Birch heads the FV65s at Northop

THREE Abergele Harriers featured in the North Wales Cross-Country Championships at Glyndŵr University in Northop.

It was the 60th staging of the men’s championship and a 39th running for the ladies.

The ladies ran one small and two large laps of the undulating course with Chris Birch winning the ladies FV65 section in 29.08.

The men had to tackle four large laps, Mark Mayers clocking 38.27 and Darren Battersby 41.46.

Also last Saturday, Harrier Dave Edwards ran the Buff Winter Trail Wales Half Marathon across the trails and tracks of Coed y Brenin in the Snowdonia National Park.

He finished 275th in 2:40.09 (chip time: 2:39.41).

Harrier Grahame Shone completed the Las Palmas 10km in Gran Canaria in 45.42.

Three North Wales Road Runners Club members took part in the challenging Winter Trail Wales Half Marathon in Coed-y-Brenin, which contained just under 2,000 feet of climbing.

Darren Griss finished in 2: 01.43, Jon Evans 2:06.20 and Lesley Goodson 2:26.03.

Chris Yorke won the Conwy Park run by over 30 seconds, crossing the line in 18.05.

Also making the top 20 were Lewis Cox (20.58), Iwan Evans (21.09), Richard Scamans (21.32) and Mike Thelwell (21.52).

Other times: Mandy Owen 27.29, Graham Jones 27.47 and Josie Davies 28.19, all finishing in the top-half of the 172-strong field.

Last Friday saw five Mysteruns of Abergele visit Coed Llandegla to take part in the last in the series of three Dash in the Dark races.

The Mysteruns lined up in one of the biggest fields yet of over 190 runners.

Conditions underfoot were very icy and very muddy, making it inevitable that times would be affected.

Leading the Mysteruns home was Richard Borne, 19th overall in 33.04.

John Humphries was 65th in 39.12, while Richard Marriott, who is improving in every race, posted 40.15 and came 68th.

Lucy Marriott ran with Sharon Marriott, who is seven months pregnant, and they clocked 57.59 and 58.02 respectively, finishing 150th and 151st.