DAVIES STORMS TO SUPERB PB
SARN Helen Runing Club have been well represented at a number of recent races.
In Newcastle Emlyn a new 10-mile road race was held over some surprisingly hilly small roads. Organised by Emlyn Runners, the event was a big success and Sarn Helen’s Jane Holmes ran a great time of 2:08:40.
The club had four representatives on the bigger stage of the Cardiff 10k with their two ladies scoring significant PBs. Experienced distance runner Caryl Wyn Davies beat her previous best by a considerable 50 seconds with a time of 40:33, while Liz Pugh ran her best time of 56:44. Teammates and work colleagues George Eadon and Martin Darby finished in 41:47 and 51:16 respectively.
Coed y Brenin, near Dolgellau, is growing in popularity with both cyclists and runners and new events are being added to the calendar each year. On Sunday, September 9, their 10k trail race was held and Sarn Helen’s Dawn Kenwright placed 8th female overall and 1st F60 in 56 minutes. Dylan Lewis made a strong move into first position overall at mile 2 but unfortunately he failed to finish due to a calf strain.
The Lake Vyrnwy half marathon is a firm favourite for those seeking a personal best over 13.1 miles, with its relatively flat and fast course taking runners on the roads around the very scenic lake and was perhaps the reason why a large contingent of 15 Sarn Helen runners headed north to Llanwddyn, near Llanfyllin, on a rainy Sunday morning with great expectation.
A field of almost 1,400 runners left the start in the village and seven Sarn Helen runners recorded PBs.
Simon Hall led a procession of Sarn Helen runners separated by less than five minutes who covered the distance in under 90 minutes. His time of 1:23:57 placed him a very respectable 72nd overall and 42nd in the senior male category. Next home for the club was Glyn Price in 1:24:33, 80th overall and less than two minutes behind the M50 winner, followed by Michael Davies, 87th overall, 10th M45 in 1:25:19; Nigel Davies, 97th overall, 12th M45 in 1:26:36; George Eadon, 117th, 58th senior male in 1:28:10 (PB); Dee Jolly 121st, 5th senior female in 1:28:20 (PB); Caryl Wyn Davies, 127th, 6th senior female in 1:28:43 (PB), Mark Rivers, 130th, 25th M40 in 1:28:46 (PB); Eleri Rivers, 257th, 10th F40 in 1:38:23 (PB); Tony Hall, 276th, 8th M60 in 1:39:25.
Demonstrating her class and taking home the F60 win by over three minutes, Dawn Kenwright finished in 1:42:13, 334th and 1st F60.
Another runner to claim a PB was Mitchell Readwin, who finished in 1:44:36, 392nd and 125th senior male. Donna Davies was 621st and 30th F40 in 1:54:23, Enfys Needham Jones was 648th, 17th F45, in 1:55:29 and Nicola Davies was 939th, 90th senior female in 2:10:46.
Blustery wet conditions greeted some 3,400 runners for the Admiral Swansea Bay 10K on September 16. On the flat and fast course Sion Price produced a spirited run in a strong field despite being plagued with injuries and suffering with tonsilitis; he finished in 34:22 and 15th place. Ken Caulkett ran hard to finish in 36:51 and a very respectable 52nd place to support his wife Jenny, who finished in 52:29, 979th.
At the popular five-mile Ras Beca along the peaks of the Preseli Mountains, eight Sarn Helen runners started but only seven finished as the youngest club member present, Tomos Morgans, made a good start but badly sprained his ankle halfway through.
Sarn’s Felipe Jones placed 1st overall in 37:20, while the ladies’ race was also won by a Sarn runner as Dee Jolly took the title for the third time with a time of 44:45. Glyn Price won the M50 class and placed third overall in 40:57. Simon Hall ran 43:08 to win bronze in the open male class.
Calvin Williams and Huw Price ran 52:46 and 1:00:14, while Lyn Rees, pleased to be again donning the Sarn Helen colours, finished in 1:07:58.