News Report 11th May 2008

Five local athletes were amongst the 92 competitors who lined up recently at the start of Y Garn Fell Race, a 3 mile event based in Rhyd Ddu, which included 1,500 feet of climbing. In a race won by Dave Taylor (Dark Peak) in a time of 28.17mins, the first of the local athletes home was Steve Gilliland of Tywyn, the Bro Dysynni athlete claiming an overall 7th placed finish in a time of 31.04mins. Continuing her fine recent form was Kate Bailey, the Meirionnydd Running Club athlete claiming runners-up spot in the female section of the race in a time of 34.12mins. Nich Bradley of Dolgellau was the second of the quartet of Meirionnydd Running Club finishers in a time of 43.22mins, with fellow Dolgellau based athlete, Juliet Edwards, following in 45.58mins, whilst Victor Gretton completed the quartet in a time of 51.42mins.

Four Bro Dysynni athletes were also in action last weekend, their chosen event being the Newtown 10k race in Powys. On this occasion, the quartet were led home by Dewi Roberts of Blaenau Ffestiniog, 5th overall in a time of 37.27mins, a time good enough to claim victory in the Male Over-35 category. Criccieth stalwart, Malcolm Taylor followed, claiming age category victory in the Male Over-65 section in a time of 50.57mins whilst Marj Griffiths of Aberystwyth came home in 1hr 01.55mins. The quartet was completed with yet another sterling performance from Sheila Symonds of Dolgellau, as a time of 1hr 30.30mins ensured age category success in the Female Over-75 grouping.

A busy Malcolm Taylor also headed over the border and into Shropshire recently, his chosen venue being Telford for the Schneider 5 Mile race, a finishing time of 39.12mins ensuing. Travelling slightly further than Shropshire was Bro Dysynni veteran Alan Morton whose most recent port of call was Northern Ireland to take part in the Deep River Rock Belfast City Marathon. In a truelly unbelievable performance, the Tywyn based athlete covered the 26.1miles in a time of 4hrs 03.12mins.

Also in action recently, this time competing at the Nant Peris fell race was Adam Haynes of Rhyd, who completed the midweek event in a pleasing time of 35.32mins, claiming an overall 9th place finishers out of the 56 athletes in action on the evening. Also carrying the Haynes family flag recently was son, William, in action on two wheels, his chosen event being the 90k 'Maurice's Memorial Cycling Road Race'. Competing for Clwb Ceffyl Haearn, Haynes junior finished the event in an overall 22nd position, but had the added satisfaction of claiming victory in the junior section of the race. There was an equally impressive performance from Clwb Ceffyl Haearn team-mate, Barry Marples of Penrhyndeudraeth who finished the event in 13th place overall.

A.Unwin