News Report 7^th April 2008

For Brenda Jones of Llanelltyd, March contained a fortnight to remember as the Bro Dysynni athlete claimed an outright British Championship gold medal and a further silver medal at two of the British Masters Athletic Federation (BMAF) Championship Races.

First up was a trip to Bath to compete in the Nationwide Bath Half-Marathon event, a race which also incorporated the BMAF Half Marathon Championships. Success was gained within the Female Over-65 category as the Dysynni athlete mastered the wet conditions which prevailed on race day, as she finished in a time of 1hr 56.45mins to claim a British Championship Gold Medal to bring back to the Principality.

A fortnight later a trip to Banbury in Oxfordshire was met with equally wet conditions, on this occasion for the BMAF Cross Country Championships. Once again proving adept to the conditions, the Llanelltyd based athlete competed in the Female Over-65 section and completed her said event in a pleasing time of 35.43mins. However, on this occasion, silver medal was the result, as a resurgent Joanna Jay (Bristol & West) led home the age category in a time of 33.37mins.

However, a British Championship Gold & Silver medal gained in such quick succession, merely add to the fine standing of the Bro Dysynni athlete within the field of Masters Athletics within Great Britain.

Another Dysynni veteran athlete in action last weekend was Malcolm Taylor who braved the wind and the snow to head to the Wrexham area to compete in the National Trust Chirk Castle 10k Race. In a race run partly on road and partly over all-terrain, the Criccieth based athlete was pleased to finish the event in an excellent time of 51.02mins.

Finally, Meirionnydd Running Club athlete, Kate Bailey, was the sole locally affiliated competitor at the first of this years Welsh Fell Runners Association Championship Races, namely the Pen Cerrig Calch Fell Race held in Llanbedr near Crickhowell. Once again the weather disturbed proceedings with the race being somewhat controversially shortened to a distance of two miles due to rain and low cloud. However, this may have benefitted the Meirionnydd runner as her time of 18.26mins ensured an overall 2nd placed finish in the ladies race as well as a highly creditable 16th place finish out of the 73 athletes in action on the day.

A.Unwin