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The Cnicht race, sponsored by Fifth Element in Porthmadog and DJ Fruit and Veg in Criccieth,
took place from Croesor, near Porthmadog.
The weather was cool, showery and windy. Conditions were slippery underfoot. There was
a good turnout as the race was a counter in the Welsh Fell Runners Association North Wales
Series. A minutes silence was held before the race in memory of Gareth Williams who was a
regular participant in north west Wales mountain races.
Andrew Davies was first to the summit but was passed on the rough descent by Sam Smith.
However, when the terrain improved Andrew was able to catch and pass Sam to win in a time of
36 minutes and 48 seconds. Birthday boy, Martin Cliffe (Eryri) won his first race in the
over 40 category in 40.43. The ladies race was won by Jenny Heming of Eryri in 46.04.
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| Tryfan Downhill Dash
Posted on 24 August 2010 by Math Roberts Pics by Alastair
The annual running of one of the most exhilirating of British fell races took place earlier
this Tuesday evening - the Tryfan downhill dash, 1 kilometre with 680 metres of descent......
it's seen as the annual celebration of Mike Blake's astonishing 1990 record of 8 minutes - a
time no one has got near to during the last years, also the ladies record of 13.41 set by Ali
Thomas in the reincarnation year of 2008. This year was going to be slightly different though -
14 runners started on a very damp but clear evening and from the off two of Wales best rough
courses descenders - last years champ Sam Smith and Welsh international Ifan Richards of Meirionnydd
steam rollered downhill. At the base of the rocky scramble Richards led by some 10 seconds a
gap he kept to the base of the scree, along the final grassy run in it seemed as if the Doctor
was to overhaul Richards but not to be as Richards won by 2 seconds in an incredible
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8 minutes and 30 seconds, proof that in better conditions Blake's 1990 record will be beaten.
What was beaten though was Ali Thomas 2008 ladies record, Llanberis' Kat Spinney decimated
the old record by 2 minutes 21 seconds to win the ladies in a superb 11 minutes 20 seconds.
All proceeds went to Ogwen MRT. |
1. Ifan Richards 8.30
2. Sam Smith 8.32
3. Muir Morton 9.00
4. Emlyn Roberts 10.24
5. Martin Cliffe 11.06
6. Kat Spinney 11.20
7. Paul Williams 11.36
8. Mike Blake 12.49
9. Gary Porter-Jones 12.58
10. Matt Fortes 14.46
11. Jeremy Williams 15.20
12. John Joddrell 18.55
13. Jenny Williamson 20.15
14. Ellie Salisbury ????
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| Brecon Beacons Saturday 21st August Results
Amazingly, 45 runners braved the British summer and got some lovely views of the inside of clouds and a free shower courtesy of lots
of rain. Despite this there were some good times and only 1 minute 15 seconds separating the top 3, who stayed together for a lot of the race.
Some good battles down the field, including a sprint finish for the coveted “nearest 4 hrs” prize.
The marshalls were superb, putting up with some horrible conditions. Perhaps we will have some summer next year ?
Tom
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| Sugar Loaf Saturday 14th August Results
A field of 84 runners turned up at Abergavenny Leisure Centre after a few years break
from the Sugar Loaf fell race. A cloudy start to the day soon turned into patches of blue
sky as the runners headed across the sports field and up the road on to the Deri. The
start of the climb saw a few of the leader’s head the wrong way in the ferns, making Martin
Shaw work harder for his race win. With a nice ridge run after the Deri then the sharp
climb on the final ascent, Tom Gibbs (MDC) arrived at the trig first in 36min. He was
shortly followed by Martin Shaw (Mynydd Du) then Hugh Aggleton (MDC). Martin now had a
race on his hands due to his navigational error at the start of the run, he ran an excellent
descent to re-claim his first place in a time of 53.03. Second place went to Tom in 53.57
and third to Hugh in 54.11. Neil Lewis (Mynydd Du) who has also been achieving some good
results recently, finished in 4th place overall, first V40 in 56.23.
The ladies race was also exciting, with the first 2 beating the previous course record.
Helen Marshal (Aberystwyth AC) had a strong run to the top and arrived at the trig in
15th place, 41min. She was closely followed to the summit by Jenny Hemming (Eryri) 42min.
Jenny however had the edge on the descent and won with an impressive new course record of
60.10. Helen was 2nd with a time of 60.37. Joanne Thatcher (Aberystwyth AC) was first V40
in a time of 64.06 and third overall lady.
Thanks to all the Marshals and helpers, see you all next year.
Emma Bayliss
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| Y Garn Saturday 14th August Results
Weather conditions were mostly dry, cool and overcast. The race was won by Sam Smith of Eryri
in a time of 29 minutes and 21 seconds. A group of 4 runners missed out checkpoint 2 at the
bottom of the hill. Martin Cortvriend opted to return to CP2 to complete the course and
consequently finished last in a time of 59.40!
The Junior race was the final counter in the Welsh Fell Runners Association Snowdonia
Junior Series. Award Winners as follows -
Male : U/18 1.Tecwyn Evans (Eryri), U/16 1. Morgan Evans (Menai), 2. Osian Williams (u/a) U/14 1. Gerwyn Roberts (u/a) U/12 1. Mael Evans (u/a) .
Female : U/16 1. Nicola Berry (Stockport), U/14 1. Bronwen Jenkinson (Eryri), U/12 1. Erin Roberts (Menai).
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Run Snowdonia Thursday Night Runs
These runs are for free and have been advertised on the Eryri site but we thought we'd like
to open
them up in case any runners from outside Eryri or
the immediate vicinity fancy attending. I was chatting to a guy recently
from Colwyn Bay who was a fell runner but had never heard of the runs
and is now a regular attender.
Cheers Iain Ridgway
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45 runners took part (and all finished) in this new race from Newfield in Colwyn Bay (with kind permission
from Rydal Penrhos School). The runners enjoyed a variety of terrain through the Pwllycrochan Woods, with
a steady climb up the Nant-y-Glyn valley before turning round and heading back down over open farmland with
views of Conwy, the Great Orme and Colwyn Bay.
First back was Neil Parry in a very impressive time of 49:31, making it two wins in 7 days for the
on-form Clwydian Range Runner. Paul Rowley of Sale Harriers was second home in a time of 51:11.
First in for the ladies was Andrea Rowlands (Eryri) in a time of 57:02 and the second lady home
was Helen MacArthur from Colwyn Bay in a time of just over an hour.
Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a really good spread of tea and cakes. Thanks must go to all the
marshals and helpers who did a fantastic job and to all those that made and donated cakes.
Over £150 was raised for the cancer unit at Glan Clwyd hospital.
Thank you to everyone for coming along on Saturday and for supporting this new race and I
look forward to seeing you all again next year!
Richard Watson
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| Llanthony Show Sat 7th August Results
Llanthony showgoers seemed amused by the record field of 40 seniors and five junior runners weaving their way through
the horseboxes and the beer tent on the way out to the 1,000 ft climb of Hatterall Hill and the Offa's Dyke ridge.
A cool drizzle set in as local 20 year-old Max Murdoch led M40s James Wrench of Brecon and Neil Lewis of Mynydd
Du through the damp bracken and on to the open mountain.
A few places behind another young local athlete Aly Rowell was holding off Lewes
AC's F40 Maria Judd (who having been brought to the show by friends she was staying
with for the weekend, decided that morning that she'd like a run on the Monmouthshire
hills) and Griffithstown's comeback girl Emma Bayliss.
Meanwhile, halfway up the hillside the sound of the starter's pistol releasd the
five juniors from their starting trap by the second ash tree. 14 year-old Charlie
Sapwell (also staying with friends, and up from Kent in his case) and 13 year-old
Sadie Melhuish from the Forest of Dean club led Beatrice, Jo and Indigo in the
traditional chase to get back to the arena before being swallowed by the peloton.
Only Charlie managed to stay away, but Sadie made the tete de la course work hard.
Tony on the loudspeaker kept the spectators informed of the race progress in between
commentary on the gymkhana and the under 15-inch dog race (photo finish between a
whippet and some sort of terrier it looked like), Coming down through the final
fields Max was being rapidly overhauled by Neil, while Maria had also passed Aly on
the descent.
Thanks are due to course markers and marshalls Lou Summers, Mark Harvey, Sue and
Gerry Ashton, all provided free by Chepstow Harriers, and to our Llanthony Show
hosts.
Dick Finch
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Waun Fach Race - 31st July 2010 Results
It was an overcast day with a small chance of rain, but cool for July. The car park was full
and registration busy. With little advertising the organisers (Sue & Gerry Ashton) expected
some 30-40 runners, but 67 were there on the start line.
Waun Fach is the highest peak in the Black Mountains, and the race follows a natural line.
At first you drop to the bottom of the valley, them is the major climb up to the summit via
the ridge to the South West. All is runnable for those at the front, though naturally,
as you drop through the field you see less and less running!
The run across to Pen y Manllwyn was good on the day - not too muddy and yet not too dry.
From here is the favourite section, down the ridge over Y Grib, with clear instructions
to stay on the top of the ridge all the way. The race has its sting in the tail with a
steep grassy climb in full view of the finish team and all the runners better than you!
We had a report of a great sprint up this from Matthew Stott - obviously not trying
hard enough in the earlier sections?
Martin Shaw (Mynydd Du) took the honours, some 20 seconds ahead of Hugh Aggleton (MDC)
and more than a minute clear of Paul Murrin (Chepstow). The course record of 44:21
looks quite tough.
Hats off to Kevin Hagley who broke his wrist in an unlucky fall near the top of
the descent but still managed 14th place - chasing the runner who offered to go and get help!
First lady was Helen Marshall (Aberystwyth AC) with a time of 64:15 followed by Angela
Jones (MDC) at 65:50. Niki Morgan (Chepstow) was third with a time of 69:25.
Team prizes were awarded to Mynydd Du who just beat Chepstow in both categories.
Presentation took place in the garden of the Castle Inn with sunshine and general good cheer.
Thanks to all the people that helped, and the Castle Inn for their warm welcome.
Sue & Gerry Ashton
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Push up the Pincyn Pics by Alastair
Results
From the outset this year, Neil Parry of Clwydian Range Runners was pitched against his regular sparring
partner Jez Brown of Buckley. They were closely pursued by Martin Cliffe and Matt Ward, both of Eryri.
The long, steady drag out of Clocaenog to the foot of Pincyn Llys punished many from a run, to a jog,
to a walk. The climb up the Pincyn punished Jez enough to cause a hamstring to pull. Neil Parry romped
home to an impressive winning time of 45:14 narrowly missing last years winning time though on a
slightly longer course. Probably the best result was that of Willem Van Prooijen who travelled
from his home in The Hague, Holland to run up and down the Welsh hills of Denbighshire.
Sadly Claire Riley of Denbigh Harriers badly cut her leg but dashing heroes John Morris,
Paul Oldfield, Graham McVey and Richard Davies came to her rescue.
Maggie Oliver wins again.
Neil Coppack
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| The Green Green Grass of Home Pics from Alastair
Long Race Results Short Race Results
A race in two parts! Twenty three runners missed the last summit and thereby ran their own race with
Jez Brown (Buckley) and Adam Perry (Pennine) deadheating on the fast downhill finish. Sarah Hammond
of Tattenhall ran with this errant pack to finish first lady on the 'Short Course'.
Completing the full course as described Kean Rowlands of Clwydian Range Runners had a mighty
smile on his face when he received first prize back at the Goldie. The improving Claire Riley
of Denbigh Harriers ran a strong race to take the ladies prize. The forty four runners who
raced the full 5 miles/1800' pleaded for this new route to be retained for next year. The
organiser made his apologies to the assembled finishers, gave out two sets of prizes and
promised more robust flagging for next year!!!
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76 seniors and 11 juniors wanted beer and curly wurlies enough to make this a proper party of puffing
and panting. Before the start Martin Shaw was looking lean and nippy, but Will Horsley also had a spring
in his step, particularly when he found out Mark Palmer was away to run Holme Moss. The juniors mingle
with the rest on the fast run out to the stile, then turn and hurtle back, dodging the trailing grown-ups.
Louis Norton of Brecon AC won by 15 seconds, while Sadie Melhuish just beat Arunn Jones in a sprint finish
for second, also setting a new girls record for the course. When the seniors appeared on the skyline,
two runners were clear - Martin leading Will up the long haul to Corn Du, with a thin group a couple of hundred metres behind. By the summit, Martin had a lead of about 30 seconds, and from the finish we saw him taking his "most cunning" line off Pen y Fan, much further north than the direct descent taken by everyone else. For a while we thought Will might catch him, but Martin's line is obviously a good one, and he powered home in 34:05 with Will still half a minute behind. Paul Murrin certainly took the scenic route, and it was a full 5 minutes later that he crossed the line, holding onto 3rd place despite touring much of South Wales on the way down. Kevin Hagley ran a blistering descent as usual to finish 4th and 1st V40, but the fastest descender of the day was actually Stewart Bellamy, who pulled through from 18th at the summit to 7th at the end, taking 9:28 from top to bottom (note that KA's fastest was 7:05!). Helen Marshall pipped Alice Bedwell in the ladies race, and our prize fund for breaking the records remains unclaimed. As in 2009, MDC packed well to take the team prize.
Thanks to Mike Law on the summit, Tom Harrison at the Tommy Jones obelisk, Colin Cottell and
David McCoy or Corn Du, Martin Wilkerson on the descent, Hartmut and Viviana at the stile, Ricky
and Emma at registration and the finish, and to anyone else we've forgotten. And thanks to the
sponsors Breconshire Brewery and St. Mary’s Bakery, the beer and food for all seemed to go down
well!
More information
Crispin and Naomi
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| Crychan Forest Sun 11th July Results |
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There was a good turnout for the first ever Fell Races run on the Crychan Forest Trails near Llandovery on
11th July. With support from members and friends of the Crychan Forest Association, together with Llandovery
based staff from Forestry Commission Wales, races were provided for all ages, from 6 years old to 80.
Plus cream teas at the finish!
In spite of the short notice, runners came from a wide area, including Exeter, Aberystwyth,
Haverfordwest, plus a couple of passing tourists from Dolgellau! There was a particularly
strong contingent from Lampeter based club Sarn Helen. The winners of the final event
(8 miles/1600 feet), Peter Ryder and Helen Fines, have set challenging times for
runners to aim at in future years. The winner of the short race (4.5 miles/900)
was local farmer Huw Protheroe, encouraged by strong family support!
We hope to see a few more at next year's event - children welcome!
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| Moel Siabod Sat 17th July
Results Pics from Pete Macmillen and more pics from Alastair and Peter Douglas are on
www.prdouglas.co.uk and www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk respectively.
Tim Davies descending
Numbers were up by 50% this year as the race was a counter in the inov-8 /
WFRA Open /Welsh Championships and North Wales Series. After a wet morning
the rain cleared and it was dry with sunny intervals for the race. The summit
was clear. There was no run through the river this year as the Carnival had moved to
a different field. Tim Davies won in a time of 46.47. Tim has now won 3 out of the 4
races so far in the Open / Welsh Champs.
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| The Druid 14th July Results
A top class field on a thundery night saw Adam Peers of Liverpool Harriers head off Math Roberts of
Eryri by nearly two minutes. Good to see Wrecsam Tri's Gilbert back on the mountain in third place.
Laura Bestow of West Cheshire confirmed her growing promise regarding fell running by finishing 21st
overall, well ahead of Tattenhall's Sarah Hammond. Glenda Davies of Prestatyn has managed to stay
injury free for some time and was in fine form for third. A record turnout for a swift but tough
little race with solid packing from Tattenhall, Clwydian and Prestatyn..
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Run Rampage is an exciting and brand new 10k extreme cross country - multi terrain event which
is to be held on the SUN 16th of January 2011. The venue is the MOD's Bagshot army barracks on
the D1 and D2 alpine sites, which are their vehicle testing tracks, and as the word alpine
describes, expect some very, VERY steep hills! Our competitors will be challenged both
physically and mentally as we know they wouldn't want it any other way! Uneven terrain,
grade one and two hills, water, and thick muddy bogs you name it, at Run Rampage we have
everything and we throw it at our competitors to test their skills to the extreme!
This event is only for the filthy minded as our runners will be tested, get messy
and love every tough minute of it, so because of this, entrance is only open to
people aged 16+.
For more information on Run Rampage please visit www.runrampage.com
e.mail hello@runrampage.com or tweet us @runrampage.
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TAL Y FAN
Saturday 10 July 2010 Pics from Alastair
Results
The forecast was for intermittent showers, fairing up later, which was fairly accurate, with some
light showers and a reasonable breeze as the runners registered, it immediately improved to sunshine
after whistles were simultaneously blown by the organisers' two small boys. Although hard under foot
around the whole course, due to the lack of rain in recent weeks, the humidity resulted in a
slower race than has been seen in the last couple of years.
James McQueen (Eryri) and Hugh O'Donnell (Ambleside) , closely tracked by Arwel Lewis (Eryri)
and Tristan Gwilym (Caernarfon Rugby Club), led the field of 47 around the 8 mile course from
the Rowen Carnival field, up over Tal y Fan (610m), towards Penmaenmawr and back again.
James (V40) led the way home, finishing in 1hr12-07, nearly 2.5 minutes ahead of Hugh (U40)
(1:14:33) and 3.5 minutes ahead of Arwel (V50) (1:15:22).
Andrea Rowlands (Eryri) won the Ladies race for the third consecutive year in 1:23:51, and the
V60 category was won by Don Williams in 1:27:56.
A big thank you to all of our marshals, especially Sharon on the registration/start & finish.
Helen and Doug Blair
Race Organisers
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