News Report 4^th August 2008

The friendly rivalry which exists between Bro Dysynni AC & Meirionnydd Running Club resulted in good natured banter both before and after the annual Hendre Wallog Off-Road Race which was held in Abergynolwyn last Thursday evening.

With athletes from Bro Dysynni having won the event every year since 2000, it was left to a slim-line Frankie Vaughan of Corris to be the first ever Meirionnydd Running Club member to win the 3 mile event, his winning time being 20.30mins. Indeed, athletes from the Meirionnydd club dominated the event, with Nich Bradley of Dolgellau claiming 3rd place in a time of 21.45mins and Kevin Evans of Brithdir, 4th in a time of 22.05mins. Splitting the Meirionnydd athletes was 11 year old Ed Powl Jones of Bryncrug who won the junior event for the 2nd year in succession as well as claiming overall runners-up spot in 2008 in an excellent finishing time of 21.36mins.

It was another junior who led home the Bro Dysynni contingent as 10 year-old George Richards of Tywyn came home in 22.09mins to be followed by the more senior figure of Richard Griffiths, also of Tywyn, home in 22.25mins. Another of the excellent crop of Dysynni youngsters followed as 11 year old Rhys Roberts came home in 23.43mins with veteran Alan Jones of Bryncrug following in 24.03mins.

The ladies race produced a ding-dong battle between two Dysynni veterans with Brenda Jones of Llanelltyd just pipping Rhian Jones of Tywyn in respective times of 26.06mins & 26.07mins.

Despite hazardous conditions and continuous rain, which resulted in a slight pre-race course alteration, the event still attracted an enthusiastic field of 34 athletes, 20 of whom were classed as juniors, which again augers well for the future of local athletics.

It was very much a family affair recently at the Cardiff Bay 10k for the Griffiths family of Tywyn, all of whom are proud members of Bro Dysynni AC. Father Richard led home the trio at the event in a pleasing time of 46.46mins, son Gavin, now based in Cardiff, followed in 52.04mins whilst mother Eirlys completed the course in an exceptional time of 1hr 20.13mins.

Having won the Hendre Wallog race in Abergynolwyn, the Frankie Vaughan roadshow then headed to Gobowen to compete in the Friday evening running of the Gobowen 5 Mile Road Race. Once again, the Corris based runner led home the four local competitors as he crossed the line in a time of 35.38mins, to be followed by the Dysynni trio of Malcolm Taylor of Criccieth, Barrie Jackson of Bala and Brenda Jones who came home in respective times of 41.16mins, 42.00mins & 42.04mins, the latter having the added satisfaction of victory in the Female Over-65 category of the race.

The sole local competitor at the recent Ras Y Wyddfa was Victor Gretton of Meirionnydd Running Club who completed the gruelling 10 mile course from Llanberis to the peak of Snowdon before returning back to Llanberis in a pleasing time of 2hrs 31.15mins.

Finally, Sheila Jones of Pwllheli was the sole affiliated competitor to either Meirionnydd or Bro Dysynni who took on the 'Ffordd a Ffridd' race challenge held in Aberdaron last week. Having been greeted by mist, high winds and rain, there was still a pleasing finishing time of 1hr 16.04mins for the Bro Dysynni athlete, who, in turn, was the third female finishing to cross the finishing line at the event.

A.Unwin