News Report 15^th November 2009

With the Slaters of Abergele 5 Mile event being chosen as the host venue for the North Wales 5 Mile Road Running Championships recently, 4 of the 8 locally affiliated athletes in action returned home as North Wales Champions in their various age categories. The first of the eight locals home was Tom Roberts of Dolgellau, the Meirionnydd Running Club athlete also victorious in the Male Under-23 category in a finishing time of 31.41mins. His club-mate, Frankie Vaughan of Ganllwyd followed in a time of 35.30mins with Barrie Jackson of Bala following, the Bro Dysynni athlete claiming championship success in the Male Over-70 category in a time of 40.01mins. Three further Bro Dysynni athletes followed in the form of John Tee of Blaenau Ffestiniog, home in a time 41.09mins, Malcolm Taylor of Criccieth in 43.07mins with Brenda Jones of Llanelltyd claiming success in the Female Over-65 category in a time of 43.31mins. The trio of Meirionnydd Running Club athletes in action on the day were completed by Gaenor Smith of Dolgellau in a time of 47.40mins, whilst Sheila Symonds, also of Dolgellau, completed the local turn-out, the Bro Dysynni athlete claiming success in the Female Over-75 category in a superb time of 1hr 07.32mins.

Two of the athletes in action in Abergele returned to the area soon after, in order to compete in the inaugural running of the Conwy Half Marathon, an event starting and finishing at Conwy Castle. On this occasion the duo were led home by Malcolm Taylor who was followed by John Tee, their respective finishing times being 2hrs 01.33mins and 2hrs 03.55mins. Another athlete in action over the 13.1 mile distance recently was Jacqueline Fowler of Trawsfynydd, the Meirionnydd Running Club athlete completing the Cardiff Half Marathon in a pleasing time of 2hrs 08.39mins.

Bridgnorth in Shropshire recently played host to the 2nd fixture of the season of the Grand Prix Express North Wales Cross Country League. A total of 16 local athletes took on the challenges provided by the Oldbury Wells School course, and, as in the 1st fixture of the season, there were a number of impressive local performances on the day. In the Senior Male event, the 7 strong Meirionnydd Running Club squad were led home by club debutant, Darren Cole of Dinas Mawddwy in a time of 35.02mins with Ifan Richards of Brithdir following in 35.30mins. Also producing strong performances were Huw Brassington of Ganllwyd, home in 36.01mins with Oliver Gallop of Dolgellau following in 39.08mins. After his success at Abergele, Tom Roberts produced another sterling effort, home in 39.26mins, with Frankie Vaughan following in 42.54mins. The squad were completed by John D. Smith of Dolgellau in a time of 45.33mins. The fine team effort saw Meirionnydd lying in 3rd place in their division before the 3rd fixture of the season this coming Saturday at the Treborth fields in Bangor. In the Junior Male section, there was another stunning performance by Alex Lantz of Dolgellau, claiming section victory in a time of 17.53mins.

In the Ladies Race, the local contingent were led home by Andrea Vaughan of Ganllwyd, the Meirionnydd Running Club member home in a time of 22.04mins. Her debutant team-mate, Judith Cole of Dinas Mawddwy, followed in 24.00mins with Andrea Price of Fairbourne being the 3rd of the 5 Meirionnydd finishers in a time of 25.14mins. The Bro Dysynni trio in action on the day were led home by Brenda Jones in 27.06mins with Andrea Edwards of Brithdir being the 4th Meirionnydd finisher in a time of 27.18mins. Marit Evans of Dolgellau was next home for Dysynni in 29.00mins with Sioned Jones of Brithdir completing the Meirionnydd contingent as she finished in 29.30mins. The local competitors were completed by the remarkable Sheila Symonds, on this occasion crossing the line of the tough off-road challenge in a time of 39.21mins.

A.Unwin