Richards shows steel in tough event

ABERGELE Harriers vice-captain Jeni Richards travelled to the Lake District to compete in this year’s Ultimate Trails Challenge.

The race is a 55.47 km ultra-marathon, starting and finishing in Ambleside.

It is run along well-marked and marshalled footpaths with very steep ascents and difficult rocky descents, sections of bog, grass, stony paths, tarmac and bridleways.

The total ascent in the race amounts to 1,763 metres.

Despite all these challenges Richards completed in seven hours 54minutes 52 seconds to be the fifth women finisher.

Last Sunday three Harriers tackled RunFest Wales, held in Rhyl in sunny but very blustery conditions.

Diane Jones clocked an excellent 2:10:30 (chip 2:10:15) in the half marathon for 23rd lady overall and third FV40.

Martyn Barnaby completed the 10k in 47:55 (chip 46:46) for 35th male overall and eighth MV40.

The ever-consistent Chris Birch won her FV65 category, and was fourth lady overall in the 5km race in 23:17 (chip 23:16).

Last Tuesday saw Abergele Mysteruns John Humphries and Richard Borne take part in the final race of the Joe Brown Midweek Series at Llanberis.

Borne recorded a brilliant time of 17 minutes and 50 seconds, Humphries clocking 19.14.

Last Saturday Borne finished the very tough Foel Fras 12-mile fell race in two hours and 20 minutes.

The following day Borne and Humphries took on the Moel-y-Gamelin 10-mile fell race.

Strong winds and heavy rain in the first three miles made it tough for the runners, who faced climbs of some 3,000ft.

Borne posted a time of 1-44 and Humphries did 1-45.

In last Sunday’s Rhyl Half Marathon, Jeremy Bright finished in a fine one hour and 50 minutes.

Bright’s wife Vanessa took part in the 10k with her sister, registering times of 1-09 and 1-07 respectively, between them raising more than £2,500 for prostate cancer.