News Report 2nd December 2007

For the 8th year in succession, a team of local athletes affiliated to both Bro Dysynni A.C. and Meirionnydd Running Club headed off to the Canary Island of Lanzarote recently to take part in the 'La Santa Challenge', a series of four races run over consecutive days in various geographical areas of the volcanic island. The four race challenge consisted of the 'Clasica de Lanzarote' 10k road race, a 13k volcanic ridge run, a 5k beach run before the gruelling finale, the 21k 'Vuelta de Tinajo' trans-island run. For the four local athletes who competed in all four events, this meant that they had to cover a total of 51k (just over 30 miles) of competitve racing over a variety of surfaces and terrain over the four days of competition.

Leading home the local quartet who completed all four races was Nich Bradley of Dolgellau whose overall time of 3hrs 56.50mins was just enough to see off his Meirionnydd Running Club team-mate, Frankie Vaughan of Corris, who completed his quartet of races in 4hrs 01.29mins. The two Dysynni athletes who completed the quartet of races followed, as Bob Chilton of Hermon came home in an overall time of 4hrs 11.38mins with a delighted Huw Harrison of Dolgellau following, using the wind to his advantage, as he completed the series in an excellent time of 4hrs 41.41mins.

Another quartet of athletes who made the trip to the sunshine island, also competed in one or more of the four races. Leading the way was Margaret Roberts of Dolgellau who competed in the 10k road race and 13k ridge run, achieving a pleasing overall finishing time of 2hrs 10.35mins. The remaining trio all completed the opening 10k road race before putting their feet up for the rest of their stay as Lanzarote-veteran Graeme Stringer of Llanelltyd came home in 56.05mins, to be followed by his Meirionnydd Running Club team-mates, Sioned Jones of Dolgellau and Joy Parkinson of Arthog who achieved excellent finishing times of 1hr 01.59mins and 1hr 17.39mins respectively.

A.Unwin