News Report 18th September 2007

Perhaps the busiest local athlete recently has been Steve Gilliland of Tywyn, with the Bro Dysynni A.C. athlete competing at three seperate events, gaining a third place finish at each of his chosen venues.

The first of his races was at the foot of Snowdon as Nant Peris hosted the Elidir Fawr Fell Race. In the five mile race which also included a tough 2,800 feet of climbing, a time of 1hr 00.52mins ensured an overall third place finish as well as age group success in the Male Over-40 category. Also in action at Elidir Fawr was Will Haynes of Rhyd whose time of 1hr 11.47mins ensured 2nd position in the Junior Male category for the Meirionnydd Running Club athlete. Completing the trio of locally based competitors was Bob Chilton of Hermon, who finished the arduous event in a time of 1hr 34.30mins.

Next up for Gilliland was a trip to Shropshire to compete in the 'Nesscliffe Nasty' 5-mile multi-terrain event. Once again, the Dysynni athlete settled for a third place finish in a time of 30.00mins, although he did have the added satisfaction of victory in the Male Over-45 category.

The very next day, the Dysynni athlete embarked on a journey to the Llanrwst area to compete in the Llanddoged 12.5k road race, one of the most undulating road races within the Principality. A third consecutive third place finish ensued, on this occasion in a time of 47.17mins, which also claimed runners-up spot in the Male Over-40 section. Also competing at Llanddoged were the Meirionnydd Running Club duo of Frankie Vaughan and Andrea Goode, the former claiming 2nd place in the Male Over-50 category in a time of 1hr 01.18mins, the latter being the third female finisher overall in a time of 1hr 01.38mins. The local quartet in action was completed by Malcolm Taylor of Criccieth, the Bro Dysynni athlete finishing in a time of 1hr 08.21mins, claiming 2nd place in the Male Over-60 category in the process.

Bro Dysynni super-veteran, Alan Morton, was back in marathon action last weekend with a trip to Lincolnshire to take part in the Mablethorpe Marathon. An excellent time of 4hrs 35.13mins ensured 2nd spot in the Male Over-70 category in another remarkable performance from the Tywyn based athlete.

Much further afield, Alan Williams of Barmouth was also in action in Dunedin, New Zealand. His chosen event was the Dunedin Moro Half Marathon and, in an event which attracted 836 competitors, he achieved a terrific 5th place finish in a time of 1hr 15.25mins.

A.Unwin