Sun Centre 5k

CHALLINOR WINS AT A CANTER

Three days after running for Wales in the Great Manchester 10k Ricky Challinor and Sarah Livett took the North Wales 5k titles in Rhyl.

 Challinor was in a class of his own in the Sun Centre race, the only problem coming from a nasty crosswind which buffeted the runners on the out-and-back course.

 Livett finished 41 seconds of the 2012 champion Isabel Redfern (Colwyn Bay).

 Results: 1 R Challinor (Liverpool H) 15.44, 2 D Blazier (Abergele, M40) 17.00, 3 M Green (NWRR, M35) 17.11, 4 A Campbell (Wrecsam Tri, M35) 17.32, 5 A Bromley (Deeside) 17.36, 6 R Wilyman (Abergele) 17.43. U17: N Davies (ua) 21.44. U20: D Jackson (NWRR) 20.33.
 M35: 3 J Salt (Mysteruns) 19.44.
 M40: 2 G Nicholls (Prestatyn) 19.09, 3 A Hughes (Meirionnydd) 19.14
 M45: 1 J Gifford (Buckley) 18.15, 2 G Blackwell (Deeside) 18.50, 3 Russell Godwin (Colwyn Bay) 19.41.
 M50: T Cahill (Abergele) 17.50, 2 I Hughes (Meir) 19.47, 3 K Challinor (Deeside) 20.26
 M55: 1 C Edgington (Meir) 19.08, 2 A Gauton (Denbigh) 20.30, 3 C Baldwin (Denbigh) 21.32
 M60: 1 G Nixon (Prestatyn) 19.38, 2 A French (Wrex) 21.23, 3 G Shone (Abergele) 21.26.
 M65: 1 G Owens (Prestatyn) 19.21, 2 J Morris (Buckley) 22.58, 3 M G Williams (Eryri) 24.39
 M75: 1 Roger Harrison-Jones (Prest) 26.11, 2 D Hughes (Prest) 26.35

LADIES
1 S Livett (Menai, U20) 18.18, 2 I Redfern (CB, L40) 18.59, 3 E Collins (Denbigh, L50) 20.09, 4 L Morley (Wrex, L40) 20.49, 5 E Jones (Denbigh, U17) 21.06, 6 M Ludden (Buckley, L50) 21.12.
 U17: 2 S Ferbi (ua) 21.21
 U20: 2 A Bagnall (Prest) 23.12, 3 A Cheetham (Prest) 24.08
 SL: 1 J McDonough (Prest) 21.50, 2 E Gruber (Cybi) 22.22, 3 D Barraclough-Jones (ua) 24.45
 L35: 1 J Harnden (Wrex) 21.34,2 M Dowell-Jones (CB) 21.53, 3 S Beck (Prest) 22.28
 L40: 3 V Whitehead (Denbigh) 22.26
 L45: 1 H McArthur (CB) 21.24, 2 L Jones (Wrex) 22.16, 3 J Lindley (Buckley) 23.04
 L50: 3 K Hatton (NWRR) 23.42
 L55: G Waring (Prest) 23.20
 L60: M Docking (Wrex) 23.46
 L65: C Birch (Abergele) 22.48
 L70: B Jones (Bro Dysynni) 27.37
 L80: S Symonds (Bro Dysynni) 43.37 

Great Orme race

RECORDS FALL ON THE ORME

The sixth race in the Joe Brown Midweek Series of fell-races was held in perfect conditions, resulting in three course records being broken.

 The race was won by Matthew Roberts, just two days after his excellent run in the inter-counties championships.

 Results (all Eryri Harriers unless stated): 1 M Roberts 31.27 (new record), 2 G Owen (ua) 32.05, 3 J Rowley 32.38, 4 J Parkinson (M40) 32.57 (new record), 5 M Fortes 33.30, 6 J Griffith (Colwyn Bay, U18) 33.40. M40: 2 C Jones 33.52, 3 N Craine 35.18. M50: 1 T Cahill (Abergele) 36.02, 2 S Toogood (ua) 36.26, 3 A Lewis 37.15. M60: 1 J Morris (Buckley) 43.42, 2 B Robbins 44.15, 3 D Say (ua) 55.57. M70: E Davies 42.54.
 Ladies: 1 J Lee 36.10 (new record), 2 B Taylor (Bangor Uni) 40.41, 3 T Llewelyn (Cybi) 41.01. L40: 1 H McArthur (Colwyn Bay) 42.15, 2 S Barnwell 42.35, 3 K Broach 43.12. L50: E Salisbury 44.42.

Christleton 5k

TOP-CLASS FIELD AT CHRISTLETON

Despite it being the best-quality field for some years GB international Jonny Mellor (Liverpool Harriers) won the Christleton 5k by almost a minute.

 The standard of the women's field was also very high, with Liverpool claiming a "double" through Maria Barrett. She finished just nine seconds clear of Amanda Crook (Southport Waterloo), who won the Chester Half a few days earlier.

 Results: 1 J Mellor (Liv H) 13.59, 2 A Norman (Altrincham) 14.53, 3 B Russell (Liv H) 14.55, 4 J Morris (Stockport, U20) 14.56, 5 M Sawrey (Stockport) 15.01, 6 R Challinor (Liv H) 15.03.
 U20: 2 M Vennard (Vale R) 15.14, 3 Z Bamber (Vale R) 15.39
 M40: 1 L Jones (Deeside) 15.30, 2 D Richardson (Stoke) 15.35, 3 S Doyle (Vale R) 15.35
 M45: 1 M Jaques (Knowsley) 16.37, 2 A Townsend (Horwich) 17.00, 3 P Brame (Liv H) 17.04.
 M50: 1 A Green (Warrington) 15.35, 2 G McNeil (Wilmslow) 16.46, 3 G Aston (Stockport) 17.10
 M55: 1 C Martin (Spectrum) 17.21, 2 D Carrington (Alt) 18.34, 3 R Freeman (West Chesh) 18.58
 M60: 1 J Hancock (Osw) 19.25, 2 A Melling (Aston and Tyldesley) 19.40, 3 N Canham (Trafford) 20.47
 M65: 1 D Tomkins (Warr) 17.36, 2 D Bish (West Chesh) 23.25, 3 S Howarth (West Chesh) 25.28
 M70: 1 J Park (Cheshire Tally Ho) 25.37, 2 K Robson (Manchester Tri) 27.19

LADIES
1 M Barrett (Liv H) 16.20, 2 A Crook (Southport Waterloo) 16.29, 3 A Lavender (Osw) 16.57, 4 R Burns (Liv H) 17.11, 5 K Longley (Liv Pembroke, L35) 17.17, 6 S Whiteside (Liv H) 17.19.
 U20: 1 S Livett (Menai) 17.32, R Donohue (Liv H) 18.25, 3 E Kearney (Wirral) 18.44
 L35: 2 L Rudd (Stockport) 17.38, 3 E Parry (Wrex) 17.39
 L40: 1 C Constable (Southport) 19.28, 2 L Morley (Wrex) 20.24, 3 H Smith (Vale R) 20.36
 L45: 1 A Morgan (St Helens) 20.50, V Griffiths (Helsby) 21.00, 3 S Green (Boalloy) 21.16
 L50: 1 M Ludden (Buckley) 20.31, 2 A Vesey (Alt) 20.48, 3 M Taverner (Vale R) 20.55
 M55: 1 H West (Stockport) 22.44, 2 A Meakin (Helsby) 24.57, 3
 L60: M Docking (Wrex) 23.40,  2 J Shaw (Helsby) 25.58
 L65: 1 C Birch (Abergele) 22.22, J Dolan (Alt) 23.52,

FRA inter-counties champs

HUGHES JUST MISSES GOLD

Menai's outstanding youngster Iolo Hughes came within two seconds of victory in the FRA inter-counties' championships in the Settle Hills.

 The under-18s' race was won by Yorkshire's Max Wharton but with Hughes second, Jake Griffith (Colwyn Bay) 9th and Mabon Llyr (Eryri) 12th North Wales came second in the team competition.

 In the under-16 girls' race Bronwen Jenkinson (Eryri) continued her recent superb form, coming home in third place.

 There was also team silver for the senior men, who finished just one point behind winners Yorkshire.

 Second in the race was former Bangor student Nick Swinburn (North East) in 46.23, with Tim Davies leading the North Wales squad home in fifth place (48.49). He was backed by Matthew Roberts (10th, 49.59), Richard Roberts (11th, 50.04), Harry Matthews (24th, 52.17) and Nathan Jones (45th, 54.35). Also running were Eryri's Fred Maier (63rd in 60.27), Arwel Lewis (75th in 62.43, 3rd M50) and Paul Jenkinson (80th in 64.38).

Cader Idris race

LOCAL BOY RICHARDS TAKES CADER TITLE

Meirionnydd's Ifan Richards, who has kept a fairly low profile in recent weeks, took full advantage of the absence of some of the big names to win the Cader Idris race near his Brithdir home.

 Last year he finished fifth 92.27, and his winning time was 85 seconds faster, while Lauren Jeska (Aberystwyth), who retained the ladies' title and was 16th overall, was slightly slower.

 Results: 1 I Richards (Meir) 91.02, 2 M Cliffe (Eryri, M400 91.14, 3 G Slavov (Aberystwyth) 93.02, 4 R Weston (Serpentine) 96.02, 5 I Grindley (Mercia, M40) 96.55, 6 D Rushton (ua) 97.21.
 M40: 3 C Near (Eryri) 97.32.
 M50: 1 D Roberts (ua) 1-43.01, 2 D Powell (Aberystwyth) 1-48.45, 3 T Knight (ua) 1-49.41.
 M60: 1 A Duncan (Bowland) 1-48.39, 2 S Atherton (FRA) 2-08.38, 3 A French (Wrexham) 2-16.05.
 M70: P Jones (Prestatyn) 2-32.09.

 Ladies
1 L Jeska (Aberystwyth) 1-42.01, 2 M Price (Mercia, L40) 1-43.24, 3 J Lee (Eryri) 1-44.03, 4 L Barker (Aberystwyth) 1-54.47, 5 R Stafford (Mercia) 1-57.00, 6 J Moore (Eryri, L40) 2-03.50.
 L40: 3 S Rowlands (Clwydian) 2-06.21.
 L50: T Scotland (ua) 2-32.34

New Snowdon Challenge

RUNNERS FACE UPHILL CHALLENGE

Organisers of the annual International Snowdon Race are putting on a new event this year to complement the main event.

 At 11am on the morning of the 10-mile race, now in its 38th year, the Snowdon Super Cup will be held, with the field limited to 50 elite athletes.

 The race will be uphill only, finishing on the summit of Snowdon, and this year it will be a demonstration event to see whether the concept is successful.

 Race co-ordinator Matt Ward said they had been considering it for a couple of years but it was essential that it should not detract from the main event.

 "We actually feel that the uphill race will complement the up-and-down race as it will attract a different kind of runner, those who perhaps wouldn't ordinarily do the full race with its challenging descent," he said.

 Uphill -only races are particularly popular on the continent, whereas many British runners are renowned for their fearless descending.

 The 2013 event will be an invitation-only race, with applications invited from men who have run the 10-mile race in 76 minutes or women in 90 minutes, and who have represented their country on the mountains or in road races in the last five years.

 Fifty athletes will then be selected to take part. Applications should be sent to Matt Ward at matt@runcomm.co.uk by June 10 and those chosen will be notified by June 24.

Athlete's Profile (6)

ATHLETE'S PROFILE (6)

Daniel Weston

NAME: Daniel Weston

CLUB: Wrexham AAC

ANY PREVIOUS CLUBS: No

AGE AND DATE OF BIRTH:  33, 31st May, 1979

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COMPETING: Since July, 2006. I did a little when I was a junior but that was only because I wanted to beat my Dad (Martin, former Wrexham AAC stalwart)

ANY OTHER SPORTS PLAYED: No, I don't have the time but I used to rollerblade on skate parks a lot.

OTHER HOBBIES OR INTERESTS: Going to church, time with my wife and children.

FAVOURITE RACING DISTANCE: 10 miles (I'm still trying to beat my Dad's PB of 52 minutes, but I reckon the course wasn't measured properly back in his days.

FAVOURITE RACE AND WHY: Vyrnwy Half-Marathon. The views are stunning and the competition is hot.

FAVOURITE TRAINING SESSION: 8 x 800 on the track, preferably with someone shouting out the lap times, but that doesn't happen very often.

PROUDEST MOMENT: When some kid on the street said to me: "I remember when you were shit." (Excuse the language but that's what he said!)

WHOM DO YOU MOST ADMIRE (INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ATHLETICS) AND WHY: In running: Haile Gebrselassie, simply for his achievements - two Olympics golds over 10,000m and four World Championship titles. He won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and had three straight wins in the Dubai Marathon. He also won four world titles indoors and in 2001 was World Half-Marathon champion.
 Outside of athletics: My wife for endurance. She has the skill to keep going no matter what life throws at her.

ANY PERSONAL AMBITIONS: To represent Wales in running. One day I'd love to get sub-70 minutes for a half and sub-2-30 for a full marathon.

ANY REGRETS: Probably, but I don't want to bring them to mind.

 ANY EMBARRASSING EXPERIENCES: I'll get back to you on that.

WHAT CHANGES, IF ANY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE SPORT: The schooling system. There should be more sports days in schools and parents should get time off work to go and watch.