Cross Country 2010

IT was Masters’ Day for Prestatyn Running Club in the second fixture of the Grand Prix Express North Wales Cross-Country League at Bangor.

Yet again illness, injuries and other commitments meant that both the men and women were understrength and all but one of the men’s team were veterans, as well as all but three of the ladies.

The ladies had to cope with the worst of the weather as well as the mud, and put up a tremendous all-round team performance, the first five all coming home within 25 seconds of each other. They were led home again by captain Glenda Davies, four days after her 50th birthday. Running with the ladies, Dave Hughes winning the M70 class very comfortably.

Mathew Anwyl was again the first man home in 26th place overall, and behind him George Nicholls held off a challenge from Neil Owen, who was making a return after injury.

The men finished fourth in Division 2 and lie third overall, so have a lot of work to do over the next three fixtures. The ladies were sixth on the day but are fourth on aggregate.

The placings were:- Men: 29 Mathew Anwyl 31.46, 59 George Nicholls 34.07, 64 Neil Owen 34.37, 79 Des Davies 35.46, 80 George Nixon 35.51, 96 Arwel Jones 36.51, 124 Gareth Hughes 39.35 (3rd M60), 131 Steve Hatfield 40.34, 141 Phil Jones 43.44 (3rd M65), 146 David Owen 47.52. Ladies: 43 Glenda Davies 26.07, 44 Shelly Ward 26.18, 45 Brenda Tiedtke 26.22, 46 Gay Waring 26.27, 48 Katie Brandrick 26.32, 55 Eleri Goddard 27.12, 59 Amie Bagnall 27.27, 69 Claire Gadsby 29.01, 70 Eleri Jones 29.07, 75 Helen Ashcroft 30.09. M70: 1 Dave Hughes 27.20.

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One of those missing at Bangor was Chris Hayes, who had even more difficult conditions to cope with as he and his friend Stuart Greenall from Dyserth competed in the two-day Original Mountain Marathon on Dartmoor.

The 47k race demanded not only stamina but navigational skills, especially on Sunday when there was low cloud and heavy rain. Though Stuart has competed in the event several times it was Chris’s first attempt and the pair came a creditable 88th out of 230 starters in the “B” category, finishing in 10 hours 53 minutes and 6 seconds.

Members are reminded that if they want to enter the draw for club places in the London Marathon they should retain their rejection slip and enter the draw to be held during the pre-Christmas social on December 22.

 

Cross Country Season Starts

THE cross-country season opened on a very encouraging note for Prestatyn Running Club despite the absence of several of the club’s top runners.

In the first fixture of the Grand Prix Express North Wales League in Colwyn Bay the club had 30 starters – 18 men, 11 women and one youth - though illness and injury meant three withdrawals on the day.

What was particularly promising were the performances of three debutants. Anna Lewis led the ladies’ team home, 15-year-old Callum Smith, who joined the club only two four days earlier, ran an extremely sensible race to finish as seventh in the youths’ class, and 17-year-old Oliver Harrison-Jones gave another hint of his great potential by being the club’s second finisher in the men’s race. He was also 2nd in the U20 class.

It was also great to see Neil Halliday back in competitive action, Chris Taft making a return after many years away and super-vet David Owen having a first attempt at cross-country. Two other veterans also deserve special mention, Steve Hatfield having interrupted a holiday to travel from Hereford for the race, and Darrell Gavin lining up just hours after a long, tiring journey from France.

The men’s and women’s team competitions were dominated by Telford AC. Prestatyn’s men finished third in Division 2 and the veteran men were ninth. In the ladies’ section the club was fifth and the veterans were also ninth.

The placings were:- Men under 17: 7 Callum Smith 20.35. M70: 2 Dave Hughes 23.59. Ladies: 31 Anna Lewis 21.16, 49 Jo McDonough 22.24, 52 Glenda Davies 22.31, 56 Shelly Ward 22.47, 59 Brenda Tiedtke 22.59, 60 Gabby Waring 23.05, 74 Eleri Goddard 24.16, 78 Eleri Jones 24.43, 79 Amie Bagnall 24.50.

Men: 38 Mathew Anwyl 36.41, 62 Oliver Harrison-Jones (2nd U20) 38.13, 64 George Nicholls 38.18, 85 Neil Halliday 39.38, 72 Des Davies 40.40, 99 Chris Hayes 41.09, 103 George Nixon 41.34, 115 Gareth Bailey 42.37, 120 Arwel Jones 43.01, 121 John Hughes-Roberts 43.10, 124 Chris Taft 43.19, 146 Gareth Hughes 45.16, 150 Steve Hatfield 45.42, 162 Darrell Gavin 47.50, 167 Phil Jones 49.45, 173 David Owen 52.37.

Super-veteran Dave Hughes has been named as Runner of the Month for September after becoming North Wales over-70s’ champion in the Caernarfon 10k in an outstanding time of 50.48.

Hughes Members who have failed to get into next year’s London Marathon and who wish to enter the draw for the club places are asked to retain their rejection slips. The names of the winners will be drawn at the annual pre-Christmas social.

 

BORDER LEAGUE

AFTER a strong turnout for the cross-country meeting Prestatyn Running Club’s captains are hoping for a similar response for this Sunday’s Border League opener in Caernarfon.

The club’s members have a good record on the 10k course, with their latest successes coming in the North Wales championships there in September.

Last year the men’s team finished a highly creditable fourth in Division 1 of the League and although some members are still ruled out they will be hoping to at least consolidate that position. The ladies, meanwhile, who performed superbly last week, can again be relied on to turn out in strength for a solid team result.

Next year’s Sun Centre 5k, to be held on May 25, has once again been designated as the North Wales championship race.

 

 

Saints Fitness Centre Meliden