Manchester Marathon

DAVIES HITS COMMONWEALTH STANDARD

Maldwyn's Andrew Davies achieved his aim of qualifying for this summer's Commonwealth Games when he finished second in the Greater Manchester Marathon.

 The race was won by Stockport's Andi Jones, who had twice been runner-up. He clocked 2-16.59, a record for the course, with a delighted Davies clocking 2-17.51, just nine seconds inside the qualifying time.

 Rob Samuel (Eryri), who was with the leading group in the early stages, lost touch and crossed the line in 13th place, in 2-31.09.

 Other North Wales results included: 18 Daniel Weston (Wrexham) 2-37.09, 121 Ted Partridge (Wrexham) 2-55.23, 154 Dyfed Whiteside-Thomas (Eryri) 2-57.56.

 After the race schoolteacher Andi Jones, six times winner of the Snowdon International race, announced that he would soon be emigrating to Qatar.

Athlete's profile 17 & 18

FATHER AND SON PROFILES

NAME     RICKY CHALLINOR

CLUB      LIVERPOOL HARRIERS

ANY PREVIOUS CLUBS    DEESIDE AAC

AGE AND DATE OF BIRTH    24  04/02/1990

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COMPETING     10 YEARS

ANY OTHER SPORTS PLAYED    RUGBY  PLAYED FROM THE AGE OF 6 TO 13 FOR MOLD JUNIORS  THEN TOOK UP ATHLETICS

OTHER HOBBIES OR INTERESTS    GOLF TRAVELLING PHOTOGRAPHY

 FAVOURITE RACING DISTANCE    5/10K

FAVOURITE RACE AND WHY     ARMAGH 5K THE RACE SETUP AND THE QUALITY OF ELITE ATHLETES THEY GET TO ATTEND, PLUS THE LOCAL SUPPORT

FAVOURITE TRAINING SESSION    EFFORTS AROUND THE BLACK WOODS IN LIVERPOOL

PROUDEST MOMENT     RUNNING FOR GREAT BRITAIN

WHOM DO YOU MOST ADMIRE (INSIDE ATHLETICS AND OUT) AND WHY    STEVE PREFONTAINE- SO INSPIRING, YOU NEED TO READ HIS BOOK TO UNDERSTAND WHY.

ANY PERSONAL AMBITIONS    SENIOR GREAT BRITAIN VEST AND COMPETING FOR WALES IN THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

ANY REGRETS    NONE SO FAR

ANY EMBARRASSING EXPERIENCES    NONE SO FAR

WHAT CHANGES(IF ANY)WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE SPORT    MORE SUPPORT  AND FUNDING FOR ATHLETES LIKE THEY DO IN THE COLLEGE SYSTEM IN THE USA TO KEEP US HERE.AND A DRAFTING SYSTEM IN ATHLETICS , WERE SMALL CLUBS DEVELOP ATHLETES FOR THE BIG CLUBS TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE COUNTRYS TOP COMPETITIONS AND TAKE THEM ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

NAME     KEVIN CHALLINOR

CLUB      DEESIDE AAC

ANY PREVIOUS CLUBS    NONE

AGE AND DATE OF BIRTH    53 31/12/1960

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COMPETING     3  YEARS

ANY OTHER SPORTS PLAYED    NONE SINCE SCHOOL

OTHER HOBBIES OR INTERESTS    FISHING

 FAVOURITE RACING DISTANCE    400 METRES

FAVOURITE RACE AND WHY     ABERGELE 5 IT WAS THE FIRST RACE I WON A MEDAL IN THE NORTH WALES CHAMPS

FAVOURITE TRAINING SESSION    400 METRE EFFORTS ON THE TRACK

PROUDEST MOMENT     WATCHING MY SON WIN HIS FIRST GB TRIAL AND GAIN HIS FIRST GB VEST

WHOM DO YOU MOST ADMIRE (INSIDE ATHLETICS AND OUT) AND WHY     THE CLUB COACHES AND VOLANTEERS WHO GIVE UP ALL  THEIR SPARE TIME TO HELP THE  YOUNGSTERS AND OLDER  ATHLETES COMPETE BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM THERE WOULD BE NO RACES

ANY PERSONAL AMBITIONS    TO WIN A NORTH WALES GOLD MEDAL AND RUN A MARATHON IN UNDER 3 HOURS

ANY REGRETS    NOT STARTING SOONER AFTER REALISING HOW MUCH ENJOYMENT YOU CAN HAVE THROUGH  RUNNING

ANY EMBARRASSING EXPERIENCES    COLLAPSING ACROSS THE FINISH LINE TWO YEARS RUNNING  IN THE SUN CENTRE 5K IN RHYL

WHAT CHANGES(IF ANY)WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE SPORT   MORE HELP AND FUNDING TO THE SMALL CLUBS TO HELP DEVELOP YOUNGSTERS THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG ATHETES OUT THERE WHO JUST DO NOT GET THE CHANCE  TO COMPETE

Great Wrexham Road Runner 10k

CAMPBELL FINALLY CLAIMS VICTORY

Wrecsam Tri's Andy Campbell, who has been well-placed in so many races in recent years, claimed a rare victory in the Great Wrexham Road Runner 10k, in aid of Nightingale House Hospice.

 And it was very nearly a double family celebration as his partner Lisa Morley came second in the ladies' race.

 Results: 1 A Campbell (Wrecsam Tri, M35) 36.25, 2 T Spence (Wrex) 37.39, 3 G Owens (Oswestry, M45) 37.53, 4 O Smith 39.20, 5 C Griffiths (M35) 39.35, 6 K Roberts 39.51. M35: 3 P Samuels (Wrex) 42.55. M40: 1 J Williams (Wrecsam Tri) 41.24, 2 T Burnett 42.25, 3 B Rothera 43.13. M45: 2 S Hide (Wrex) 41.09, 3 D Hughes 42.42. M50: 1 P Lewis 43.51, 2 E Reid (Wrex) 44.23, 3 S Davies 47.49. M55: 1 B Task (Trentham) 45.42, 2 C Price 46,20, 3 C Jones 48.52. M60: 1 M Ollier (Wrex) 45.34, 2 T Long (Penny Lane) 52.22, 3 C Marks 54.56. M65: 1 J Etherington 57.09, 2 M Beech 61.50, 3 N Grundy (Birkenhead) 80.49. M75: D Phillips 52.32. M80: E Naisby (Prestatyn) 64.12.
 Ladies: 1 L Stockton (L35) 41.14, 2 L Morley (Wrex, L40) 42.00, 3 H Clarke 44.33, 4 J Bailey (JL) 48.05, 5 E Bletcher 48.18, 6 A James 48.53. L35: 2 A Albiston 49.23, 3 J Doughton 52.45. L40: 2 A Moccia 51.17, 3 H Mead 53.59. L45: 1 K Owens (Osw) 50.50, 2 C White 52.43, 3 E Roberts 53.02. L50: 1 M Meadowcroft (Wrecsam Tri) 51.17, 2 E Bradford 53.32, 3 H Massey 53.54. L55: 1 J Kember 55.17, 2 J Green 56.47, 3 L Drayton 61.52. L60: G Graham (Whitchurch) 52.03. L65: 1 A Jones 58.56, 2 A Boycott 67.00.

English Road Relays

WELSH TURN OUT IN THE ENGLISH

Several athletes with North Wales connections turned out for their English clubs in the road relays in Sutton Park, Birmingham, at the weekend.

 Eryri's Russell Bentley ran the first of 12 legs for Kent, bringing them home in four place, and they finished 11th overall.

 Former Bangor student Nick Swinburn held onto fourth place for Morpeth on the fourth stage and his team-mates improved on that to take the silver medals.

 Ricky Challinor finished 17th for Liverpool Harriers on Stage 4 but they were one man short of a full team, as were Cardiff, with James Mills, winner of last week's Helena Tipping 10k in Wrexham, finishing ninth. Also in the Cardiff squad was former Maldwyn member Gwynant Jones.

 In the ladies' six-stage relays Katie Parry brought Leeds City home in fifth place on the fourth stage but they slipped back to finish 17th.

Arley 10k

BENTLEY'S SMOOTH RUN ON CHESHIRE LANES

Eryri's Russell Bentley had a cracking outing in the Arley 10k in Cheshire, finishing second in a fast 30.43.

 Among other North Wales performances were: 47 Irfon Rowlands (Cybi) 36.18, 89 Mark Williams (Deestriders) 39.18, 133 Andy Jones (NWRR) 41.28, 137 Steve Taylor (NWRR) 41.38, 224 Edith Gruber (Cybi) 45.09, 310 Keith Williams (Meirionnydd) 47.53.

Moel Tryfan

SECOND TOP RUN IN FOUR DAYS

After his excellent eighth place in the Donard Challenge Matthew Roberts continued his fine form by winning the opening race in the Joe Brown Tuesday Night Series at Moel Tryfan.

 Behind him in a superb fourth place was Menai teenager Cai Linton-Davies, who next week swaps the hills of Fron for the streets of London in the Mini Marathon.

 Results (all Eryri unless stated): 1 M Roberts 18.00, 2 G Owen 18.20, 3 J Parkinson (M40) 18.58, 4 C Linton-Davies (Menai) 19.00, 5 D Owen 19.32, 6 C Jones (M40) 19.42. U18: M Llyr 22.56. M40: 3 J Moore 20.22.  M50: 1 A Lewis 21.25, 2 E Jones (Cybi) 23.57, 3 M Williams (Cybi) 24.38. M60: 1 P "Tan" Jones 25.33, 2 B Robbins 28.04. M70: 1 J Morris (Buckley) 25.36, 2 D Williams 26.25, 3 E Davies 27.03. Ladies: 1 B Taylor (Bangor Uni) 22.05, 2 B Jenkinson (U18) 23.08, 3 L Grantham (Chester Tri) 23.39, 4 B Law 24.03, 5 K Worthington 24.14, 6 M Hughes 25.05. L40: 1 E Wood 26.29, 2 L Griffith (CB) 28.44, 3 T Scotland 30.20. L50: E Salisbury 26.44. L60: M Oliver 35.15.

Off to London

YOUNGSTERS IN WELSH TEAM

Menai siblings Iolo and Cari Hughes will be hoping to set a winning example to Olympian Mo Farah later this month.

 Both are in the Welsh Schools' squad chosen for the Virgin Money Mini Marathon on the streets of the capital shortly before the full marathon gets underway.

 Also in the teams are Christian Smith (Wrexham) and Cai Linton-Davies (Menai), who will go in the under-15s' race, and Lily Davis (Deeside), who is in the under-17s' side.