Penmaenmawr Fell Race

EIGHTEEN members of Prestatyn Running Club took to the hills at the weekend, but in two very different challenges.

Four men were in a field of 270 for the Penmaenmawr fell-race, the oldest fell race in Wales, wich includes 1,950 feet of climbing over 10-mile course.

Matthew Anwyl led the quartet home in an excellent 18th place overall with a time of 81.18, with Chris Hayes, again showing his great potential in hill events, coming 47th in 87.50. They were followed by super-vets Phil Jones, who was 152nd and second M65 in 1-49.46, and David Owen 194th in 2-00.

The following day only two men – Steve Hatfield and Roger Wadon were among the club’s contingent in the second Conwy half-marathon, which includes a circuit of the Great Orme.

For Anna Lewis, who was the club’s first finisher, and Sian Beck, who was third, it marked their debuts at the distance, while for Steve, who was sandwiched between them, it was his 95th.

What was hugely pleasing was that several of the women took on the challenge after joining the club’s beginners’ group on Mondays, and all accredited themselves superbly.

The placings were: 164 Anna Lewis 1-39.11, 252 Steve Hatfield 1-44.07, 350 Sian Beck 1-49.00, 597 Roger Wadon 2-02.25, Julie Logan 2-02.43, 654 June Cooke 2-06.24, 671 Helen Baxandall 2-07.23, 683 Claire Gadsby 2-08.11, 688 Helen Ashworth 2-08.18, 689 Elizabeth Martin 2-08.20, 823 Karen Bancroft 2-24.41, 824 Bev Hendricks 2-24.39, 835 Linda Williams 2-29.18, 864 Alison Hill 2-32.51.

Fourteen club members have been included in the North Wales squad for the Welsh inter-regional cross-country championships in Builth Wells on December 12, and they include Gordon Jones, whose only competition this year was last week’s Border League race, 15-year-old Callum Smith and Anna Lewis, both of whom have impressed in their handful of races since joining the club.

The club’s representatives are: Amie Bagnall (U17), Anna Lewis (Senior Lady), Shelly Ward (L35), Glenda Davies, Brenda Tiedtke, Gabby Waring (L45), Callum Smith (U17), Oliver Harrison-Jones (U20), George Nicholls (M40), Des Davies, Gordon Jones, Neil Halliday, Neil Owen and George Nixon (M50). The unfortunate thing from the club’s point of view is that the championships clash with a Border League fixture.

This Saturday sees the third fixture in the Grand Prix Express North Wales Cross-Country League at Wrexham, with both the men’s and women’s teams hoping to close the gap on the leaders in Division 2. On Saturday night is the club’s ceilidh, featuring the band Mooncoin, at Melyd Masonic Hall. Anyone interested in attending should contact Gareth Hughes on 888078.

It’s not so much a case of keeping up with the Joneses as the Davieses in the club’s Grand Prix competition. Ladies’ captain Glenda Davies leads the field with 179 points from 12 races, with Des Davies 31 points behind her, and George Nicholls just three points back in third place.

The placings are: Glenda Davies 12/179, Des Davies 15/147, George Nicholls 14/144, Steve Hatfield 14/121, Dean Longley 7/99, Eleri Goddard 9/76, Phil Jones 9/74, Arwel Jones 11/74, Neil Owen 6/61, Gabby Waring 6/57, John Hughes-Roberts 9/49, Eleri Jones 8/43, Darrell Gavin 8/43, Mike Lindsay 6/30.

The upcoming races counting in the Grand Prix are the North Wales cross-country league fixture at Wrexham on November 27, the Helena Tipping 10k in Wrexham on December 5, the Borders League fixture in the Wirral on December 12 and the Twin Piers 10k on January 11.