News Report 10th September 2006

Five local athletes took on the tough 8.5 mile Source of the Severn race recently, run along the roads and park tracks of the Hafren Forest and Plynliman Fells surrounding Llanidloes. The race also constituted the fifth and final event of the popular Maldwyn Harriers Summer Series of races. Leading home the local quintet on this occasion was Dewi Roberts of Blaenau Ffestiniog, whose time of 1hr 09.04mins ensured 7th place in the race as well as overall victory in the male section of the series in which the best 4 race finishes out of 5 counted. The next local finisher was Jos Jones of Tywyn in 1hr 11.02mins whilst John Marsh of Tarren Hendre followed in 1hr 15.23mins to claim victory on the day in the male over-60 category. The third Tywyn based athlete to finish was Bro Dysynni's Richard Griffiths whose time of 1hr 19.29mins ensured a class victory in the male over-55 section in both the single event as well as the overall series. The local turn out on the day was completed by Marj Griffiths whose time of 1hr 59.52mins ensured a runners up spot over the series in the female over-60 category. Three other athletes who chose not to run in this race were also rewarded with prizes in the overall series through their performances in the first four events. Winning the overall female category was Kate Williams of Aberdyfi whilst Eirlys Griffiths of Tywyn and Helen Williams of Aberdyfi were victorious in the female over-50 and female over-55 categories respectively.

Two athletes from the Meirionnydd Running Club were in 10k action last Sunday, the venue being Sandbach in Cheshire for the Sandbach Super 6 race. The duo were led home by Andrea Goode of Arthog using the race as final preparation for her forthcoming challenge at the World Masters Mountain Running Championships being held in Saillon, Switzerland on the 23rd of this month. The race certainly provided a confidence boost as a time of 44.36mins ensured victory in the female over-35 category as well as third placed female overall. Also finishing well was Frankie Vaughan of Ganllwyd who completed the event in 48.52mins.

Two other local athletes in action recently were Walter Marsh of Tywyn who claimed 2nd place in the male over-55 category at the 10 mile Llyn Brenig multi terrain event. A finishing time of 1hr 08.26mins also ensured a highly creditable 29th placed finish out of the 81 athletes competing in the event. Finally, Gavin Griffiths, originally of Tywyn, now based in Penarth, was in action at the KRUF Cardiff 10k in which he achieved a pleasing finishing time of 52.07mins.

A.Unwin