 6.08, and George Nicholls 5.31. 2nd Oranges. Gareth Bailey 5.23, Gill Brandrick 8.22, Steve Hatfield 6.17, Amy Bagnall 6.41, Sian Beck 6.56, Jayne Penrhyn-Jones 6.56. 3rd Pinks. Matt Sims 5.08, Josh Bagnall 7.01, Sandra Mayers 8.33, Mel Hooper 7.55, Paul Brandrick 6.01, Matt Sims 5.06. 4th Greens. Arwel Jones 6.10, Helen Baxandall 8.22, Gay Waring 6.41, Magda Fattah 7.35, Angel Alonso 6.41, Arwel Jones 6.10.

PRESTATYN Running Club’s super-veteran Griff Owens just gets faster and faster.

On Sunday he picked up yet another first prize in the M60 age-group when he clocked a remarkable 37.37 in the high-quality Birchwood 10k near Warrington, beating all the M55 runners in the process.

He finished 69th overall in a field of 1,000-plus, with George Nicholls just eight places behind in 37.59.

Another super-veteran, Steve Hatfield has opened up a nine-point lead at the top of the club’s Grand Prix competition.

After completing 10 qualifying races he has amassed 103 points, with ladies’ captain Glenda Davies second on 94. Other placings are: Brenda Tiedtke 84/6, Des Davies 79/7, George Nicholls 78/6, Jayne Penrhyn Jones 69/5, Griff Owens 55/4, Eleri Goddard 50/6, Arwel Jones 46/6, Eleri Jones 28/5, and Helen Baxandall 22/4.

George Nicholls finished third overall and was first M40 in the inaugural Ceiriog Valley 10k. Over a very hilly course he clocked 40.40, with super-veteran Roger Harrison-Jones, the club’s only other representative in the event, finishing in just over 53 minutes.

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Six members took part in the Ponderosa hill race on the Horseshoe Pass, where conditions were extremely murky and muddy. The times were: Des Davies 32.22, Steve Hatfield 37.15 (2nd M60), Tracy Colligan 40.37, Gay Waring 41.16 (2nd L45), Glenda Davies 42.17 (3rd L45), and Helen Baxandall 46.40.

Conditions were even worse for competitors in the Elidir mountain race, resulting in the course being shortened. Neil Owen was Prestatyn’s only representative in the race, clocking 46.02.

On Saturday Des Davies and Tracy Colligan were the only Prestatyn members out in the Tavern Race at Llangynhafal, near Denbigh. The nine-mile race in the Clwydian Hills included several severe climbs but both the athletes ran strongly. Des finished 22nd and Tracy 62nd.

Race the Train in Tywyn

Father and son Phil and Andrew Jones were in action in the annual Race the Train in Tywyn.Phil took on the 10k Quarry Challenge and although not beating the train,was the first M65 home.

In a field with runners from across the UK the duo faced strong winds on the outward course, the conditions adding minutes to the time. Despite the conditions Phil finished the 10k course in 59minutes. Son Andrew meanwhile, in the 14 miler,was in the top 50,clocking 1hr 39 to beat the train and knock 20 minutes off his previous best.

SEVERAL members of Prestatyn Running Club are in line for awards in Deestriders’ Off-Road Grand Prix series after finishing well in the third and penultimate race last week.

Once again George Nicholls and Griff Owens had their own personal battle, with victory this time going to the younger Nicholls. Lower down the field Steve Hatfield and Jayne Penrhyn-Jones, then the two Eleris, Goddard and Jones, had similar tussles.

The placings were: 13 George Nicholls 30.17, 14 Griff Owens 30.22 (1st M60), 19 Des Davies 32.21 (3rd M45), 32 Arwel Jones 34.55, 36 Jayne Penrhyn-Jones 35.23 (3rd lady overall and 1st L45), 37 Steve Hatfield 35.24 (2nd M60), 50 Glenda Davies 39.02 (2nd L45), 54 Eleri Goddard 39.20 (3rd L35), 55 Eleri Jones 39.30.

It has now been confirmed that in clocking 60.47 in last week’s Sale 10 Griff Owens set a new North Wales record for the M60 class, slicing almost three minutes off the previous best set by Emyr Davies (Eryri).

Tomorrow ((Thurs, 13th)) the club is holding a Treasure Hunt on foot around Prestatyn. Familes and friends are welcome to come along, and it will start from Saints, in Meliden, at 6.30pm. The event is being organized by Dean Longley and Shelly Ward

MARRIAGE is clearly suiting Prestatyn Running Club’s Dean Longley for he turned in an outstanding performance in the club’s third handicap race of the summer, taking a massive 30 seconds off the course record.

Starting at the back of the field, he worked his way through to come home fourth overall in 16.40. First home was Katie Brandrick, thanks to an over-generous handicap from chairman Arwel Jones. Six of the 21 runners recorded personal bests.

The placings were: 1 Katie Brandrick Race actual time 24.19, 2 Magda Fattah 25.46, 3 Angel Alonso 24.29 (pb), 4 Dean Longley 16.40 (pb), 5 Helen Baxandall 25.13, 6 Matt Sims 17.31 (pb), 7 Claire Gadsby 27.04, 8 John Hughes-Roberts 20.35, 9 Gareth Bailey 18.43, 10 Nicola Hannah 27.14 (pb), 11 Steve Hatfield 21.45, 12 Jayne Penrhyn Jones 20.57, 13 Paul Brandrick 20.29, 14 Paul Das 23.02 (pb), 15 Chris Taft 21.31, 16 Mel Hooper 28.41 (pb), 17 Holly Moynahan 28.42, 18 Gill Brandrick 29.30, 19 Rhian Williams 30.37, 20 Linda Williams 30.37, 21 George Nicholls 22.38.

The fourth and final race in the series will be on September 2.

The Prestatyn club provided about one-ninth of the total field for the second race in the Deestriders’ Off-Road Grand Prix, and several gained top-three places in their age-groups. There were also several interesting battles between club members, with George Nicholls and Griff Owens finishing next to each other, as did Steve Hatfield and Jayne Penrhyn Jones, while lower down the field Eleri Goddard, Glenda Davies, Phil Jones and Eleri Jones all came in together.

The placings were: 22 Griff Owens 30.36 (1st M60), 23 George Nicholls 30.40, 32 Des Davies 32.54, 52 Steve Hatfield (2nd M60), 53 Jayne Penrhyn Jones 35.26 (2nd L45), 59 Brenda Tiedtke 35.53 (3rd L45), 76 Eleri Goddard 39.17, 77 Glenda Davies 39.30, 79 Phil Jones 39.30, 80 Eleri Jones 39.30.

Des Davies was the club’s only representative in the Race Up The Beast hill race at Maeshafn, near Mold.

Dean Longley, who is the club’s recently-elected cross-country captain, has already got down to the task by holding training sessions on Friday evening, starting from Saints at 6.30pm.