Thursday 30 January 2014

Athlete's profile (14)


 ATHLETE'S PROFILE (14)
 
EMMA COLLINS


 CLUB: Denbigh Harriers

 ANY PREVIOUS CLUBS: Second claim Prestatyn

 AGE AND DATE OF BIRTH: 51, 22/08/62

 HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COMPETING:  Six years.

 ANY OTHER SPORTS PLAYED: Cycling, both road and mountain biking.  Skiing.  Adventure racing.

 OTHER HOBBIES OR INTERESTS: Reading.

 FAVOURITE RACING DISTANCE:  I enjoy running and like most distances whether its road, xc, trail or fell.

 FAVOURITE RACE AND WHY: Nick Beer 10k as its tough, well organised, with quick results, a friendly award ceremony and I generally do well here.

 FAVOURITE TRAINING SESSION:  Enjoying introducing track sessions - tough though.

 PROUDEST MOMENT:  Running the Manchester Marathon last year in 3:15:45.

.WHOM DO YOU MOST ADMIRE (INSIDE ATHLETICS AND OUT) AND WHY: I always admire the runners at the tail end of a race, who work just as hard as those at the front.  

 ANY PERSONAL AMBITIONS:  To try and improve on some of my times while I still can.

 ANY REGRETS:  Not listening to my body and other people when I needed to rest, causing me to have several months off competing.

ANY EMBARRASSING EXPERIENCES: Nothing yet.

 WHAT CHANGES (IF ANY) WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE SPORT:  Welsh Athletics involving themselves more in the north.  

Sunday 26 January 2014

Other regional XC champs

MARTIN AND LAVENDER BATTLE IT OUT AGAIN

Claire Martin (Telford) and Alison Lavender (Oswestry), both former champions of the North Wales League, did battle once again in the Midlands Cross Country Championships in Leamington.

 The Telford athlete came out top, finishing fifth overall and second L35, with Lavender eighth. Between them, in sixth place, was Welsh international Sian Edwards (Swansea).

 In the Northern championships in Knowsley five-times Snowdon race winner Andi Jones (Sale) was second, with former Bangor student Nick Swinburn (Morpeth) fourth. In 36th place in a high-quality field was former North Wales champion Ricky Challinor (Liverpool Harriers).

Welsh Indoor champs

JOHNCOCK ACHIEVES HER AIM

Former Colwyn Bay member Rachel Johncock (Swansea) put on one of the top performances of the weekend in winning the senior ladies' 60m at the Welsh indoor championships in Cardiff.

 Her time of 7.40 was not only a personal best but also beat her own championship best performance of 7.55 set in 2012.

 Among other exceptional North Wales successes was Bay thrower Nathan Thomason who took the under-17 men's shot put title with a personal best of 15.62m - more than four metres further than his nearest challenger.

 Other medal winners included:-
Boys under 15. 800m 2 Iolo James (CB) 2-07.83, 3 Thomas Evans (Wrex) 2-09.93. 1,500m 3 Evans 4-57.31.
 Men under 17. TJ 2 Tom Walley (Wrex) 12.27
 Men under 20. 800m 3 Tom Harding (CB) 2-00.00.
 Ladies under 17. 800m 3 Gwenno Morris (CB) 2-24.26. 1,500m 2 Morris 4-56.33. 60mH 1 Abigail Bowers (Osw) 8.93, 2 Lauren Williams (Mald) 9.23. LJ 1 Chloe Hughes (Dee) 5.47, 3 Sarah Atkinson (Dee) 5.17. SP 2 Katy Whitley (Wrex) 11.22.
 Ladies under 20. 800m 2 Abigail Backshall (CB) 2-23.60.
 Senior ladies. 400m 2 Megan Rogers (Wrex) 58.02. HJ 3 Sian Swa nson (Swansea) 1.73. TJ 3 Swanson 11.25. SP 2 Adele Nicoll (Birchfield) 14.20.

 Deeside's Owen Smith won his senior men's 400m heat in 49.16, easily the fastest time of the day, but did not compete in the final.

John's 70+

"MORRIS THE MILES" CLOCKS UP 70

Most of you are probably aware by now that Buckley's John Morris marked his 70th year by completing 70 races in the 12 months leading up to his milestone birthday. But do you know how he did it.

 In fact, he completed 73 races for good measure and here is his race diary from November, 2012:


 

                 DATE            RACE               KM                          TIME                 DATE         RACE               KM                    TIME                                    

 

1.      4/11        WREXHAM              8.8          X/C           42.21          36.    8/6        MOEL HEBOG      4.2       FELL     1.13.11                                                 

2.      2/12        CARDINGTON       14.5         FELL     1.46.41           37    11/6       UP THE BEAST    6.4       FELL        47.44

3.      9/12                        M.FOREST             16             FELL     1.38.32           38    15/6       GREAT HILL         9.3       FELL        52.11  

4.     16/12       WEST C.                 9.3          ROAD     42.26           39    19/6       HOTFOOT             5.6       FELL        47.26

5.     26/12       THE WALLS           5             MULTI     23.03           40    23/6       MOEL GAMELIN  15.7      FELL     1.44.59

6.     30/12       JUBILEE PLUNGE 3.2          FELL       15.56           41    25/6       LLANBERIS            5         FELL        36.30

7.       1/01       MORNING AFTER    8           FELL       43.14           42    29/6       WHALEY WALTZ   9.3      FELL        57.02                                                

8.       6/01       HIT THE TRAIL       8            TRAIL      37.10           43      4/7       OFF RD                   7.2     X/C           36.16

9.     13/01       BIRKENHEAD          8.8         ROAD     40.05           44      6/7       MOEL SIABOD        9        FELL        72.12

10.   19/01       TWIN PIERS            10           ROAD     47.33           45    13/7       TAL-Y-FAN            12.8     FELL     1.43.32

11.     3/02       CYBI                         8            ROAD     36.34           46    17/7       THE DRUID             8        FELL        52.56 

12.     9/02       TARREN HENDRE    9.7         FELL      1.11.11          47    20/7        SNOWDON          16       FELL      1.56.28                                                                                                   

13.     9/02       CORWEN                8            X/C           47.51           48    24/7       GREEN GRASS     7.2     FELL         58.55

14.   16/02       PARBOLD HILL       12           TRAIL    1.00.47           49    27/7       PUSH PINCYN     10        FELL         65.54

15.     3/03       TORPANTAN          12.8        FELL     1.32.5             50      1/8       OFF ROAD             7.2     X/C            36.3

16.      6/3        RHYL                      5             ROAD     22.26           51      3/8       TEGG’S NOSE      11.7     FELL         79.43

17.      3/4        SPRING 5               8             ROAD      38.32           52      7/8       PONDEROSA         6.7     FELL         37.42

18.      7/4        MOW COP              11           FELL     1.05.10           53     11/8      GLADSTONE        15.1K  FELL      1.42.44

19.     10/4       B/L BUCKLEY         9             ROAD                     43.20           54     18/8       2 HILLFORTS       15   K  FELL      1.30.45 

20.     16/4       PEN DINAS             5             FELL       38.34            55     21/8      CAPENHURST        5       ROAD      23.16  

21.     18/4       MOBBERLEY .         9             MULT      41.25            56     24/8       PENDLETON         8       FELL        52.28

22.     23/4       ABERGWYN             7.2         FELL       46.04            57     26/8       MOEL FAMMAU     7.4    FELL        47.28

23.     24/4       B/L WREXHAM        6.4         ROAD     30.14            58       3/9       WIRRAL RACE       7.2    MULTI      39.06

24.     27/4       MYNYDD MAWR`     6.7        FELL       48.25            59       4/9       FRODSHAM HILL   8       MULTI      54.12

25.       4/5       LLANGYNHAFAL     7.6         FELL       55.19            60       6/9       OFF ROAD              7.2    X/C          36.49

26.       8/5       DINAS BRAN           6.9         FELL       43.33            61     10/9       WIRRAL RACE       7        MULTI     38.50

27.     11/5       MAEL ELLIO            12.8        FELL    1.42.06            62     15/9       SUTTON                10       ROAD      48.08

28.     14/5       M.TERRAIN            10           MULTI     48.15            63     17/9       WIRRAL RACE        7.8    MULTI     33.59

29.     18/5       BOLLNGTON            9           FELL        55.50           64     21/9       KING JOHN             8        FELL       54.07

30.     21/5       GREAT ORE             7.2        FELL        43.43           65     24/9       ARROWE PARK     7.8      MULTI     34.55

31.     27/5       MYNYDD MYFYR      6.4        FELL        30.52           66     29/9       BURY DITCHES     9.3      FELL       54.53             

32.     29/5       RHYL SUN CNT.       5           ROAD      22.52           67      5/10      BANGOR                8.5       X/C         48.04

33.       1/6       WINCLE TROUT       8.5        FELL        50.27           68    13/10      BREIDDEN HILL  11.2      FELL       79.25    

34.       4/6       3 HILLS                      5           FELL        41.56           69    19/10      LLANDUDNO          9         X/C         47.58

35.       6/6       OFF ROAD                7.2        X/C          36.39            70      3/11     CLWYDIAN HILL   14.4     FELL     102.7

     71   10/11      LLYN Y FANH         8.8    FELL       65.30

     72    17/11     B/L  T/HALL             9.8    ROAD     46.37

     73     23/11     WREXHAM              8.8    X/C         42.47

 In total he covered 628k in 2 days, 20 hours, 25 minutes and 48 seconds - with a few breaks inbetween!
 
 His favourite races were Hotfoot up Famau, Chester Spring 5, Patbold Hill and the Three Hills Race (Tuesday night series), and his least favourite the Ponderosa fell race and the Druid race.
 
 The toughest - not surprisingly - was the North Wales Cross-Country Championship in Corwen in January which he and Martin Cortvriend ran a little over an hour after finishing the 9-mile Tarren Hendre fell-race.
 
 Rumour has it that for his 80th he's planning to do 80 (100-metre sprints, that is).
 
 

Saturday 25 January 2014

NW Road-Running Awards

DAVIES TAKE ROAD TITLE

Maldwyn's Andrew Davies, who is equally comfortable on road, country or fells, has won the North Wales Senior Road Runner of the Year title for the third time. He first won it in 2012 and in 2013 shared it with Eryri's Rob Samuel.

 With two wins and one second place in qualifying races he scored only four points, with Brendan Rothery (Eryri) second on 15 and Andy Edwards (Deestriders) third on 17.

 Other winners were:- Senior women: 1 Emma Crowe (Wrexham, for the seventh time)) 6, 2 Katie Parry (Leeds) 8, 3 Helen Davies (Wrecsam Tri) 18.

 The Masters trophies are based on age-grading, and the winners were:- Male: 1 Gary Norgrove (Wrecsam Tri) 85.26%, 2 Arwel Lewis (Eryri) 83.43%, 3 Darren Blazier (Abergele 83.02%. Ladies: 1 Brenda Jones (Bro Dysynni, for the eighth time) 86.15%, 2 Emma Collins (Denbigh) 85.56%, 3 Emma Crowe (Wrex) 85.52%.

NW CC Champs

YOUNGSTERS BEAT SENIORS AT THEIR OWN GAME

 Two of the region's outstanding young athletes took on and beat experienced opposition in tough conditions at the North Wales Cross-Country championships in Northop.

 Last year Nathan Jones, then an under-20, led the senior field for three of the four laps before peeling off. This time it was 16-year-old Iolo Hughes, opting to run as an under-20, who set the pace and when he completed his three laps it was Nathan Jones who moved into the lead to take the senior men's title.

 Before that, teenager Georgia Garner (Colwyn Bay), also an under-20 but choosing to run as a senior, had again destroyed the field in the women's competition, just as she did last year in Corwen.

 * The masters' competition produced an exceptional show of sportsmanship from Buckley's Les Coathup which deserves to be highlighted.

 On the steep, muddy climb he was a couple of yards behind his over-60s' rival George Nixon when the Prestatyn runner slipped and fell. Coathup passed him briefly but then allowed Nixon to regain his lead. The duel recommenced and Coathup went on to take second place behind Martin Cortvriend (Denbigh), with Nixon coming a close third.

 Among the winners were:-
 Girls under 11: 1 E Hughes (Osw) 6.07, 2 E Scott (Penmorfa) 6.29, 3 F Davis (Bryn Coch) 6.39. Teams: Menai 17, Bryn Coch 23, Penmorfa 43, Acton Park 49. Wrexham 50, Deeside 62, Sandycroft School 107.
Girls under 13: 1 H Roberts (CB) 11.51, 2 S Paxton (Wrex) 12.00, 3 C Vaughan (CB) 12.09. Team: Menai 27.
Girls under 15: 1 C Hughes (Menai) 13.39, 2 M Owen (Dee) 15.41, 3 E Roberts (Menai) 15.50. Teams: Menai 10, Maldwyn 20.
 Ladies under 17: 1 L Davis (Dee) 19.16, 2 M Davies (Menai) 19.38, 3 B Jenkinson (Eryri) 20.50.
. Ladies under 20: A Cheetham (Prestatyn).
 Senior ladies: 1 G Garner (CB) 28.55, 2 A Rowlands (Eryri, L35) 31.42, 3 D Williams (Menai)32.12, 4 I Redfern (CB, L40) 32.15, 5 L Morley (Wrex, L40) 34.34, 6 W Trimble (Eryri, L35) 35.47. L35: 1 Rowlands, 2 Trimble, 3 N Cane (Prestatyn) 37.19. L40: 1  Redfern, 2 Morley, 3 D Urquhart (Buckley) 37.23. L45: 1 H McArthur (CB) 36.29, 2 V Ronald (CB) 38.27, 3 S Rowlands (Eryri) 38.50. L50: 1 E Collins (Denbigh) 36.04, 2 Y Hill (Osw) 39.05, 3 B Tiedtke (Prest) 39.30. L55: 1 A Whitelaw (Wrex) 39.34, 2 G Waring (Prest) 39.51, 3 V Edwards (Menai) 46.26. L65: M Oliver (Eryri) 47.16. Senior teams: Colwyn Bay 26, Eryri 44, Prestatyn 63, Buckley 76, Denbigh 101. Masters teams: Eryri 15, Colwyn Bay 17, Prestatyn 34, Buckley 43, Denbigh 54.

 Boys under 11: 1 O Perrin (Menai) 11.10, 2 Z Speakman (Dee) 11.27, 3 J Evans (Wrex) 11.30. Teams: Menai 27, Ysgol Bryn Coch 29, Acton Park School 45.
Boys under 13: 1 S Jones (Menai) 14.22, 2 R Finnie (Menai) 14.23, 3 D Gill (Maldwyn) 14.44. Teams: Menai 7, Deeside 27, Ysgol y Berwyn 46.
 Boys under 15: 1 Matthew Willis (Wrex) 17.24, 2 C Smith (Wrex) 17.40, 3 C Linton-Davies (Menai) 17.58.
  Men under 17: 1 T Henry (Dee) 30.40, 2 A Williams (Wrex) 31.25, 3 R Halliwell (Dee) 32.44.
  Men under 20: 1 I Hughes (Menai) 26.53, 2 W Sheridan (Dee) 29.13, 3 J Griffith (CB) 30.54.
  Senior men: 1 N Jones (Eryri) 36.41, 2 S Boyton (Dee) 36.58, 3 M Roberts (Eryri) 37.49, 4 J Mills (Cardiff) 37.50, 5 D Kashi (Eryri) 38.17, 6 A Walling (Menai, M40) 39.28.
 Teams: Eryri 72, Prestatyn 155, Denbigh 221.
 M35: 1 A Campbell (Wrecsam Tri)41.25, 2 M Austin (Buckley) 47.07, 3 G Evans (Prest) 47.42. M40: 1 Walling, 2 I Jones (Coventry) 39.35, 3 G Nicholls (Prest) 45.59. M45: 1 G Norgrove (Wrecsam Tri) 39.46, 2 G Blackwell (Dee) 40.49, 3 I Rowlands (Cybi) 42.24. M50: 1 M Robbins (Wrex) 42.29, 2 S Toogood (Buck) 43.24, 3 R Jones (Shrews) 43.30. M55: 1 G Jones (Prest) 43.09, 2 A Lewis (Eryri) 43.54, 3 S Davies (Mansfield) 45.08.
 Teams: Buckley 43, Wrecsam Tri 46, Denbigh 48, Prestatyn 48, Eryri 54, Wrexham 83.
M60: 1 M Cortvriend (Denbigh) 34.16, 2 L Coathup (Buck) 35.32, 3 G Nixon (Prest) 36.01. M65: R Mackey (Buckley). Team: Denbigh 11.
M70: 1 J Morris (Buck), 2 D Williams (Eryri). M75: 1 D Hughes (Prest), 2 R Harrison-Jones (Prest), 3 P Norman (Wrex).

 

Mountford pb

MOUNTFORD TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS GLASGOW

Former Deeside athlete David Mountford, who has his sights set on a place in the Wales team for this summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, gave another demonstration of his good form in the Herm Wilson Invitation indoor meeting in Wichita.

 The Okalahoma University student won the 3,000m in 8-21.08, taking about six seconds off his previous best.

Sunday 19 January 2014

Grand Prix Express NW XC League (4)

ERYRI GEARBOX FAILS BUT DEESIDE MOVE UP A GEAR

Deeside's men are set to make a bit of history by taking the Division 1 title in the Grand Prix Express North Wales Cross-Country League for the first time.

 In the fourth and penultimate fixture on a rain-sodden Lilleshall course they extended their lead and are now 343 points clear of second-placed Shrewsbury.

 Telford veteran Paul Ward dominated the race, looking in superb form, with the Eryri pair of Richard Roberts and Nathan Jones battling it out for second and third.

 The Eryri bus broke down on the way but teenager Bronwen Jenkinson joined the race late to ensure that their ladies had a complete team and still lie second behind Colwyn Bay.

 Results. Men: 1 P Ward (Tel, M45) 33.31, 2 R Roberts (Eryri) 34.27, 3 N Jones (Eryri, U20) 34.35, 4 S Boyton (Dee) 35.08, 5 J Wignall (Bangor Uni) 35.15, 6 J Brocklehurst (Shrews) 35.31, 7 L Jones (Dee, M40) 35.39, 8 D Kashi (Bangor Uni) 35.35, 9 D Weston (Wrex) 36.38, 10 R Heath (Tel) 36.43.

 Teams. Division 1: Deeside 91, Telford 122, Eryri 164, Shrewsbury 199, Tattenhall 352, Oswestry 383, Wrexham 500, Meirionnydd 649. DEivision 2: Bangor University 162, Buckley 350, Denbigh 376, Cowlyn Bay 473, Prestatyn 538, Wrecsam Tri 590, West Cheshire 617, Whitchurch 690, Abergele 734, Cybi 738, Menai 765, Maldwyn 801, Bridgnorth 824, Deestriders 852, Aberystwyth 857.

 M40: 2 D Alexander (West Chesh) 36.46, 3 J Brown (Buck) 37.29. M45: 2 G Norgrove (Wrecsam Tri) 37.58, 3 G Blackwell (Dee) 38.51. M50: 1 J Garmson (Tel) 39.19, 2 P Plant (Tel) 39.21, 3 S Toogood (Buck) 40.26. M55: 1 G Jones (Prest) 40.58, 2 A Lewis (Eryri) 41.15, 3 E Davies (Mald) 41.28. M60: 1 M Cortvriend (Denbigh) 43.31, 2 L Corthup (Buck) 44.55, 3 G Nixon (Prest) 46.29. M65: 1 JG Evans (Aberystwyth) 49.21, 2 J Morris (Buck0 49.34, 3 DA Williams (Wrex) 57.45.

 Teams: Telford 22, Buckley 35, Eryri 58, Deeside 66, Oswestry 67, Shrewsbury 69, Tattenhall 77, Colwyn Bay 92, Prestatyn 101, Denbigh 110, Colwyn Bay 116, Wrexham 169.

 M70: 1 D Williams (Eryri) 28.53, 2 D Hughes (Prest, M75) 33.19, 3 R Harrison-Jones (Prest, M75) 35.44, 4 P Norman (Wrex, M75) 37.26, 5 B Forster (Wrex, M80) 38.50.

 Men under 17: 1 T Henry (Dee) 22.12, 2 R Halliwell (Dee) 24.10, 3 B Harrison (Prest) 27.47.

 Ladies: 1 A Lavender (Osw) 22.27, 2 D Williams (Menai) 23.28, 3 I Redfern (CB, L40) 23.57, 4 A Rowlands (Eryri, L35) 23.38, 5 S Mackness (Tel) 24.26, 6 M Davies (Menai, U17) 24.56, 7 S Caskey (Bangor Uni) 25.07, 8 B Taylor (Bangor Uni, U200 25.38, 9 B Law (Eryri) 25.57, 10 L Morley (Wrex, L40) 26.05.

 Teams. Division 1: Telford 51, Colwyn Bay 63, Eryri 65, Oswestry 80, Denbigh 112, Wrexham 142, Buckley 146. Division 2: Prestatyn 71, Menai 83, Bangor University 90, Tattenhall 118, Abergele 171, Wrecsam Tri 176, Bro Dysynni 179, Shrewsbury 180.

 Masters. L35: 2 W Trimble (Eryri) 26.39, 3 N Cane (Prest) 28.06. l40: 3 V Whitehead (Denbigh) 28.51. l45: 1 D Sanders (Tel) 27.03, 2 H McArthur (CB) 27.39, 3 L Blagden (Tel) 28.01. L50: 1 E Collins (Denbigh) 27.16, 2 Y Hill (Osw) 28.56, 3 B Tiedtke (Prest) 29.46. L55: 1 A Whitelaw (Wrex) 29.14, 2 G Waring n(Prest) 29.55, 3 M Baugh (Denbigh) 36.40. L60: 1 M Docking (Wrex) 30.42, 2 B Ward (Osw) 31.24, 3 Y Marconi-Nolan (Bro Dys) 39.27. L65: 1 C Birch (Abergele) 28.58, 2 M Griffiths (Bro Dys) 42.08. L70: M Singleton (CB) 40.02.

 Teams: Colwyn Bay 18, Telford 29, Wrexham 41, Prestatyn 46, Oswestry 52, Tattenhall 84.

AGGREGATES AFTER FOUR RACES.
Men, Division 1: Deeside 495, Shrewsbury 838, Telford 900, Eryri 1,327, Tettenhall 1,449, Meirionnydd 1,549, Oswestry 1,627, Wrexham 2,281. Division 2: Bangor University 647, Buckley 1,239, Colwyn Bay 1,502, Denbigh 1,702, Prestatyn 1,924, Wrecsam Tri 2,478, West Cheshire 2,562, Abergele 2,636, Cybi 2,702, Menai 2,942, Whitchurch 2,965, Deestriders 3,063, Bridgnorth 3,550, Aberystwyth 3,564, Maldwyn 3,567.

 Masters: Buckley 134, Shrewsbury 202, Eryri 230, Telford 263, Prestatyn 342, Tattenhall 370, Colwyn Bay 402, Denbigh 419, Wrexham 593.

 Ladies: Division 1. Colwyn Bay 228, Eryri 263, Oswestry 323, Telford 324, Wrexham 386, Denbigh 708, Buckley 715. Division 2: Menai 265, Prestatyn 402, Bangor University 428, Tattenhall 484, Abergele 649, Bro Dysynni 719, Wrecsam Tri 803, Shrewsbury 954.

 Masters: Wrexham 100, Colwyn Bay 166, Oswestry 173, Prestatyn 260, Oswestry 173.

Cardiff Cross Challenge

CARI FLIES THE FLAG FOR WALES

Menai's Cari Hughes was the sole Welsh winner in the Cardiff Cross Challenge when she took the under-15 girls' title.

 Her brother Iolo was second in the under-17s' race, just 10 seconds adrift of winner Jordan Rowe (Colchester).

  Swansea's Dewi Griffiths was also second in the senior men's race. He finished behind Adam Hickey but is still in contention for the series title.

 Georgia Garner (Colwyn Bay) had another tremendous run but just missed a podium place in the U20's event, beaten by the England pair of Bobby and Alex Clay and Ireland's Siobhan O'Flaherty.

 In the under-15 boys' race Maldwyn's Joseph Crutchley came 12th and former Maldwyn athlete Gwynant Jones (Cardiff) was 18th in a high-quality under-20 competition.

4 Villages Half

ROWLANDS WINS CLASS AT HELSBY

Wrexham's Darren Rowlands won the M45 class at the Essar Four Villages half-marathon in Helsby which again attracted a high quality field. He was 12th overall.

 It produced an exciting finish, with Altrincham's Mohhamad AbuReyeq winning by just one second from John Lily (Tipton).

 Results: 1 M Abu Reyeq (Alt) 65.46, 2 J Lily (Tipton) 65.47, 3 B Fish (Blackburn) 65.59, 4 M Williams (Tipton) 69.45, 5 B Gamble (Tipton) 69.45, 6 T Elly (Salford) 70.39, 7 A Challenger (Hallamshire) 70.44, 8 A Peers (Liv H) 71.33, 9 D Nicholls (Wilmslow) 72.06, 10 S Doyle (Vale Royal, M40) 72.15.
 U20: 1 S Welsby (ua) 95.11, 2 E Issa (Manchester Tri) 96.11, 3 T DeJong (Helsby) 96.43.
 M40: 2 M Smith (South Chesh) n73.37, 3 P Jones (Osw) 74.06. M45: 1 D Rowlands (Wrex) 73.07, 2 R Downs (Wilm) 73.30, 3 M Russell (Burnden) 75.30. M50: 1 C Bishop (Helsby) 77.35, 2 T Landry (Knowsley) 79.57, 3 P Burton (ua) 80.33. M55: 1 P Muller (Horwich) 78.14, 2 T McGaff (Wilm) 80.29, 3 P Cousins (ua) 83.03. M60: 1 N Burin (Manchester H) 85.26, 2 D Nalder (Ell Port) 88.59, 3 B Farrell (Manchester H) 91.58. M65: 1 G Didsbury (ua) 1-46.03, 2 M Sharkey (Penny Lane) 1-49.55. M70: 1 K Burgess (Alt) 99.12, 2 D Gardner (NWRR) 1-42.24, 3 A Peers (Spectrum) 1-49.28. M75: 1 J Park (Cheshire Tally Ho) 2-04.23, 2 E Naisby (Prestatyn) 2-23.27.

 Ladies: 1 D McVey (Wilm, L35) 79.23, 2 K Crickman (Chester Tri, L35) 80.39, 3 G Connolly (St Helens) 81.35, 4 S Johnstone (Wilm, L40) 83.11, 5 S Kearney (Wirral, L40) 84.12, 6 J Joy (Helsby) 84.33. U20;  R Burke (Liv RC) 2-01.28. SL: H Ashley (Sale) 86.06. L35: 3 K Readman (Macclesfield) 85.53. L40: 3 J Ellis (Wilm) 88.28. L45: 1 K Wood-Doyle (Stockport) 89.16, 2 A Sedman (Belle Vue) 89.21, 3 A Magreean (Chester Tri) 98.00. L50: 1 L S inclair (Stckport) 94.13, 2 E Darroch (ua) 97.19, 3 M Taverner (Vale Royal) 1-41.27. L55: 1 S Haslam (Scarborough) 93.32, 2 N Mowat (Wilm) 95.49, 3 J Jefferson (Red Rose) 95.52. L60: 1 R Rogers (Deestriders) 1-44.46, 2 L Beattie (Steel City) 1-46.26, 3 S Elliott (Pensby) 2-03.43. L65: 1 S Stewart (Southport and Waterloo) 1-51.30, 2 S Richards (ua) 1-58.13, 3 S Swinnerton (South Chesh) 2-04.51.

Saturday 11 January 2014

Twin Piers 10k

ROTHERY MAINTAINS PIERS RECORD

Eryri's "Mr Consistent" Brendan Rothery maintained his amazing record when he won the Twin Piers 10k, which was blessed with ideal conditions.

 Since 2006 his placings in the event have been 3rd, (did not run in 2007) 2nd, 4th, 2nd, 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

 Buxton's Robert White stayed with Rothery for the first 3k but over the next 3k the Eryri athlete pulled away and went on to win by 23 seconds.

 Jamie Loxam (Stockport), who had lain fourth with only 1k to go stormed through to take second place.

 The women's race was also something of a procession, with Emma Crowe soon opening a gap on her friend and fellow-vet Issy Redfern and coming home over a minute clear.

 Results: 1 B Rothery (Eryri, M35) 3326, 2 J Loxam (Stockport, M35) 33.49, 3 R White (Buxton, M35) 33.53, 4 D Longley (Prestatyn) 34.06, 5 H Wharton (Cybi, M35) 34.20, 6 C Evans (Eryri) 34.50. MU20: 1 J Griffith (CB) 35.51, 2 T Harding (CB) 36.41, 3 E Nevill (Crewe and Nantwich) 38.18. M40: 1 S Eardley (CB) 35.06, 2 P Jones (Eryri) 37.52, 3 C Ottolini (Market Drayton) 39.03. M45: 1 C Yorke (NWRR) 35.41, 2 I Rowlands (Cybi) 37.41, 3 G Porter-Jones (Eryri) 38.17. M50: 1 V Belshaw (Denbigh) 38.44, 2 A Brockway (Wirral) 40.01, 3 A Gannon (Menai) 41.45. M55: 1 G Jones (Prestatyn) 36.59, 2 E Davies (Maldwyn) 38.13, 3 A Lewis (Eryri) 38.40. M60: 1 L Maloney (NWRR) 39.59, 2 C Stillo (Goyt Valley) 45.13, 3 T Rees (ua) 52.09. M65: 1 JG Evans (Aberystwyth) 44.54, 2 R Scholey (ua) 48.15, 3 G Parry (ua) 51.50. M70: 1 D Gardner (NWRR) 46.33, 2 J Thomas (Buckley) 52.58, 3 J Bradley (Buxton) 53.13. N75: R Billington (Wrex) 64.05. Team: Eryri.

 Ladies: 1 E Crowe (Wrex, L40) 37.32, 2 I Redfern (CB, L40) 38.18, 3 H Davies (Wrecsam Tri, L45) 39.08, 4 B Taylor (Bangor Uni) 41.40, 5 E Collins (Denbigh, L50) 41.47, 6 H McArthur (CB, L45) 42.39. LU20: 1 A Bagnall (Prestatyn) 48.13, 2 A Cheetham (Prestatyn) 49.22. SL: 2 A Rollings (ua) 47.55, 3 C Hogan (Cybi) 48.55. L35: 1 N Cane (Prestatyn) 44.23, 3 S Beck (Prestatyn) 45.49, 3 G Johnson (Buxton) 46.57. L40: 3 L Rollinson (Market Drayton) 47.17. L45: 3 L Peter (ua) 45.47, L50: 2 M Ludden (Buckley) 44.36, 3 K Hatton (NWRR) 47.37. L55: 1 C Willgoose (Abergele) 45.16, 2 S Bradley (Buxton) 45.58, 3 G Waring (Prestatyn) 47.58. L60; 1 M Edwards (Birkenhead) 48.57, 2 P Newton (Market Drayton) 49.49, 3  J Pugh (Wrekin) 81.13. L65: 1 C Birch (Abergele) 45.50, 2 M Griffiths (Bro Dysynni) 64.28. L70: 1 B Jones (Bro Dysynni) 57.46, 2 L Ling (Wrekin) 81.13. L75: M Williams (ua) 74.43. Team: Prestatyn.

Sunday 5 January 2014

County XC champs - and more

NEW YEAR JOY FOR MARTIN - AND JOY AND MARTIN

We may be only a week into the New Year but Denbigh super-vet Martin Cortvriend can boast that he tops the UK rankings for 2014.

 He won the M60 class and was 65th overall in the Central Lancashire half-marathon near Preston with a time of 1-32.40. The chances are that his place at the top of the M60 listing may last only slightly longer than his prize - a crate of beer.

 Several athletes who compete regularly in North Wales were successful in their county cross-country championships.

 Jayne Joy (Helsby) won the senior ladies' title at the Cheshire championships in Warrington, while in the Merseyside championships in Sefton Park Wirral vet Sarah Kearney was third and her daughter Emily was fifth in the U20 class.

 Meanwhile Claire Martin once again won the Shropshire championship in Lilleshall, with clubmate and fellow-vet Michelle Clarke second, albeit over two minutes behind. Sarah Markness made it 1-2-3- for Telford, and in fourth place was Welsh international Anna Bartlett (Shrewsbury).

 The men's race was won by Paul Ward (Telford, M45), with former Telford junior Olly Laws (Newham and Essex Beagles) second. The rest of the top six were Chris Rimmer (Tel), Jon Bowie (Trismart), Wayne Dashper (Tel) and Paul Jones (Oswestry, M40).

Antrim Cross Challenge

WILLIS MIXES IT WITH THE BEST


 The best of North Wales' talented youngsters did themselves and region proud when they competed in the British Cross Challenge meeting in Antrim.

 Menai's Cari Hughes came third in the under-15 girls' race and her brother Iolo had another fine outing. With the under-15s, under-17s and under 20s all running  together former Maldwyn Harrier Gwynant Jones (Cardiff) was the first of the North Wales finishers in 10th place in 17.50.

  Iolo was just two places and six seconds behind, but the most eyecatching run came from Wrexham's under-15 athlete Matthew Willis, who was 18th in 18.13. This time he had the better of his clubmate and Welsh inter-regional champion Christian Smith, who finished 33rd.

 In the senior races Maldwyn's Andrew Davies was an excellent 13th, one place behind Swansea's Dewi Griffiths.

 In the senior women's event Katie Roberts (Bridgend) was 16th, Ffion Price (Cardiff)20th and Katie Parry (Leeds City) 30th.