Harriers tackle Welsh Castles
ABERGELE Harriers were among the 65 teams from across the UK taking part in the 33rd Welsh Castles Relay.
Starting from Caernarfon Castle on the Saturday morning of June 6 and finishing in Cardiff Castle on the following afternoon, competitors ran 211 miles over 20 stages of between 7.7 and 13.1 miles.
John Jones led the team off from Caernarfon Castle to run the 9.1 miles of the first stage to Penygroes in one hour, 12 minutes and 52 seconds (30th).
Darren Battersby ran the 10.7 mile second leg to Criccieth in 1–18.09 (32nd) with Nick Foden taking on the 12.3m mountain stage to Maentwrog, finishing in 1–29.43 (40th).
Vinnie Wickham completed his 9.5 mile stage to Harlech Castle in 1–18.02 (46th) with Lucy Curtis running 9.6m into Barmouth in 1–22.25 (53rd).
Meinir Hughes ended her 10.7 miles into Dolgellau in 1–31.52 (58th), followed by Pete Mould, who did the 9.5m mountain stage to Dinas Mawddwy in 1–11.39 (46th).
Anthony Howe tackled the 10.8m trek to Foel, finishing in 1–24.02 (51st) while Graham Arden completed the 8.5m to Llanfair Caereinion in 1–15,52 (61st).
The final leg of day one saw James Salt come home at the end of the 13.1 m mountain stage into Newtown in 1–33.12 (42nd).
Ben Lightowler ran the first leg of the second day, completing the 12.3 mile mountain stage from Newtown to Llanbadarn Fynydd in 1–15.59 (8th).
Martyn Barnaby ran 11.2 miles into Crossgates in 1–25.40 (47th), followed by Rachel Shipley covering 10.6m into Builth Wells in 1–21.25 (43rd).
Darren Blazier took on the 10.8m mountain stage to the Drovers Arms, reaching the finish in 1–11.27 (25th), with Amy Owen-Jones running 12.8 miles to Brecon in 1–35.47 (41st).
Jodi Waters ran the final mountain stage of the relay to Beacons Reservoir, completing the 8.8 miles in 1–00.02 (18th), then Dave Edwards performed the next 9.2m test to Merthyr in 1–21.03s (54th).
Andy McDonald took on the 9.1 mile stage into Abercynon and despite a brave effort to complete the run was forced to withdraw en route due to injury.
Sarah Edward ran the 7.7 mile penultimate leg to Caerphilly Castle in 1–12.44 (63rd) with Mark Mayers rounding off the 10.7m final stage from Caerphilly Castle to Cardiff Castle in 1–11.34 (41st).
The team finished in 50th position overall and 20th over the mountain stages.
Three Abergele Harriers took part in the Liverpool Rock and Roll Marathon/ Half Marathon on Sunday.
In the marathon, Sean McCormack completed the tough undulating course in an excellent three hours, 15 minutes and 36 seconds, followed by Dave Edwards in 4–58.06.
Amy Owen-Jones finished the half marathon in 1–42.37.
Just a week after taking part in the challenging Welsh 1000 metres race, Mark Davies of the North Wales Road Runners Club was back in the hills again, taking part in the Vegan Welsh 3000s.
This event involved 14,000 of ascent and taking in all the Welsh mountains over 3,000 feet and Crib Goch in 32 testing miles.
Davies had an excellent run to finish a fine sixth in just over nine hours.
Also last Saturday, three club members took part in the Dysynni Trail Fest 10k, with all of the trio coming away with prizes.
Kay Hatton (46.40) was the first lady to finish and Cheryl Frost (49.01) was third, whilst John Hatton (1-04.03) topped his new age category.
In the latest Saturday Conwy Parkrun 5k event, there were top four category placings for Konrad Roberts (20.33), Gemma Brown (21.13), Andrew Archer (21.40-PB) and Darren Griss (22.03).
Last Sunday, four NWRRC members travelled to Liverpool to take part in the Rock n Roll half and full marathons.
Jon Evans, who was taking part in his fifth marathon so far this year, had another good run, finishing in three hours, 37 minutes and 53 seconds.
Tackling the half marathon were Dean Allison (1-34.33), Mandy Owen (2-07.51) and Josie Davies (2-16.24).
Competing in the latest episode of the Tuesday Evening Fell Race series, Y Garn, were James Wan (34.09), Paula Roberts (53.47) and Natalie Hughes (53.47).
On Tuesday of last week, Abergele Mysteruns off-road duo Richard Borne and John Humphries jumped straight back into action only three days after completing the arduous Welsh 1,000 metres peaks event.
The pair took on Y Garn fell race, which started from Rhyd Ddu.
The runners faced an ascent of nearly 1,400ft in just one mile. Once again the conditions were good for this race.
Borne led the local pair home again in a time of 36.54, while Humphries was not too far behind in a commendable 38.24.