N Staffs XC League (1)

WILLIS AND SMITH GET OFF TO GREAT START

Wrexham youngsters Matthew Willis and Christian Smith took up where they left off at the start of last winter's cross-country seasons by winning their respective races in the opening fixture of the North Staffs League at Winsford.

 Last year Christian won the  first race in the U15 class, with Matthew third, but this time Christian moved up to the U17 class. Despite being younger than many of his fellow competitors he ran very well to win, while Matthew looked in great form in winning his race.

 Wrexham and Colwyn Bay AC placings were as follows:-
Boys under 11: 21 Ted Bolton (W), 22 Tom Buckley (W).
 Boys under 13: 18 James Evans (EW).
Boys under 15: 1 Matthew Willis (W).
Men under 17: 1 Christian Smith (W), 11 Sam Sussex (W), 12 Ashley Williams (W).
 Senior men: 8 Darren Rowlands (W), 41 Mike Robbins (W), 71 John Davies (W), 92 Russ Godwin (CB), 118 Neal Jones (CB), 152 Ian Taylor (CB), 163 Chris Williams (CB), 215 Phil Walker (W), 233 Arthur Egan (W), 244 David A Williams (W), 250 Mike H Edwards (W), 251 Shaun Partington (W), 255 Neil Edwards (W), 256 John Tipping (W).
Girls under 13: 15 Yasmine Baker (W).
 Girls under 15: 5 Holly Roberts (CB), 7 Sophie Paxton (W), 26 Lucy Buckley (W).
  Senior ladies: 8 Emma Crowe (W), 35 Abi Backshall (CB), 89 Vicky Ronald (CB), 138 Gill Czismadia (W), 170 Maureen Singleton (CB).

Paul Brooks

BEST WISHES TO PAUL

 I'm sure that everyone connected with the sport in North Wales joins me in sending best wishes to Paul Brooks, hardworking secretary of the North Wales Regional Athletics Council, who was taken to hospital in Wrexham last week suffering from chest pains.

 It appears that Paul had suffered a minor heart attack and he is expected to undergo further tests at Glan Clwyd Hospital tomorrow (Monday, 29th).

 Apart from being regional secretary he fills numerous roles including secretary of the Welsh road-running committee, manager of the North Wales team and race referee, so he will be greatly missed in his absence.

NWP CC Champs

FORCING THE PACE

Members of local running clubs took the honours in the North Wales Police cross-country championships at Bodelwyddan.

 First man home was Craig Jones (Eryri), who is chairman of the Welsh Fell-Runners' Association, while the first woman was Tracey Llewellyn (Cybi). She was followed by Sian Beck (Prestatyn).

Warrington Half

ANOTHER WIN FOR CLIFFE

Liverpool Harrier Daniel Cliffe, winner of last month's Ellesmere 10k, set a new pb of 68.10 in winning the EHM Festival Half-Marathon in Warrington.

 Cliffe, 23, is a student at McNeese State University in Louisana where his Liverpool clubmate Nathan Jones, from Rhyl, is also studying.

 Among other results in the Warrington race were: 17 Neil Robinson (Deestriders) 81.19, 167 Mark Mayers (Abergele) 93.24, 188 Stephen Roberts (Oswestry, 1st M60) 95.25, 207 Gareth Houghton (Buckley) 96.26.

Sutton 10k

LONGLEY HAS BEST WIN YET

The past few months have got better and better for Prestatyn's Dean Longley, with wins in the Deestriders' Off -Road Series, the Llanfair TH 10k and Ras Fawr Llanddoged. 

 But his latest victory in the Sutton 6 10k in Little Sutton took him up several more notches with the bonus of having improved his pb by 80 seconds.

 The race attracted a large number of North Wales runners   and also marked the return to competition after troublesome injuries of Tattenhall's Marilyn Kitching, who was second lady home but had a remarkably fast chip time of 36.05.

 Results: 1 D Longley (Prestatyn) 32.44, 2 S Doyle (Vale Royal, M40) 32.39, 3 T Roberts (Meirionnydd) 32.30, 4 D Rowlands (Wrex, M45) 33.54, 5 G Houghton (Spectrum, M40) 33.45, 6 J Brown (Buckley, M40) 33.45. U20: 1 R McGeachie (Halton and Frodsham) 37.00, 2 B Harrison (Prestatyn) 43.46. M35: 1 R Arden (Tattenhall) 37.34, 2 C Fitzpatrick (Helsby) 37.44, 3 J Cole (Ell Port) 39.30. M45: 2 J Johnson (Wirral) 35.37, 3 G Blackwell (Deeside) 37.54. M50: 1 E Campbell (Buckley) 35.30, 2 G Woolmington 42.00, 3 D Davies (Prestatyn) 40.46. M55: 1 R Freeman (West Chesh) 38.44, 2 I Ainscough (Chester Tri) 41.40, 3 I McNeill (Birkenhead) 41.47. M60: 1 S Owen (Salford) 34.01, 2 R Batterham (West Chesh) 44.00, 3 J Seddon 50.30. M65: 1 R Frost (Wrex) 52.48. M70: 1 J Morris (Buckley) 48.56, 2 K Robson (Manchester Tri) 52.01.  M75: 1 J Park (Cheshire Tally Ho) 48.28. M80: R Billington (Wrex) 63.10.

 Ladies: 1 G Mead (Chester Tri, L50) 37.55, 2 M Kitching (Tattenhall, L45) 40.45, 3 A Grundy (Tattenhall, L35) 41.57, 4 J McHugh (Chester Tri, L40) 41.58, 5 K Forster (Spectrum, L50) 44.22, 6 L Howell (L35) 44.40. L50: 3 D Rutherford (Pensby) 47.06. L55: D Read (Spectrum) 47.38. L60: S Charman (Spectrum) 61.43.

NW Junior Mountain Running

RECORD GOES ON THE ORME

One of the day's youngest competitors set a new course record at the North Wales Junior Mountain-Running Championships on Llandudno's Great Orme.

 Lily Philbin, from Bolton, who was running as a guest, took six seconds off the old record of 3minutes 3 seconds in the under-8 girls' race.

 One of the best races of the day came in the under-12 boys' competition. Tomos Land (Colwyn Bay) and Eden Potter (Ysgol Friars) were shoulder-to-shoulder almost all the way until the former pulled away on the final hill to the finish.

 Results:- Boys. Under 8: 1 D Pye (Ysgol Henblas) 2.51, 2 C Harding (Henblas) 2.55, 3 L Llewelyn (Ysgol Rhoscolyn) 3.21. Under 10: 1 G Soley (Menai) 5.33, 2 T Bolton (Wrexham, guest) 5.39, 3 J Congrove (Penybryn) 6.25, 4 J Cain (Menai) 6.29. Under 12: 1 T Land (Colwyn Bay) 9.38, 2 E Potter (Friars) 9.48, 3 M Spill (Eryri) 10.02. Under 14: 1 S Jones (Menai) 17.31, 2 E Greenland (Tarporley, Guest) 17.46, 3 K Forest (Menai) 18.21, 4 R Finney (Menai) 18.36. Under 16: 1 S Williams (Eryri) 23.32, 2 N Gilland (Menai) 25.12.

 Girls. Under 8: 1 L Philbin (Bolton, Guest) 2.57, 2 K Cain (ua) 3.09, 3 D Ansell (Pen y Bryn) 3.16, 4 J Tomblin (Ysgol y Borth) 3.22. Under 10: 1 G Parkinson (Menai) 5.46, 2 A Parkinson (Menai) 5.52, 3 A McHugh (Newcastle-under-Lyme, Guest) 6.03, 4 E Baines (Eryri) 6.39. Under 12: 1 S Jones (Menai) 10.38, 2 M Philbin (Bolton, Guest) 11.06, 3 J Cain (Menai) 12.28. U14: 1 A McQueen (Eryri) 20.37, 2 H Roberts (Colwyn Bay) 21.03, 3 C Donnelly (Eryri) 21.21.

Northern relays

HULSON PUTS SALE INTO LEAD

Charlie Hulson from Rhosesmor gave Sale Harriers a glimpse of gold at the North of England six-stage road relays at Birchwood Park, Warrington.

 The former Deeside athlete, running the second leg, moved Sale up from third to first with a lap of 18.54 but they slipped back and had to settle for bronze.

 On the same leg Hulson's former Deeside AC clubmate Ricky Challinor also took Liverpool Harriers up two places to 10th in a time of 19.48. On the fourth stage Daniel Cliffe clocked a  speedy 18.30 the day before winning the Warrington half-marathon.

 Running for Sale on the third leg was Bangor University student James Wignall, the current North Wales cross-country league champion. His time was 20.42.

 At the Midland road relays in Sutton Park Paul Ward was Telford's only representative, and he finished ninth on the opening leg.

Trailfest Half-Marathon

GILLING WINS FIRST TRAIL HALF

The long hike to North Wales paid off  for Wells City veteran Jonathan Gilling when he won the inaugural Trailfest half-marathon from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog.

 Though largely downhill the race included some tough climbs through the forests near Rhyd and Penrhyndeudraeth before the finish along the Cob.

 Results: 1 J Gilling (Wells, M40) 1-37.48, 2 K Caulkett (Aberystwyth) 1-38.13, 3 M Byrne (Wrex) 1-38.36, 4 G Armstrong 1-40.21, 5 D Griffiths 1-41.36, 6 D Collister 1-45.19. M40: 2 D Roberts (Bro Dysynni) 1-45.23, 3 S Barkley (Osw) 1-47.27. M50: 1 A Lewis (Eryri) 1-47.54, 2 J Taylor (Meirionnydd) 1-59.58, 3 G Griffiths (Eryri) n2-00.47. M60: 1 R Long (Serpentine) 2-22.35, 2 D Game (Mid-Essex) 2-22.50, 3 S Colwill 2-44.24. M70: I Roberts (Eryri) 3-19.23.
 
 Ladies: 1 Z McLennan (Chester Tri) 1-50.32, 2 E Gruffyth (Aberystwyth, L40) 1-58.46, 3 R Probert (L40) 1-59.34, 4 S Mela (Aberystwyth) 2-08.45, 5 A Jones (Cerist Tri) 2-15.24, 6 C Vaughan 2-16.19. L40: 3 T James 2-18.22. L50: 1 G Evans (Shrews) 2-18.48, 2 J Penrhyn-Jones (Prestatyn) 2-24.41, 3 C Williams (Canicross) 2-26.57. L60: 1 V Edwards 2-20.20, 2 A Edwards (Cerist) 2-29.40, 3 A Passmore 2-44.02.L70: B Jones (Bro Dys) 2-49.44.

No Marsh Tracks

NO MARSH TRACKS RACE

Despite what appears on the Welsh Athletics website and in Athletics Weekly there is no Marsh Tracks 5k race in Rhyl on September 28. WA appear to have assumed that it would be on the same date as past year.

 It is possible - only possible - that another three-race series will be held on the circuit early in the New Year though that is a very busy time for the host club, Prestatyn RC, who have a Borders League fixture, are organising the BMAF cross-country championships in Ruthin and are involved in the Welsh championships in Rhug, Corwen.

Swansea Bay 10k

WELSH DEBUT FOR PRIOR

Chris Prior, who recently switched allegiance from the North West of England to Wales, will make his debut in the red vest next weekend.

 The Salford Harrier, who hails from Prestatyn, is in the Welsh team for the inter-area match which forms part of the Admiral Swansea Bay 10k on Sunday.

 While a member of Chester Tri Club Prior, who was a more than useful fast bowler for Prestatyn Cricket Club, turned in some fine results in road races, including victory in the Helena Tipping 10k in Wrexham.

 The only other North Walian in the Welsh squad for Swansea is Wrexham's in-form veteran Emma Crowe.

Parkruns

TWO PARKRUNS LINED UP

Parkruns have been among the success stories throughout Britain over the past couple of years, with thousands turning out for the 5k events every Saturday morning.

 Until now North Wales has been one of the few regions without a Parkrun of its own. That, however, is about to change with two events lined up.

 Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, will be one of the venues while local clubs are also hoping to hold weekly sessions along the cycle  path at Deganwy.

 Entry to the events is free and in other parts of the country they attract not only beginners but serious athletes who aim to improve their 5k times each week.

 Organising the weekly events is a huge commitment but as they catch on it is hoped that they become self-sustainable as more volunteers come forward.

Police 10-mile champs

NORTH WALES TOP OF THE COPS

The long trip to Devon paid off for the North Wales Police ladies' team when they won the award for small Forces at the Police Sport UK national 10-mile road championships.

 The quartet, which finished fourth overall, comprised Sian Beck (Prestatyn RC, 3rd L35), Tracey Llewellyn (Cybi), Carol Coole (Chester Tri, 3rd L50) and Kirstin McBeth.

Eryri 50

PARKINSON WINS NEW ULTRA

The Pedol Peris may be regarded as one of Snowdonia's toughest races but while competitors were taking part in that event a small group of runners took on an even tougher challenge.

 Seven competitors lined up for the  inaugural 58.5-mile Eryri 50 race which involved almost 9,000 feet of climbing in total.

 From the start in  Betws y Coed the tour took in Dolwyddelan, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Croesor, Beddgelert, Rhyd Ddu, Llanberis, the Nant Ffrancon valley and Capel Curig before returning to Betws.

 Mark Liptrot (St Helens Sutton) took an early lead , followed by the Eryri pair of Gwyn Owen and John Parkinson. Owen moved ahead on the climb from Rhyd Ddu to Maesgwm and it was not until the final descent from Plas y Brenin to Betws that the veteran Parkinson overtook him.

 He held on to finish in 10 hours 33 minutes, with Owen four minutes behind. The first lady home, in 13 hours 34 minutes, was Sarah Thomson (unattached), and the final competitor crossed the line after 20 hours 44 minutes, finishing at 3.15am.

Awyr Las 5k

AWYR LAS 5K

Teenager John Spill transferred his mountain form to the more lev el terrain of the grounds of Plas Newydd to win the first Awyr Las 5k. He finished well clear of Eryri newcomer James Stack.

 Sian Beck (Prestatyn) also won the ladies' title by a comfortable margin, nominating the children's ward at Glan Clwyd Hospital as the recipient of her £500 charity prize.

 Results: 1 J Spill Eryri, U20) 17.27, 2 J Stack (Eryri) 18.08, 3 B Butler (Bangor Uni) 18.14, 4 R Cain (Menai, U20) 18.18, 5 C Yorke (NWRR, M35) 18.24, 6 A Kerr  18.24. M35: 2 G Jones 19.51, 3 G Porter-Jones (Eryri) 20.27. M50: 1 P Cain 20.13, 2 A Wager (Eryri) 21.18, 3 N Holmes (Cybi) 22.09. M60: 1 G Shone (Abergele) 23.21, 2 B Robbins (Eryri) 23.44, 3 H Roberts 30.07. Ladies: 1 S Beck (Prestatyn, L35) 22.06, 2 N Wright-Morgan (L35) 23.04, 3 E Gruber (Cybi) 23.10, 4 L Jones (Betsi's Runaways (U20) 23.21, 4 N Gwynne (L35) 23.27. SL: 2 H Turner (Eryri) 24.06, 3 F Hares 25.38. L50: D Claridge 23.41, 2 M Oliver (Eryri) 28.20, 3 L Brookes 29.08.

Ras Fawr Llanddoged

WEEKEND DOUBLE FOR DEAN

Less than 48 hours after his victory in Shotton Prestatyn's Dean Longley came  home first again in the 12.5k Ras Fawr Llanddoged in the hills above the Conwy Valley.

 In doing so he not only beat former champions Brendan Rothery and Darren Blazier but recorded the second fastest time for the course, beaten only by GB international and seven-time Snowdon winner Andi Jones.

 It was a " double" for the Prestatyn club, with the much-improved Abbie Cheetham first woman home, slicing over 12 minutes off her previous best for the tough course.

 The team prize went to Abergele Harriers and the award for first North Wales Road Runner to John Ford, who was third overall. First unattached local runner was Tomos Smith.

 Results: 1 D Longley (Prestatyn) 44.25, 2 B Rothery (Eryri) 45.45, 3 J Ford (NWRR, M40) 46.48, 4 D Blazier (Abergele, M40) 50.13, 5 J Waters (Abergele) 51.45, 6 M Fortes (Eryri) 53.48. M40: 3 D Ford (Wrex) 54.50. M50: K Slattery (NWRR) 57.26. M65: T Hill (Cybi) 66.35. Ladies: 1 A Cheetham (Prestatyn) 57.57, 2 E Collins (Denbigh, L45) 60.01, 3 G Brown (NWRR) 62.20, 4 B Law (Eryri) 62.55, 5 K Hatton (NWRR, L45) 67.02, 6 C Frost (NWRR, L45) 69.32.

Wilne 10k

WELSH DOMINATE IN DERBYSHIRE

The Welsh men's team turned in a dominant performance in the Wilne 10k in Derbyshire with five finishers in the first nine.

 The race was won by Tipton's Adrian Holliday in 30.34, but Marc Hobbs (Swansea) and Rob Samuel (Eryri) were third and fourth respectively with the same time of 30.57.

 Carwyn Jones (Swansea) followed in seventh place in 31.26, Michael Kallenberg (Cardiff) eighth in 31.28, Sullivan Smith (Swansea) another two seconds back and Ian Williams (Tipton) 11th in 31.42.

 The first woman home was Jess Coulson (Stockport), with Telford's Claire Martin sixth and  first L40 in  35.53, exactly the same time as North Walian Iwan Jones (Coventry).

Off-Road GP

LONGLEY TAKES TITLE BY A WHISKER

Prestatyn's Dean Longley won the men's title in Deestriders' Off-Road Grand Prix by the narrowest of margins.

 He followed up his win in the third race with another victory in the fourth and final event - and that put him equal on points with Deeside's Lee Jones.

 However, the Prestatyn athlete was judged the overall winner for having the fastest winning time of the series.

Full results to follow.

English U17 Champs

WILLIS TAKES 3,000M GOLD

Two of North Wales's brightest young stars were among the medals at the English under-17s' championships at Bedford.

 In the U15 boys' 3,000m Wrexham Matthew Willis took gold in 9-08.48, almost  10 seconds outside his pb, while Cari Hughes (Menai) was third in the U17 800m in 2-12.05.

 Nathan Thomas (Colwyn Bay) was one of the days' busiest athletes, reaching the finals of three field events. He was fourth in the U17 shot and sixth in both the hammer and discus.

 Other North Wales results included:- Girls U15: Hammer 4 Jade Williams (Wrex). Ladies U17: 8 Abigail Bowers (Oswestry). Men under 17: TJ 4 Thomas Walley (Wrex) 12.97.