Thrills and spills at Antur ‘Stiniog event
PORTHMADOG Football Club have re-signed former striker Chris Jones from Welsh Premier League side Bangor City.
Jones, 30, spent two seasons at the Traeth between 2008 and 2010 before joining Bangor, where he remained for six campaigns.
A former Wales Under-19 and U20 cap who gained professional experience at Leeds United and AFC Bournemouth before moving to League of Ireland club Limerick, Jones then joined Colwyn Bay and a few months later began his stint in the Welsh Premier League with Caernarfon Town in the 2006/07 season.
Jones then had spells with Llangefni Town and Porthmadog – where he made 75 appearances and scored 13 goals – before a move to Bangor in May 2010.
He went on to feature in 175 WPL matches for the Citizens, scoring 37 goals. In total, he has played in 297 Welsh Premier games and netted 56 times.
Jones was a key member of City’s 2010/11 title-winning squad and notched many important goals for the club, but last season struggled to command a regular place in the starting line-up.
Announcing Jones’ return, delighted Port manager Craig Papirnyk said: “This is a major capture for Port, to bring back Chris who was such an influential player during his previous stint at the Traeth.
“He has naturally attracted lots of attention, and numerous clubs were in contact with him, but his decision has been made and he returns back to Port, a club he respects and knows well.
“Chris will bring experience and quality to our squad as well as adding a real threat in our attacking line. His signature is a clear indication of where we want to be.“
Iolo Hughes also returns to Port on a permanent basis after leaving Bangor City. Hughes, who spent half a season on loan with Port last term, has started a new chapter in his career after being at Bangor from the early stages of youth football.
Papirnyk added: “Iolo has a lot to offer; he started extremely well for us last season and showed he is a very good defender as well as being able to net goals. His winner at Druids is a happy memory for us.
“He then began to pick up some injuries and his performances, as well as the team’s, dropped during those difficult months for us leading up to Christmas. He then returned to Bangor to finish the season.
“Loan players sometimes, but not in all cases, will have their parent club in the back of their mind and this I believe can hold back a player. This time Iolo will come back to Port and be our player from the start.
“This brings a different mentality and I know he wants to prove a lot of people wrong. He has the character to do that and will work hard for us.”
Also joining Porthmadog, from Glantraeth, is Tomos Clarke, a talented 19-year-old central defender.
THE fourth annual Antur Stiniog Dh Ffest was held on the worldfamous ‘Stiniog downhill tracks last weekend, and again did not disappoint the spectators who turned up to watch the action unfold.
Recent changes to the Black Powder run has it running even faster, which made for close racing between the competitors who had travelled from all over the UK to compete.
A dry weekend was a welcome change to last year’s difficult conditions, and although Antur Stiniog is renowned as an all-weather track across the UK, the sunshine was welcomed with open arms by the organisers and competitors as the racing got under way.
First down the mountain were the juvenile class, and Birmingham’s Connor Smith took the win from Blae- nau Ffestiniog local and Antur Stiniog/Purple Moose/Beics Brenin Team rider Elis Roberts by 0.2 of a second, with Harry Lawley finishing third twoseconds behind.
In the youth class the local riders dominated, with Oscar Lennon from Llanrwst triumphant by nine seconds from Blaenau rider Dylan Davies in second and Penmachno’s Osian Webber third.
Senior men was won by Betws y Coed local Mathew Snape with a time of 2.35.75 with Thomos Statham second, just over three seconds behind and Jonathan Oddy crossing the line in third.
The Masters section was won by Manchester’s Dan Partington in 2.38.51 with Kirk Whittle and James Bruton filling the second and third slots respectively.
Topping the veteran men’s class was Mark Croxhall, and in the grand vet category Birmingham’s Mark Taylor took the win from Blaenau local Malc Ellis, and Ffestiniog’s Chris Jones in third.
In the women’s category 15-yearold national champion Rosy Monaghan pocketed first place from last year’s winner Lindsey Hanley five seconds behind, with Ffestiniog’s Derv Corduff in third position.
The top five men in the expert were separated by just over a second, with Birmingham’s Nathan Foster crowned the winner from Antur Stiniog/Purple Moose/Oily Dan rider Iwan Roberts just 0.2 of a second behind and Michael Straw a further 0.10 of a second adrift.
The elite category was a repeat of last year’s podium with Ride IO/ Orange Bikes World Cup rider and Betws y Coed local Emyr Davies claiming the victory, and lifting one of the slate trophies that were donated by local company Welsh Slate Ltd to all winners.
Antur Stiniog/Purple Moose/Oily Dan rider James Hughes, who broke his arm and wrist five weeks ago, came home in second place on his first ride out after the injury.
Next for Antur Stiniog, all eyes go to hosting the Welsh Downhill Championships on site on August 6 and 7.
For anyone who has not seen a downhill mountain-biking event before, Antur Stiniog recommend attending one of their events to get a taste of this exciting, adrenalinefuelled extreme sport.