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PRESTATYN Running Club’s Mathew Anwyl timed his run to perfection to break the three-hour barrier in the Virgin London Marathon.
After going through the halfway mark in just under 90 minutes he came home in 2-58.33. Lee Bailey, on the other hand, set off too ambitiously and paid the price, crossing the line in 3-47.
Nene Holmes, in her first attempt at the distance, finished in a highly creditable 4-26.09 and Julie Logan, who had not had long to train for the event, syruggled in the closing stages but had to be satisfied with her time of 4-44.30.
The Wrexham 10-mile race, which incorporates the North Wales championship, has always been a happy hunting ground for Prestatyn Running Club and Saturday’s race proved no exception, with members coming away with 11 individual and three team awards.
The senior men finished third but the ladies and male masters both took second place, while the individual honours again went to Griff Owens who won his age category in both the open and closed competitions.
Griff’s time of 62.20 was an amazing 11 minutes faster than that of the runner-up in the M60 class.
Dean Longley was the club’s first finisher in seventh place overall, and after crossing the line set off on another four-mile stint as part of his marathon training.
The individual placings were: 7 Dean Longley 59.43, 14 Griff Owens 62.20 (1st M60 in open and closed champs), 19 George Nicholls 64.03 (3rd M40 in NW champs), 29 Des Davies 69.23 (2nd M50 in open and closed), 34 Arwel Jones 70.36 (3rd M50 in both), 36 Paul Brandrick 71.10, 47 Glenda Davies 76.24 (3rd L45 in open and 1st in champs), 59 Brenda Tiedtke 82.09, 75 Eleri Goddard 97.04 (3rd in L35 open and 1st in champs), 81 Gill Brandrick 105.49.
A special effort by Gareth Bailey earned him two awards at the club’s annual relays. He clocked the fastest lap-time of 5.42 for the course and helped his “Green” squad to victory.
With 18 taking part two members – Gareth and Paul Brandrick – each ran two legs and Gareth was only slightly slower on the second.
Sian Beck and Katie Brandrick each clocked 6.20 to share the ladies’ prize but that was only one second faster than teenager Amie Bagnall.
There were also two very impressive performances from juniors Josh Ablett and Mathew Vaughan, who clocked 6.21 and 6.14 respectively.
The results were: 1 Greens 31.24: Gareth Bailey 5.42, Amie Bagnall 6.21, Steve Hatfield 6.01, Nicola Hannam 7.18, Gareth Bailey 5.44. 2 Orange 31.24: Dean Longley 6.05, Gill Brandrick 8.02, Katie Brandrick 6.20, Chris Taft 6.09, Josh Ablett 6.21. 3 Yellows 33.27: Arwel Jones 5.55, Mathew Vaughan 6.14, Helan Baxandall 7.05, Katie Ellis 7.58, John Hughes-Roberts 6.15. 4 Blues: Paul Brandrick 6.13, Mel Hooper 7.18, Sian Beck 6.20, Magda Fattah 8.39, Paul Brandrick 6.24.
The previous evening Steve Hatfield was the club’s only representative in the Mynydd Mawr race at Fron, near Caernarfon, the third race in the Great Arete Midweek series of fell races. His time of 47.53 was faster than last year and earned him first place in the M60 class.
Another super-vet, Phil Jones, continued his comeback on Saturday when he was the club’s sole entrant in the Llantysilio Mountain race, a 6.5-mile event involving 2,100 feet of climbing. Considering his long lay-off he was satisfied with his time of 78 minutes, four minutes down on his previous time
Grand Prix Fixtures:
April 24 N Wales 10 mile champs Wrexham
April 29 Border League Deestriders
May 16 Chester Half marathon
May 25 Aber Fell run
June 3 Deestriders off Road
June 23 Hot Foot up Fammau Moel Fammau
July 1 Deestriders off road
July 11 Fairy freckeled run Llyn Alwen
July 28 Green Grass of home LLangynhafal