Abergele 5

GUESTS TAKE INDIVIDUAL HONOURS

The sun shone quite literally on Staffordshire  athletes in the Abergele 5-mile race, which this year hosted an inter-county challenge between them and North Wales.

 The individual titles went to veteran Mark Dalkins (Cheadle), who finished in 26.43, and junior lady Lucy Holt (City of Stoke),  who was a superb 15th overall in 29.29.

 North Wales men won the team event, however, with the regional titles going to Ricky Challinor (Liverpool Harriers), who was second overall in 27.10, and Tracy Llewellyn (Cybi), who also holds the North Wales 10k and 10m titles.

 Full results are on the Abergele Harriers' website.

Flintshire 10k

DEESTRIDERS SHINE IN MOLD

Two weeks after topping Division 1 in the Borders League fixture Deestriders were again in impressive form in  the Flintshire 10k in Mold.

 The race was won by Gareth Williams, with New  Zealand-based Alun Williams just five seconds behind, and Deestriders had two more finishers in the top 10 in Mike Roberts (3rd) and Craig Davies (9th). 

 The first woman home - and sixth overall  - was Kirsty Longley (Liverpool Pembroke), winner of last month's Wirral 10k.

 The results included: 1 G Williams (Deestriders) 33.54, 2 A Williams (ua, M35) 33.59, 3 M Roberts (Deestriders) 35.20, 4 D Owen (Eryri, M35) 36.09, 5 S Sussex (Wrexham, U20) 36.13, 6 K Longley (L35) 37.08, 7 C Callaghan (Buckley, M35) 37.32, 8 S Wilde (Chester Tri, M40) 37.37, 9 C Davies (Deestriders, M40) 37.42, 10 C Yorke (NWRR, M45) 38.04. M40: 2 J Jones 40.19, 3 M Austin (Buckley) 40.36. M45: 2 A Carter (West Chesh) 39.18, 3 E Davies (Buckley) 40.04. M50: 1 J Randell (Meir) 38.50, 2 M Wynn 40.25, 3 S McNicholas (Penny Lane) 40.42. M55: 1 G Harrison (Altrincham) 41.46, 2 M Evans (Osw) 44.42, 3 S Hardcastle (Swaledale) 46.26. M60: 1 J Foy (West Chesh) 40.49, 2 B Freeman (West Chesh) 41.03, 3 D Nalder (Ell Port) 41.07. M65: 1 C Davies (Altrincham) 47.05.

 Ladies: 1 Longley, 2 E Renondeau (Ell Port, L35) 38.34, 3 D Holl (L40) 41.25, 4 C Cook (Buckley, L40) 41.45, 5 J Jennions (Deestriders, L35) 41.54, 6 A Dutton (Buckley, L35) 42.15. L40: 2 J Romero -Edwards 47.39. L50: C Harrison (Alt) 44.21, L65: C Birch (Abergele) 47.08.

Snowdonia Marathon

NEW COURSE RECORD IN THE RAIN


A month after clocking 2-15 on the fast course of the Berlin Marathon Kent athlete John Gilbert proved he  could cope just as easily with the hills when he set a new record in the Snowdonia Marathon.

 He made his intentions clear from the off,  holding a 30-second lead over Welshman Michael Kallenberg (Cardiff) at the top of Pen y Pass.

 Despite the heavy rain the Kent man never eased up, and went on to win in 2-33.38, just over two minutes inside Rob Samuel's 2012 record. Kallenberg finished strongly for second and fellow Welsh international Phil Matthews (Swansea) was third.

 Gwyn Owen (Eryri), who was sixth two years, was fourth this time and about four minutes faster.

 It was a similar story in the women's race, with Tracy McCartney (Nene Valley) in front all the way. By the 23-mile mark above Waunfawr she was three minutes clear of challenger Joanne Nelson. The Darwen Dasher lived up to her club's name by putting in a determined finish, closing the gap to just 54 seconds at the finish. McCartney's time was 3-08.44 with Nelson on 3-09.38.

 The 2014 Welsh  champion Andrew Rowlands (Eryri) shrugged off her injury problems to finish well in 3-16.48 for third place.

  Several North Walians or regular competitors in the area were among the prizewinners including:- M40: 1 Martin Green (NWRR) 2-48.39, 3 Rob Grantham (Chester Tri) 2-56.25. M45: 1 John Ford (NWRR) 2-54.21, 3 Paul Jones (Oswestry) 2-56.04. M75: Dave Gardner (NWRR) 4-14.01. L50: 1 Catherine Hewitt (Wrexham) 3-09.56. L70: 1 Mar jorie Griffiths (Bro Dysynni) 5-57.44.

 Full results are on the TDL Events website.

BMAF CC Relays

GOLD FOR PRESTATYN LADIES

Two weeks after finishing 1-2-3 in their category in the opening Borders League fixture Prestatyn Running Club 's over-55 ladies have become British champions.

 Sue Rodgers, Debbie Richards and Gabby Waring won their class at the BMAF cross-country relays in Long Eaton, Derbyshire.

 Denbigh Harriers, who fielded two over-50s in Tracey Williams and Emma Collins in their L35 team, just missed out, finishing fourth. Their third runner was Victoria Whitehead.

Welsh Masters' Squad

DUBLIN DEBUTS FOR MASTERS

North Wales has a strong representation in the Welsh squad for the British and Irish Masters' cross-country international in Dublin on November 14, with several set to make their d ebuts.

 They include North Wales 10k champion Sarah Kearney (Wirral), who only recently confirmed her Welsh eligibility, and Chris Prior (Salford), from Prestatyn, who clocked 72.17 in the recent Cardiff half-marathon after coming back from injury.

 The "Gogs" in the squad are:- M35: Christian Prior (Salford). M40: Jez Brown (Buckley - reserve). M45: Darren Rowlands (Wrexham), John Ford (North Wales RR), Gary Blackwell (Deeside - reserve). M50: Eric Campbell (Buckley - reserve). M55: Gordon Jones (Prestatyn), Bernie Jones (Wrexham), Steve Davies (Mansfield - reserve). M60: Stephen P Jones (Eryri). M75 : Dave Gardner (North Wales RR), Roger Harrison-Jones (Prestatyn), Dave Hughes (Prestatyn).

 L40: Sarah Kearney (Wirral). L45: Helen Davies (Wrecsam Tri - reserve). L50: Emma Collins (Denbigh), Tracey Williams (Denbigh). L55: Gabby Waring (Prestatyn - reserve), Ali Whitelaw (Wrexham - reserve). L65: Chris Birch (Abergele), Maggie Oliver (Ery ri - reserve). L70: Brenda Jonhes (Bro Dysynni), Maureen Singleton (Colwyn Bay - reserve).

NWCC League (2)

REPEAT SHOW AT LLANDUDNO

It was very much a case of "as you were" in the second fixture of the Grand Prix Express North Wales Cross-Country League at Llandudno, with brother and sister Iolo  and Cari Hughes again turning in quite brilliant performances.

 Sixteen-year-old Cari, who saw off the challenge of mountain runner Andrea Rowlands two weeks earlier in Bangor, this time left reigning  champion Alison Lavender trailing.

 In the men's race it was left to fellow GB junior international John Spill (Eryri) to try to stay with Iolo, and bravely though he battled the Menai athlete looked comfortable in striding  to a comfortable win.

 Shrewsbury, who were out in force, have taken over from Eryri at the top of the men's Division 1 while the Gwynedd club's women are still in the lead despite finishing behind Oswestry on the day.

 Oliver Barbaresi made it a "double triple" for Menai with another stylish win in the under-17s' race.

 It was also a case of "deja vu" in the Junior Cross-Country League, with Llandyrnog sisters Neisha and Mia Roberts (Deeside) repeating the early-season wins in the U13 and U15 races respectively.

 Full results of the Junior League are on the Power of 10 website.

Senior League. Senior men: 1 I Hughes (Menai, U20) 32.48, 2 J Spill (Eryri, U20) 34.18, 3 L Renton (Bangor Uni) 34.29, 4 O Blake (Osw) 34.50, 5 S Skates (Prestatyn) 35.00, 6 P Butler (oSW) 35.11, 7 G Morris (Shrews) 35.21, 8 J Ford (NWRR, M45) 35.38, 9 R Roberts (Cybi) 35.49, 10 S Sussex (Wrex, U20) 36.08.
 Teams. Division 1: Shrewsbury 86, Oswestry 175, Buckley 261, Bangor Uni 278, Eryri 328, Meirionnydd 548, Deeside 491, Tattenhall 728. Division 2: Wrexham 350, Colwyn Bay 384, Prestatyn 409, Cybi 417, Telford 446, Denbigh 508, GOGS 514, Abergele 583, NWRR 594, Whitchurch 608, Menai 733, Wrecsam Tri 751, Deestriders 895, West Cheshire 901, Bridgnorth 1,016, Aberystwyth 1,019.

 Masters. M40: 1 M Green (NWRR) 36.14, 2 J Brown (Buck) 36.30, 3 P Taylor (Tatt) 37.06. M45: 1 Ford, 2 G Blackwell (Dee) 37.55, 3 G Nicholls (Prest) 39.11. M50: 1 J Garmson (Tel) 39.04, 2 J Randell (Meir) 40.11, 3 M Robbins (Wrex) 40.23. M55: 1 G Jones (Shrews) 38.10, 2 R Jones (Shrews) 38.35, 3 V Belshaw (Den) 39.30. M60: 1 SP Jones (Eryri) 39.24, 2 P Savill (Shrew) 40.56, 3 S Roberts (Osw) 42.41. M65: 1 P Walker (Wrex) 48.01, 2 A White (Osw) 49.03, 3 JG Evans (Aberystwyth) 50.03.
 Teams: Buckley 21, Shrewsbury 39, Oswestry 54, Colwyn Bay 70, Ery ri 81, Denbigh 91, GOGS 92, Meirionnydd 105, Wrecsam Tri 123, Tattenhall 135, Prestatyn 149, Abergele 151, Cybi 156, Wrexham 163, Telford 176, Whitchurch 193.

 M70: 1 D Williams (Eryri) 26.39, 2 A Egan (Wrex) 27.22, 3 A Oliver (Eryri) 28.34, 4 R Frost (Wrex) 29.25. M75: 1 R Harrison-Jones (Prest) 30.23, 2 D Hughes (Prest) 30.34, 3 J Tipping (Wrex) 41.03. M80: 1 R Billington (Wrex) 40.48, 2 M Ward (Osw) 43.07, 3 B Forster (Wrex) 43.42. Team: Wrexham 13.

 Men under 17: 1 O Barbaresi (Menai) 17.27, 2 C Smith (Wrex) 18.22, 3 T Evans (Wrex) 18.37, 4 R Cain (Menai) 18.45, 5 S Holt (CB) 19.11, 6 M Parry (CB) 19.32. Team: Colwyn Bay 18.

 Ladies. 1 C Hughes (Menai, U17)  19.09, 2 A Lavender (Osw) 19.37, 3 R Roxburgh (GOGS, L40) 21.32, 4 E Roberts (Menai, U17) 21.48, 5 A Robinson (Tatt) 21.51, 6 C Jones (Osw, L35) 21.55, 7 G Jones (Bro Dys) 22.03, 8 R Pierce (D en) 22.05, 9 G Brown (NWRR) 22.07, 10 M Owen (Dee, U17) 22.15.
Teams. Division 1: Oswestry 52, Eryri 63, Denbigh 68, Menai 137, Bucley 154, Wrexham 187, Colwyn Bay 247. Division 2: GOGS 58, Abergele 119, Prestatyn 122, Bangor Uni 165, Whitchurch 146, Cybi 161, Tattenhall 164, Bro Dysynni 173, West Cheshire 186, NWRR 209, Deeside 210, Shrewsbury 282.

 Masters. L35: 1 Jones, 2 H Evans (Buck) 27.59, 3 L Duddleston (Whit) 23.29. L40: 1 Roxburgh, 2 J Gears (Osw) 23.04, 3 L Morley (Wrex) 23.56. L45: 1 T Lewis-Jones (Eryri) 23.29, 2 H Blair (Eryri) 23.48, 3 H McArthur (GOGS) 24.27. L50: 1 E Collins (Den) 23.35, 2 T Williams (D en) 23.54, 3 J Richards (Abergele) 24.22. L55: 1 A Williams (Eryri) 24.13, 2 S Hancock (Osw) 25.48, 3 G Waring (Prest 26 .06. L60: 1 B Ward (Osw) 28.32, 2 S Richards (Shrew) 43.07, 3 A Byrne (Shrew) 43.42. L65: 1 C Birch (A bergele) 25.53, 2 M Docking (Wrex) 28.40, 3 M Oliver (Eryri) 29.10. L70: 1 B Jones (Bro Dys) 31.04, 2 M Griffiths (Bro Dys) 43.22. L75: M Singleton (CB)  44.34.
 Teams: Oswestry 21, Eryri 27, Denbigh 28, GOGS 33, Buckley 49, Abergele 60, Wrexham 64, Whitchurch 84, Prestatyn 90, Bro Dysynni 171.
 
 AGGREGATE AFTER 2 RACES.
Men, Division 1: Shrewsbury 280, Eryri 391, Bangor Uni 448, Oswestry 473, Buckley 535, Meirionnydd 802, Deeside 830, Tattenhall 1,424. Division 2: Prestatyn 812, Colwyn Bay 822, Telford 833, GOGS 919, Cybi 970, Denbigh 1,034, Whitchurch 1,116, NWRR 1,130, Menai 1,369, Abergele 1,379, Wrecsam Tri 1,529, West Cheshire 1,588, Deestriders 1,725, Bridgnorth 1,895, Aberystwyth 1,901.

 Masters. Buckley 46, Shrewsbury 82, Oswestry 98, Colwyn Bay 171, Eryri 188, Denbigh 196, Meirionnydd 210, GOGS 214, Prestatyn 288, Whitchurch 292, Cybi 306, Wrexham 330, Telford 347.

 Ladies. Division 1: Eryri 93, Denbigh 129, Oswestry 165, Buckley 285, Menai 317, Wrexham 341, Colwyn Bay 427. Division 2: GOGS 108, Prestatyn 224, Cybi 265, Abergele 328, Bangor Uni 379, West Cheshire 404, Deeside 414, NWRR 417, Bro Dysynni 430, Tattenhall 435, Shrewsbury 551.

 Masters. Eryri 37, Denbigh 58, Oswestry 61, GOGS 61, Buckley 94, Wrexham 113, Prestatyn 177.

Bangor Half/10k

DOUBLE WIN FOR ERYRI

The clash with the cross-country at Llandudno was partly responsible for reduced fields in the Bangor 10k and half-marathons, in which Eryri Harriers claimed a double success.

 The half-marathon was won by Brendan Rotherey (M35) in 76.26, almost three minutes clear of runner-up Ken Caulkett (Abeystwyth), who clocked 79.16. First lady home was Suzy Wallace in 1-47.35.

 In the  10k Eryri's Russell Bentley was first in 32.37, with former Bro Dysynni member Alun Williams second in 33.58 and Gareth Williams (Mercia) third in 34.59.

 The women's title went to Suzy Cumming (L40), with a time of 43.55, with Betsi's Runaways Hannah Jones and Katy Nelson both recording 45.33 behind her.

 Full results are on the TDL Events website.