Final Border League Results
The Deeside course for the final fixture of the Borders Road Running League was as flat as a pancake but the season still ended on a "high" for
Prestatyn Running Club - and for more than one reason.
Though the men finished third in Division 2 on the night they had already
done enough to gain promotion to the top flight next year along with
Wallasey, while the ladies consolidated their fourth place in Division 1.
Three members came away with individual trophies - George Nixon and Martin Cortvriend were second and third respectively in the M55 class over the season and Brenda Tiedtke was third L45 - while three others were just outside the prizes.
What was particularly pleasing was the turnout, with no fewer than 35
members taking part. There were 18 men and 17 women, three of whom, Sharon Hulett from Corwen, Tracey Howarth from Mold and Irene Taylor from Caerwys, were representing the club for the first time. It was also good to see club captain Glenda Davies returning to something like her old form after illness and to welcome back Des Davies from Ruthin after 12 months out through injury.
The ever-improving Matt Sims was the club's first finisher but without
doubt the outstanding individual performer once again was Jo McDonough, who is now really beginning to fulfil her potential. In a 275-strong field she was 12th lady overall and beat eight of the club's men.
The placings were: 47 Matt Sims 23.22, 53 Gordon Jones 23.34, 59George
Nicholls 23.49, 64 George Nixon 23.55 (1st M55), 67 Martin Cortvriend 24.10 (2nd M55), 84 Gareth Brandrick 24.43, 105 Gareth Bailey 25.26, 119 Arwel Jones 25.57, 123 Aaron Aspinall 26.16, 124 David A Jones 26.19, 134 Jo McDonough 26.34, 148 Paul Brandrick 26.59, 155 John Hughes Roberts 27.12, 159 Gareth Hughes 27.22, 164 Des Davies 27.38, 178 Becky Robinson 28.32, 183 Steve Hatfield 28.58, 187 Gabby Waring 28.58, 192 Colin Barnett 29.06, 200 Shelley Ward 29.27, 204 Brenda Tiedtke 29.44, 215 Mike Doolan 30.40, 217 Glenda Davies 30.56, 237 Eleri Goddard 31.41, 239 Tracey Colligan 31.54, 249 Julie Logan 32.45, 251 Helen Baxandall 33.04, 252 Jason Burton 33.09, 255 Sharon Hulett 33.41, 264 Katie Brandrick 35.04, 266 Gill Brandrick 35.44,
268 Tracey Howarth 37.14, 270 Sandra Mayers 38.34, 271 Bev Hendricks 38.49, 273 Irene Taylor 40.28.
Among those who gained places in the top 10 in their age-groups over the season were: Jo McDonough 6th SL, Eleri Goddard 7th L35, Gill Brandrick 4th L50, Gabby Waring 5th L50, Gareth Bailey 7th U20, Paul Brandrick 5th M50, David A Jones 7th M55, Gareth Hughes 5th M60 and Steve Hatfield 7th M60.
Super-veterans Phil Jones and Steve Hatfield have competed in two of the Great Arete Midweek Fell-Racing Series over the past fortnight. For the Mynydd Mawr race at Fron, near Caernarfon, they were joined by
fellow-veteran Gareth Hughes, who held a slight lead over them at the
summit, only to see Phil skip past him on the descent.
Positions: 60 Phil Jones 48.07 (3rd M60), 63 Gareth Hughes 48.57, 54 Steve Hatfield 50.08.
A week later - a night before the Borders League race - Phil and Steve
braved the deep bogs and slippery rocks of the Elidir race from Nant Peris.
Again Phil finished ahead, clocking 46.50 to Steve's 51.50.
On Sunday Tracy Colligan and Julie Logan experienced more of the joys of
fell-running when they competed in the three-mile race on Y Garn, from Rhyd Ddu, involving 1,500 feet of ascent. In dense mist they managed to stray off-course, fell over a few times and lost a recovered a total of three
shoes before reaching the finishing line. Their results are not known at the time of going to press.
The club's oldest member, 80-year-old Eddie Naisby joined his two sons in
the Sheffield half-marathon and despite the challenging hilly course clocked a superb 2-04. That proved that had his entry for the London Marathon been accepted he could well have achieved his target of 4-30. That would have given him a very comfortable win in his age-group.
The first race in the club's summer handicap series will be held tonight
((Wed)) over the usual 3-mile course, and any members unable to race or not wishing to take part are asked to come along to help. On May 12 there will be a social run around Gwrych Castle, Abergele. Members are asked to meet at the main entrance at 6.45pm.
