News Report 12th February 2006

Windy conditions greeted the bumper field of 451 athletes who lined up on Llandudno Promenade last Sunday lunchtime for the start of the Nick Beer 10k race which included an arduous climb up and around the Great Orme before heading back into Llandudno for the race finish.

A dozen local athletes were amongst the field, and in a race won by Birchfield Harriers athlete Robert Deakin in a time of 33.06mins, the first local finisher, claiming an 11th place finish overall, was Steve Gilliland of Tywyn in a time of 36.00mins which also claimed 3rd place in the male over-40 category. The next local finisher also claimed an age category placing as Tony Hodgson of Llanelltyd came home in 2nd place in the male over-55 group in a tremendous time of 40.02mins. Strength shown in the climb of the Great Orme resulted in a strong finishing position for Gwyn Jones of Pwllheli as he crossed the line in 42.30mins, he in turn was followed by Malcolm Taylor of Criccieth in 46.14mins. A titanic battle ensued behind the Dwyfor based runner as Hermon athlete Bob Chilton gained a long awaited victory over Nick Bradley of Dolgellau in respective times of 46.35mins and 46.44mins. Arguably the best local performance of the day came from Sheila Jones of Pwllheli who claimed victory in the female over-45 category in 48.59mins. Up-and-coming athlete Robert Thomas of Llanelltyd was next to finish in 50.08mins, whilst the next two local finishers both claimed age category success. The first of the duo home was Barrie Jackson of Bala, claiming victory in the male over-65 group in 50.29mins whilst Brenda Jones of Llanelltyd also claimed victory, this time in the female over-60 category in a time of 50.55mins. There was another consistent performance from Marit Evans of Dolgellau crossing the line in 53.04mins whilst the local contingent were completed by the evergreen Sheila Symonds of Dolgellau, home in 1hr 17.06mins. The good local turnout ensured a sixth place finish for the Bro Dysynni ladies in their team event whilst their male counterparts claimed tenth place in the mens team event.

These team placings were also broadly mirrored in the final league standings of the Majestic Travel North Wales Cross Country League. After a strong season, the ladies team narrowly missed out on promotion claiming 3rd place in the 8 teams which made up Division 2, unfortunately only the top 2 teams gained promotion. By and large the mens team struggled to make an impression over the 5 fixtures which make up the season, eventually claiming 9th place in the 12 team 2nd Division. Whereas team success eluded Dysynni over the season, 3 individual athletes were recognised in the end of season awards. Brenda Jones of Llanelltyd claimed victory in the female over-60 category over the course of the 5 races whilst there were runners-up spots for Barrie Jackson of Bala in the male over-65 category with Marjorie Griffiths of Aberystwyth ensured double success for Dysynni in the female over-60 group claiming 2nd behind her close rival, Brenda Jones.

There is local action this coming Saturday morning with the first of the 3 races which make up the Rhinog Race series. The first fixture is the tough Y Llethr 'Mountain Lamb' Race. In a race which measures 14.25mile and includes a climb to the highest peak in the Rhinog Range, competitors will need to climb an overall 2448 feet to the summit before heading back into Llanbedr. The race starts outside the Victoria Inn in Llanbedr at 11.00a.m. with the first finishers expected back in the village around 1.00p.m. Entries for the race will, as ever, be accepted on the day.

A.Unwin