Abergele 5 Mile Road Race 2010

There was a smaller contingent than usual from Prestatyn Running Club in Sunday’s Abergele 5-mile road race, where two of the club’s youngest members shone.

In only his second outing for the club 15-year-old Callum Smith again ran very strongly to take second place in the under-17s’ class in the North Wales championship, which was incorporated in the race. In the same category for women Amie Bagnall also took second for the second successive year.

Neil Owen was the club’s third runner-up, this time in the M55 class, and Gabby Waring did likewise in the L50 section. Eleri Goddard finished third L35 and both Des Davies (M50) and George Nicholls (M40) were just outside the medals. The ladies’ team of Sian Beck, Gabby, Eleri and Amie finished second to Warrington in the team event and the men were fifth.

The places were: 26 George Nicholls 31.24, 31 Neil Owen 31.59, 43 Des Davies 33.11, 54 John Hughes-Roberts 34.30, 75 Gareth Hughes 35.35, 88 Mike Lindsay 36.28, 89 Sian Beck 36.29, 91 Callum Smith 36.37, 114 Gabby Waring 38.23, 141 Eleri Goddard 41.46, 151 Amia Bagnall 42.32.

Matt Anwyl and Chris Hayes took on a completely different challenge in the deceptively tough Clwydian Hills race over 10 miles. Matt finished an excellent 36th in 88.19 and Chris was 85th in 97.05.

After two strong performances in the opening fixtures of the cross-country season Shelly Ward has been named by chairman Arwel Jones as the club’s Runner of the Month for October.

This Saturday Dave Hughes will again be representing Wales in the M70 class at the British and Irish Masters’ Cross-Country International in Dublin. Griff Owens, who won the M60 title in Birmingham last year, and Roger-Harrison-Jones, who was in the M70 team, were guaranteed to be in again this year but both are recovering from surgery.

Two former Prestatyn members, Desi Damiani (Wrexham, M35) and Annie Williams (Eryri, L50), are set to make their international debuts in Dublin after showing fine form in recent months.

Another of the club’s super-vets, 82-year-old Eddie Naisby, was also hoping to be recovering from surgery this week but he must return to Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool next month after his visit last week. Members join in wishing him well and a speedy recovery to racing, though he has had to abandon his plans to run in next week’s Conwy half-marathon and the Four Villages Half in January.

This Sunday some of the regulars will again be missing for the second Borders League at Capenhurst this Sunday, but it is hoped that others may soon be making a comeback.