News Report 2nd February
2008
With the
potential bad weather forecast occupying the minds of the race organisers,
there was relief all round as ideal conditions greeted the athletes who
gathered in Abergynolwyn last Saturday afternoon to take part in the 5th
annual Tarren Hendre Fell Race.
A total of
65 athletes lined up outside the Railway Inn at 12.00Noon to take on the
tough 6 mile challenge which included a total 2,000 feet of climbing. As ever,
a fair percentage of those taking part were affiliated to either
the host club, Meirionnydd R.C., or Bro Dysynni A.C., and indeed it was
the latter who had the satisfaction of providing the overall race winner. This
came in the guise of Steve Gilliland of Tywyn, who claimed a long overdue victory
in a race in which he has achieved previous finishing positions of 3rd, 3rd,
5th & 7th. It was a case of 5th time lucky as the Dysynni veteran claimed a
relatively comfortable victory, finishing 54 seconds in front of his nearest
competitor in a time of 52.35mins. Indeed, the time achieved also broke the
existing Male Over-40 age category record for the race. Victory in the
ladies race was also relatively comfortable, as Sarah
Ridgway of Eryri Harriers claimed an 11th place overall finish in a time of 58.30mins,
a whole minute and a half ahead of the next female finisher.
The local
finishers then followed thick and fast with Frankie Vaughan of the
host Meirionnydd club leading home the charge, just pipping Hugo Iffla of Tywyn
in respective times of 1hr 09.39mins and 1hr 09.47mins. Llanelltyd athlete,
Dave Whittey, followed in 1hr 11.32mins with Bro Dysynni veteran, Richard
Griffiths of Tywyn, next home in 1hr 12.04mins. A trio of Meirionnydd
Running Club athletes followed as Nich Bradley & Juliet Edwards, both of
Dolgellau, and Kevin Evans of Brithdir came home in respective times of 1hr
14.47mins, 1hr 16.07mins & 1hr 16.35mins whilst they in turn were
followed by the Bro Dysynni pairing of
In addition
to the Male Over-40 age category being felled by Steve Gilliland, two
other age records were broken on the day as Chris Taylor (Mercia A.C.) claimed
the Male Over-50 title in 57.13mins and Maggie Oliver (Eryri Harriers)
obliterated the Female Over-60 record as she came home in a fantastic time of
1hr 16.52mins.
There was
double success for Brithdir in the junior event as Danny and Cara Evans were
1st boy and 1st girl home in respective times of 15.58mins and 16.22mins.
As ever,
the race organisers were extremely grateful to those who had given of their freetime
on the day to help make the race an ongoing success story, as well as to
the kind support of the Railway Inn in Abergynolwyn, who proved to be fantastic
hosts on the day.
~
Arrangements are currently ongoing in relation to the 9th consecutive annual
visit for local athletes to take part in the 20th International Club La Santa
Running Challenge, held on the
A.Unwin