News Report 6^th July 2008

'Pictured after their recent success at the BMAF Championship 10k Race are the Bro Dysynni AC trio of (from left to right) Brenda Jones, Marj Griffiths & Sheila Symonds.'

A trio of veteran female competitors from Bro Dysynni A.C. have recently continued their amazing recent run of success in both Welsh and U.K. National Championship events.

The trio of Brenda Jones of Llanelltyd, Marj Griffiths of Aberystwyth and Sheila Symonds of Dolgellau recently headed to Loughborough to take part in the Prestwold Hall 10k, a road race which also incorporated the British Masters Athletics Federation 10k Championships. Pride of place on the day went to the oldest of the trio, namely Sheila Symonds who gained championship gold in the Female Over-75 category, as she came home in an outstanding time of 77.06mins. Claiming runners-up spot and championship silver in the Female Over-65 section was Brenda Jones in a time of 51.53mins whilst Marj Griffiths claimed 5th position in the Female Over-60 category in a time of 59.19mins. To top off an outstanding day, the trio were also successful in claiming overall victory in the Female Over-55 team event, which in turn resulted in additional championship medals.

The previous weekend had also proven to be highly successful for Marj Griffiths as she claimed Female Over-60 category victory at the U.K. & Welsh Masters Trail Running Championships which were held as part of the 'Sialens Y Barcud Coch' event held at Ponterwyd, near Aberystwyth. Championship gold was attained by completing the 11 mile multi-terrain event in a time of 2hrs 25.10mins.

Last Saturday saw the annual running of Ras Foel Gocyn, a 4 mile hill race held as part of the Bryncrug Carnival festivities. Claiming victory at the event, for the fourth occasion in the last five years, was Steve Gilliland of Tywyn, the Dysynni athlete completing the event in a time of 28.39mins. Pushing him hard was Dewi Roberts of Blaenau Ffestiniog who came home in the runners up spot in a time of 31.00mins whilst Glyn Lewis of Bryncrug utilised local knowledge to claim an overall 4th placed finish in a time of 33.24mins, a time which also claimed age category victory in the Male Over-45 section. Also achieving age category victory, this time in the Male Over-55 section, was Richard Griffiths of Tywyn, home in 36.54mins. He in turn was followed by the first two junior finishers, namely 13 year-old Dion Roberts of Blaenau Ffestiniog and 10 year-old George Richards of Tywyn who finished in respective times of 37.49mins and 38.20mins. Victory in the female event was claimed by Fran Gressler of Tywyn in a time of 54.09mins whilst a special cheer was reserved for two of the elder athletes competing. Fresh from her success at Loughborough, Sheila Symonds proved adept at hill running, finishing the event in 62.20mins whilst the ever-green Tom Evans of Tywyn continues to amaze as, in his 86th year, he managed to complete the tough event in an outstanding time of 90.49mins. 

Two of the Foel Gocyn event organisers, namely Eirlys Griffiths of Tywyn and Helen Williams of Aberdyfi, made up part of a strong contingent of athletes from Bro Dysynni who recently completed the Race For Life 5k event held in Aberystwyth. Making up the rest of the team were Rhian Jones and Helen Mole of Aberdyfi, Ann Lewis of Abergynolwyn, Clare Horton and Debbie Evans of Tywyn and Marj Griffiths of Aberystwyth.

Two athletes from Bro Dysynni were also in action at the Ras Y Felinheli 10k event last week. Claiming an 8th placed finish out of a field of 283 was Dewi Roberts, home in 36.26mins, whilst Malcolm Taylor of Criccieth followed in a time of 51.43mins.

There is local action tonight (Thursday) as Llanystumdwy plays host to the Lloyd George 5k event and affiliated junior race.The junior race is due off from Llanystumdwy school at 6.00pm with the 5k event following at 6.30pm. A race poster giving further details of the event can be downloaded from www.brodysynniac.co.uk

A.Unwin