Mountain Running News

Just as Lou Beetlestone was starting her fantastic Paddy Buckley round, five Eryri Harriers were starting the prestigious 24 mile Yorkshire 3 peaks race along with 780 other runners. It’s tough underfoot with limestone slabs, some longish flat sections and steep climbs, all made up for with near-perfect weather and fantastic race atmosphere!

Well done all – Eryri was led home by Matthew Fortes in 36^th overall (3h25m, 5^th V40) followed by Richard Roberts in 113^th (3h47m), Sarah Harley (4h7m, 22^nd female), Paul Hodges (4h39m, 449^th) and Ali Thomas (4h47m, 67^th female).

Apologies didn’t get any pics but here’s one at the end before it got too chilly, also with Sian and Dylan from Hebog!

Report: Ras Moel Wnion 2018

For the third year in a row we were blessed with amazing weather (and a dry – and therefore non-lethal- final descent) for the Moel Wnion race. Despite other events in North Wales and a little known road race in London…over 50 runners came out to Ysgol Llanllechid for the race.

The hot weather combined with the race coming just a week after the first British Champs race (and only four days after the most recent of the local Tuesday Night series race) meant that some legs were undoubtedly tired and records would be hard to break. Despite this, strong performances and good contests were on show throughout.

In the men’s race Matt Fortes (Eryri, 42.34) was first across the line followed by Max Dunford (St Davids, 1^st U18, 43.41) and Jonathan Tyler (Betsi Runaways, 44.36). Max was the first to the summit of Moel Wnion, but some good local knowledge from Matt meant that he could catch him up over the last three hills and get down through the Moel Faban gorse the quickest to win the first prize of a leg of Moel Wnion lamb.

In the ladies, Andrea Rowlands (Eryri) also took home some lamb. coming in 1^st (5^th overall, 45.57) followed by Rachub’s own Catherine Connell (Eryri 49.39). However performance of the day came from 16 year old Gwyneth Parry (Deeside, 52.03) to claim 3^rd place and 1^st U18. With Under 18s in the top 3 in both the mens and ladies there are clearly some talented juniors around in North Wales! There were V40 wins for Craig Jones (Eryri, 44.51) and Ellie Robinson (West Chesire, 53.02), with Buckley’s Vic Belshaw and Emma Collins taking the V50 prizes (in 46.18 and 56.16 respectively). In the V70s, John Morris (Buckley, 59.01) took the mens prize with Eryri legend Maggie Oliver (74.26) taking the ladies.

Apparently there were some issues with marshalls not quite being in the right place at the start (I’ll give them some navigation lessons for next year), which might have affected the first few runners, as well as a radio that went missing and was then found…. but alls well that ends well…!

Once again a massive group of people came out in force to support the event. A big thanks to everyone from the school for the food, Bethesda Pottery and Glanmor farm for the prizes, and all the marshalls out on the hill. Big thanks as always to Mike Blake for sweeping.

Photos from the race can be found on the link from the race facebook page at www.facebook.com/rasmoelwnion or from Steve Jeffrey’s pages directlyhttps://www.facebook.com/SteveJefferyPhotography/

See you in 2019

Ross

moel wnion 2018

Moel Lus Fell Race 10/04/2018

Well, what a fantastic evening – 132 senior runners & 36 juniors & some splendid performances. I’m proud that the WFRA chose the Moel Lus race to be part of its N Wales Champs series, & as always, was delighted to have chance to show off ‘my back garden’. So many friends gave their time to help in various ways, & for that, I am most grateful. Most of the shops in Penmaenmawr kindly donated prizes, (thus increasing our donation to mountain rescue at the end of the series), so big thanks to them also. The results are available here: https://www.racetek-live.co.uk/…/publ…/601/complete_results/, but to summarise the highlights:

• Following in the footsteps of older brother John,who won the race outright as an under 16 in 2014, the race was won by 15 year old Michael Spill in 23:37. John went on to run for Great Britain, so watch this space!
• Tom Wood, U18 had a great run to finish 2nd while Gavin ‘Gog’ Roberts was 1st senior man in 3^rd position overall.
• There was a cracking battle in the ladies race, with Catherine Connellholding off Gemma Brown & Sian Lloyd Williams with less than 20 seconds between them all.
• 15 year old Gwyneth Parryin 4^th position took 11 seconds off Bronwen Jenkinson’s 2013 U16 record, & we all know what Bronny has achieved since then, so yet another space to watch!
• 1^st MV40 was Buckley’s Jez Brown, 1^st MV50 Eryri’s Russel Owen, 1^st MV60 Eryri’s Kean Rowlands & 1st MV70 was Buckley’s John Morris.
• 1^st FV40 was Denbigh’s Victoria Whitehead, 1^st FV50 Eryri’s Ali Thomas, 1^st FV60 Denbigh’s Menai Baugh & for the first time ever, we had a FV70 winner in the race, who was Eryri’s ever-on-form Maggie Oliver.
• In the Caernarfon Tyres Juniors races, the U8 wins went to Riley O’Donnell & Esmee Near, the U10’s Ruthin Tri’s Ewan Lenard & Wirral’s Emma Grantham, U12’s Wirral’s Ben Grantham & Deeside’s Maisy Parry & the U14’s Menai’s Dylan Rob & Abbi Parkinson.

Last but not least, big thanks to Adrian Moir of Fabian4/Racetek for all his help & support, & for taking charge of the timing/results, of course to Mike Blake, who puts in more work than anyone as overall coordinator of the series.

Ellie Salisbury

The official race pictures are here (huge thanks to Steve Jeffery): https://www.facebook.com/SteveJefferyPhotography/?hc_ref=ARRJN9MQMcvHZTCV4pumtHJUhQWrVNJs2dACzlDMgwbhmXNmY6s4vGDWY9Def3WDRf4

The Fron 4 has been moved to 16th June.

A great race in wonderful snow conditions. Thanks everyone for supporting it.

A big thanks to the marshals and all at Dolgarrog Community Centre.

Pipe Dream 2018

Clwydian Sheeptracks race
Clear, sunny and windy conditions for great new race!

Matthew Fortes, Martin Cliffe and Sarah Harley all ran in the new Clwydian Sheeptracks race which is tough, undulating and at least 17 miles (+a bit more depending on your route choice). Very clear weather meant visibility was pretty much perfect, but route choice/navigation was still tricky in places and definitely ‘off the beaten track’. Fantastic new race (I have to admit, I just did some walking/cheering and sampled the lovely cakes with my mum and dad – next year hopefully!) and fantastic results with Matthew coming in second overall (1st vet), Martin Cliffe coming in 12th (4th V40) and Sarah coming in 2nd overall lady! Brilliant efforts!
http://www.clwydianfellrace.org/?page_id=1079 – provisional results and photos courtesy of SJ photography/Clwydian sheeptracks photography – thank you