News Report 12th November 2007

 

Ideal conditions greeted the 80 or so competitors who gathered in Llanfachreth, near Dolgellau, last Saturday afternoon for the 5th running of the Rhobell Fawr Fell Race & accompanying 2-mile shorter fell race.

 

The main race, which included a stiff 1,900 foot ascent over the event distance of 6 miles, attracted 67 competitors for a race which was also the first of the three events which constitute the Meirionnydd Winter Race Series. The event attracted athletes from far and wide, although there were a pleasingly high number of competitors representing either of the two local athletic clubs, namely Bro Dysynni A.C. and Meirionnydd Running Club. It was from one of these two local clubs that the race winner emerged as Steve Gilliland of Tywyn continued his fine record in this event to claim victory in a time 51.41mins. Victory was particularly sweet for the Bro Dysynni athlete as in his 4 previous attempts at this race, he had achieved finishing positions of 2nd, 4th, 3rd & 2nd without having actually tasted overall success. In addition to overall victory, there was also the added bonus of age category success in the Male Over-40 section. Victorious in the ladies race was Sarah Kleeman of Eryri Harriers who, despite an ankle injury obtained during the event, came home in 58.38mins, a time good enough to claim an overall 8th place finish.

 

Amongst the numerous local athletes who impressed were Dave Whittey of Llanelltyd, the first of the strong Meirionnydd Running Club contingent to finish in a time of 1hr 02.30mins. Following in was Glyn Lewis of Tywyn, the Bro Dysynni athlete pleased with his exertions which resulted in a finishing time of 1hr 05.53mins, with Frankie Vaughan of Corris also impressing with a finishing time of 1hr 10.32mins. A mere 13 seconds seperated the next four Meirionnydd Running Club athletes as Pete Nicholls of Llanfachreth, John Smith of Dolgellau, Kevin Evans of Brithdir & Nich Bradley of Dolgellau posted respective finishing times of 1hr 13.15mins, 1hr 13.17mins, 1hr 13.26mins & 1hr 13.28mins. The ever reliable Bob Chilton of Hermon was the 3rd Bro Dysynni finisher in a time of 1hr 17.47mins with Andrea Edwards of Brithdir and Jaspa Wynne-Williams of Dolgellau following in 1hr 20.06mins and 1hr 22.34mins. In her first attempt at the race, Debbie Evans of Tywyn achieved a commendable finishing time of 1hr 23.07mins ahead of Victor Gretton of Meirionnydd Running Club who followed in 1hr 35.43mins. Completing the local turn-out was Tracey Evans of Brithdir, home in 1hr 42.35mins and Marit Evans of Dolgellau who followed in 1hr 47.21mins.

 

The two-mile shorter race attracted a smaller, but no less enthusiastic field, with overall victory being claimed by 9 year old Danny Evans of Brithdir in a time of 20.38mins, whilst 9 year old Bergitte Evans of Dolgellau led home the girls section as she crossed the line in an excellent time of 21.57mins.

 

As ever with a local fell race, the race organisers expressed their gratitude to the local landowners over whose land the race crossed, as well as to the many volunteers, to numerous to mention, who gave up their time to make the race an ongoing success.