News 17th May 2010

Fell runners have been well catered for recently with the running of 2 local events which constituted the 4th & 5th races of the 8 race Great Arete Tuesday Night Fell Running Series.

First up was a trip to Nant Peris for the Pen Dinas event, a race which attracted two athletes from Meirionnydd Running Club. Leading home the duo and claiming a pleasing 9th place finish on the night was Hefin Jones, the Ffestiniog based athlete home in a time of 29.49mins. Also in action on the night was Nich Bradley of Dolgellau, home in a time of 37.59mins.

Attention then turned to the Porthmadog area as Moel Y Gest was the venue for the 5th of the 8 race series. On this occasion, the event attracted 5 athletes affiliated to Meirionnydd Running Club. The 1st of the 5 home, claiming an impressive runners up spot at the event was Ifan Richards of Brithdir in a time of 31.12mins. Hefin Jones continued to impress, home on this occasion in a time of 35.41mins, whilst Dave Whittey of Llanelltyd continued his build up for the forthcoming Ras Y Cader in Dolgellau by finishing the event in 37.24mins. Another Llanelltyd-based athlete followed as Graeme Stringer came home in 41.16mins whilst Ash Charlwood completed the Meirionnydd contingent, the Dolgellau-based runner home in a time of 43.56mins.

There was also another pleasing performance in the hills recently for a locally affiliated junior athlete. The runner in question was Dion Roberts of Blaenau Ffestiniog, the Bro Dysynni affiliated athlete claiming 3rd place in the Under-16 category at the Sinclair Steel Caerneddau Junior Fell Race as he covered the 2 mile course which included 360 feet of climbing in a time of 11.41mins.

Finally, a Friday night race in the Chester area attracted the interest of 5 locally affiliated athletes. The race in question was the Christleton 5k Road Race and leading home the 5 who made the trip was Tom Roberts of Dolgellau, the Meirionnydd athlete setting a new personal best for the distance in a time of 17.14mins. It was left to the experienced Nigel Evans of Dolgellau to lead home the Bro Dysynni trio in action, his finishing time of 19.33mins a little over a minute ahead of multi-disciplined Graeme Stringer, home in 20.40mins. Fairbourne-based athlete, Huw Harrison, was the 2nd Dysynni finisher, delighted with finishing his time of 27.37mins whilst Andy Unwin of Harlech left his running manual at home, the Dysynni athlete still beaming however as he crossed the line in a leisurely 33.05mins.

A.Unwin