Prestatyn Running Club Fell Running

Jayne Penrhyn-Jones was the first lady home in the Llyn Brenig multi-terrain race, so also won the L45 class. Des Davies was not so lucky, badly injuring his ankle on one of the rough sections of the course.

The placings were: 7 Mathew Anwyl 57.24, 12 George Nicholls 60.50, 20 Arwel Jones 66.35, 33 Jayne Penrhyn-Jones 70.11, 39 John Hughes-Roberts 71.15, 41 Steve Hatfield 71.55, 48 Bill Scriven 73.15.

Neil Owen, one of several members in training for next month’s Snowdonia Marathon, took on his toughest test yet on Saturday when he competed in the 18-mile Peris Horseshoe mountain race from Llanberis, probably the region’s most gruelling competition. He finished in a highly creditable

The club had members out on the Ponderosa Hill Race.The results were :Des Davies 32.22; Steve Hatfield 37.15 (2nd0/60); Tracy Colligen 40.37; Gabby Wearing 41.16 (2nd o/55); Glenda Davies 42.17 (3rd o/45) and Helen Baxandell 46.40

Neil Owen 46.02 was out on the fells.This was the Elidir Fawr mountain race, a shortened course due to bad weather.

The club had only three representatives in the Green, Green Grass of Home fell-race at Llangynhafal. In a record field of over 80 Des Davies finished 34th in 38.08, Arwel Jones clocked 41.55 (52nd place) and Steve was 60th overall in 44.03, for third place in the M60 class.

Des and Arwel were joined by Tracy Colligan in the Push Up the Pincyn, a new race at Clawddnewydd which included some tough climbs. Des was 20th in 54.36, Arwel 30th in 57.58 and Tracy 44th in 68.40.

Like all other entrants in the Dolgellau 5-mile race George Nicholls and Mike Doolan had a nasty surprise when they learned that the course, which normally produces fast times, had been extended and included another hill. George finished 10th overall in 30.33 and Mike was 74th in 44.34.

4th Race /The Great Arete Midweek Series

On arriving at the Vaynol Arms Nant Peris we were expecting the route to be the same as last year and we therefore were suitably psyched up to meet the challenge of those horrendous bogs and precarious stone path, but all that was dashed when it was announced by the organiser Mike Blake( with a smile on his face) that the route this year would be the adjoining mountain, just follow to the right of the wall we were told, ah yes but the wall seemed to follow a vertical climb to the horizon.

The weather was kind, at least that was encouraging, a gentle gradient at the start was soon followed by that dreaded wall, it became an unrunnable climb to that horizon, but as if that was not enough it still carried on to the summit with the return now an Alton Towers type downhill run.

The indication of the gradients was shown by the split time, of 30 mins to the summit and only about 9 mins down to the finish.

Yours Truly 39 mins 33 secs

Steve 41 m 29 secs

Saturday 18th April/Ras y Moelwyn/10.5 miles/2800ft

To old to run!!!! John Mcain said that when he lost the desire to be President!, well I didn't loose the desire to run just felt that I could have made a better effort. I will not put it down to age! but put it down to a lack of long training runs ( a good an excuse as any) that gave me a time of 2 hrs 7 mins, this being about 4 minutes down on last year in similar conditions, brilliant weather, dry clear blue sky's, yes even for Blaenau Ffestiniog!

The race involved three major peaks with boggy ares in between and some precarious downward terrain, there is no let off in as much as soon as you were on the summit of one mountain with the following downward stretch another one had to be negotiated.

Philip

GORDON Jones got off to a successful start in his bid to retain Prestatyn Running Club’s Grand Prix award when he had a rare outing on the fells last week.

The Moel Lus race at Dwygyfylchi race was the first fell-race to be included in the club competition and Gordon finished 17th overall and was third in the M50 class.

Ladies’ captain Glenda Davies, with her sights set on the Snowdon International Race in July, was the second club finisher and was fourth L40 lady.

The club placings were: 17 Gordon Jones 27.39, 62 Glenda Davies 33.13, 68 Steve Hatfield 34.08, 72 Phil Jones 34.51, 79 Tracy Colligan 37.39, 83 Julie Logan 43.36, 84 Helen Baxandall 43.51.

Great to see Glenda arrive at the start, feeling very nervous this being the longest mountain race she had attempted.This was all to change after being dressed !! for the occasion from Martin Cortvriend having come without her necessary Bum Bag, by showing her climbing prowess up to the top of the final climb.

The first part of the race involved a steep climb along the pipe followed by steep zig-zagging through the woods eventually running along side the pipe to the summit, the wind at this stage was quite strong. The downward part was a combination of gravel track, fields and a tricky route thro the woods where we had to content with slippery rocks, mud and tree roots, the soup and roll at the end being most welcoming..

Three of the club’s ladies took to the hills – Moel y Ci, near Bangor, to be exact – for the first mountain race of the season, and conditions were perfect. The trio was led home by Tracy Colligan, who took three minutes off her previous best for the course. She clocked 62.15 for the five-mile course, with Julie Logan behind in 69.52 and Helen Baxandall, in her first attempt at the discipline, in 73.06

Father-and-son Phil and Andrew Jones took part in their first fell-race of the season, the 6-mile Tarren Hendre race at Abergynolwyn, which involved 2,000 feet of climbing. (Merionydd Winter Series from Abergynolwyn Nr Tywyn).

In a 100-strong field Andrew, in his first mountain race, finished 24ther overall in 63.31, while Phil, had a fine run in 72nd place with a time of 76.25. That was just two minutes slower than his previous best for the testing course two years ago under similar conditions.

It's an excellent race with two stiff climbs (not runnable), with boggy areas and rough tracks. This was Phil's first run for 7 months after injury lay off, and he was very satisfied with his time, Conditions were excellent over head with a stiff wind and mist towards the top.

Andrew was initiated into fell running for the first time and was very pleased with his effort and time.

Only two seconds separated George Nicholls and Gareth Brandrick in the Race The Train 5k in Caernarfon, the former just getting the better of things. The only club member among the awards in the race was Helen Baxandall, who finished second in the L45 category.

The placings were: 25 George Nicholls 17.15, 27 Gareth Brandrick 17.17, 76 Paul Brandrick 19.40, 165 Kate Brandrick 23.44, 168 Helen Baxandall 23.51, 221 Gill Brandrick 27.02, 222 Karen Bancroft 27.04.

Green Green Grass of Home fell-race at Llangynhafal, the third and final race in the midweek series on the Clwydians. It was a tougher and longer course than usual, but Steve had a good run to finish in 45th place overall, with a time of 61.36.

Hot Foot Up Famau: Des Davies, Steve Hatfield and Tracy Colligan take on the second race. Des had a fine run, finishing 27th in 48.52. Steve gained several places on the final descent, crossing the line in 53.08 for 38th place, and Tracy was 52nd in 59.24.

Wed 18 June/The Druid/5 miles/1200ft

This was Race No 1 of the Clwydian Hills Summer Trots from the Druid Inn Llanferres.

It turned out to be a filthy evening, but it did not deter 71 runners to brave the conditions, the route included quite a steep road at the start for about 1/4 of a mile before reaching the softer grassy ground undulating through the woods which gave the impression that someone had turned the lights out, narrow single file tracks, some steep steps with a short steep down hill stretch again returning through the woods when this time it was virtually in total darkness, ending with a flattish run to the finish.
Good again to see Tracy representing the Prestatyn ladies and finishing with a very respectable time and with a huge smile and saying she thoroughly enjoyed the run and also Steve who bettered his time of 2 years ago by at least 3 mins.

Des 44 mins 38 secs (34)
Steve 49mins 14 secs (54)
Philip 50mins 17 secs (55) 1st M 65
Tracy 56 mins 32 secs (69)

Steve Hatfield led the trio at the end of the stiff opening climb and despite the best efforts of fellow-veteran Gareth Hughes held onto his lead to finish 41st overall in 36.31, with Gareth two places back (37.39) and Tracy Colligan coming in 48th (41.49).

Though he missed the final race Phil Jones finished third in the M65 class over the series.

In the latest round of the battle of the club's super-veterans Steve
Hatfield got the better of Phil Jones in the Moel Fabon race at Bethesda, the penultimate race in the Great Arete Midweek Fell Series.

Steve clocked 36.26, with Phil 12 seconds behind, while Tracy Colligan
finished in 41.58, clearly saving herself for the following night's
outstanding run in the handicap race.

Julie Logan was one of three club members who ran in the latest race in the Great Arete Midweek Series of fell races in Llanberis. She and Tracy Colligan crossed the line together in 40.08. The third representative was first in the M60 class with a time of 34.36.

Also among the awards was club captain Glenda Davies, who was second in the L45 class in the Mynydd Myfyr hill race at Trefonen, near Oswestry, on Bank Holiday Monday. She finished in 31.26, two minutes faster than last year despite the blustery conditions. On her first attempt at the course Rebecca Robinson clocked 30.32.

Conditions were very good other than a few strong gusts of windtowards the summit.
The race left the town square and followed the steep Cader road, and after approximately 1.5 miles followed a footpath around the rear of Gwernen lake until the mountain proper, with the return the same route.
There are numerous legends about Cadair Idris (Chair of Idris). Some nearby lakes are supposed to be bottomless and anyone who sleeps on its slopes will supposedly wake up either a madman or a poet, certainly on the turn and down from the summit on Saturday I felt like putting this legend to the test.
Having a dispute with a wooden four cornered post on the Friday previous which resulted in a thigh injury, made the downward part of the race very uncomfortable, the agony showing on the photo.I eventually arrived back in the square relieved with a time of 2hrs 19 mins, ah well there is always next year, madman or poet "to be or not to be" !!!!!!!!

Y Garn fell race in Rhyd Ddu today.(4th May 2008)
3 miles/ 1500ft It was a very steep climb and very misty at the summit but thankfully the torrential rain held off until we passed the finish!
There were some wet sections underfoot and despite a few mishaps (we both got lost, fell over a few times- Julie lost one shoe and I lost two!) we managed to recover our belongings and made the finish covered in mud but without injury! Hurrah!
I don't have our times to hand, apparently they will be posted on the WFRA website within a few days..Tracy Howarth

The Great Arete Midweek Series.

April 29 /Elidir

Before the race started the mist came down with the rain, however this cleared just before the start to the relief of all, still quite cold with many of us deciding to run in waterproof covers as the start which eventually came off as the race progressed.
The race started opposite the Vaynol Arms Nant Peris up a rough road until we turned up on to a rough track which was quite treacherous in parts the rain having made the stones quite slippery. The race then progressed on thro bogs which could leave you up to your knees in parts, the bogs went on and on until the final steep climb, the return was to use whichever route you chose with the final run in through a stream (which came very usefull to clean down), Steve fell culprit to the slippery stones but was OK.

Time 46 mins 50secs

Steve 51 mins 50 secs.

Saturday 21st April/Ras y Moelwyn/10.5 miles/2800 ft

Whilst last year it was run under warm conditions this year although dry there was a strong bitter wind, the temperature may have been 8 Deg C at the start , but I'm sure at the top of the first climb,( above the snow line) with the biting wind it must have close to zero., (well my legs were testimony to that)
Three major peaks to negotiate. Moelwyn Mawr,Moelwyn Bach with a final climb fro Llyn Stwlan up to Moel yr Hydd with numerous boggy areas.
This race is probably one of the hardest in the area, well organised with plenty of marshals who deserve much credit for suffering the cold bitter winds for hours.

I was very pleased with my run, considering the conditions, I was only 3mins down on last years time.

Time 2 hrs 3 mins/ 3rd M60.

Tuesday 15th April/15th Midweek Series/Foel Lus
4 miles/1000ft
Excellent conditions, the start from the Dwygyfylchi Inn is quite steep which really puts you into the grove!!, continuous undulating with the final climb along a narrow track, the downhill is on hard rough ground with the final descent thro coarse undergrowth and hard track.

Time 34 mins 02 secs

Steve Hatfield 34m 24 secs