News Report 8th June 2009

A team of five athletes from Bro Dysynni A.C. recently ventured to Rhyl for the North Wales 5k Road Running Championships which were incorporated within the Rhyl Sun Centre 5k event. The trip proved fruitful as two of the five athletes returned home with age category victory within the championships. 

The first of the pentad home, as well as the first North Wales champion was Brenda Jones of Llanelltyd, whose time of 26.44mins captured the Female Over-65 category. Barrie Jackson of Bala followed in 27.50mins with Malcolm Taylor of Criccieth hot on his heels, home in a time of 28.05mins. Marit Evans of Dolgellau returned to competitive action after her exertions at the London Marathon, recording a time of 29.27mins on this occasion whilst the group were completed by their 2nd North Wales champion as Sheila Symonds of Dolgellau captured the Female Over-75 category in an outstanding time of 39.13mins.

The New Zealand-based duo of Adrian Bailey and Alun Williams, both formerly of Barmouth, have been putting in the mileage recently, completing over 65 miles between them in two competitive events. The former members of Bro Dysynni A.C. achieved an outstanding one-two at the Gore Half Marathon, a race which also incorporated the Southlands Half Marathon Championships. The race was won by Bailey, covering the 13.1 miles in a course record time of 1hr 13.49mins, with his compatriot following in runners-up spot in 1hr 14.55mins.

A mere week later the duo were in action again at the SBS Christchurch Marathon meeting, with Adrian Bailey completing the full 26.1 mile marathon in a time of 2hrs 36.42mins to claim an overall 6th placed finish, with Alun Williams taking on the half marathon challenge, achieving a finishing time of 1hr 15.05mins which, in turn, claimed an overall 25th placed finish.

Another Bro Dysynni athlete recently continued his lone assault on the longer fell races held within the Principality, as Owen Rees took on the 10 mile Sinclair Steel Ras Y Caerneddau Fell Race based in Bethesda. With the race incorporating 4,200 feet of climbing, a time of 2hrs 01.43mins claimed a satisfying 11th placed finishing postion for the Dysynni fell running specialist.

A.Unwin