News Report 25th June 2006

It was very much a case of 'deja vu' at last Saturdays running of the Tyn Y Groes Hill Race in Ganllwyd as the male and female winners of 2005 repeated their success, albeit on this occasion as part of a bigger field of competitors.

Repeating his success of 12 months ago was Steve Gilliland of Tywyn, with the Bro Dysynni athlete crossing the finishing line of the 2.1mile race which included a tough 700 feet of climbing, in a course record time of 17.00mins. Next home was Pez Bullen of Keswick A.C. in 18.41mins whilst Graeme Stringer of Arthog surpassed pre-race predictions to claim a tremendous third place finish in 20.36mins. The first female finisher followed as Meirionnydd Running Club athlete, Andrea Goode of Arthog, claimed her second successive victory in the female section of the event, setting a female course record time of 21.57mins.

With the race being made up predominantly of local athetes, other finishing times which caught the eye included the ever-youthful Walter Marsh of Tywyn, leading home the competitors in the male over-50 section in 22.25mins. Fellow veteran Richard Griffiths of Tywyn finished well in 22.33mins whilst Malcolm Atherton won the prize of first local finisher living within two miles of the race venue, as he completed the event in 23.09mins. Juliet Edwards of Dolgellau won the female over-40 category in a time of 23.41mins whilst Robert Thomas of Llanelltyd claimed victory in the Junior Male category in 25.28mins. The Junior Female category was claimed by Erin Gilliland of Tywyn, emulating her father as she finished in 26.50mins. Other local category winners on the day included Brenda Jones of Llanelltyd, victorious in the female over-60 category in 28.42mins, Sheila Symonds of Dolgellau, first female over-70 in 41.42mins whilst Eirlys Griffiths of Tywyn and Helen Williams of Aberdyfi shared the female over-50 category as they crossed the line together in 52.34mins.

Elsewhere recently, local athletes have been in action at three seperate venues. The largest turnout was at the tough Caerneddau Fell Race, a 10 mile event which included 4,600 feet of climbing. Leading home the three local competitors at the completion of the race in Bethesda was Juliet Edwards, claiming victory in the female over-40 category in 3hrs 40.10mins. The other two local finishers both suffered navigational and balance shortfalls on the day, as Bob Chilton of Hermon led home Nich Bradley of Dolgellau in respective times of 3hrs 42.51mins and 4hrs 01.10mins. Elsewhere, the Dolgellau duo of Nigel Evans and Marit Evans ventured to Clwyd to take part in the multi-terrain Prestatyn Riverbank 10k event. The duo recorded respective times of 40.31mins and 54.13mins. Finally, Bro Dysynni athlete Walter Marsh was in action in an unusual event recently as he headed to Llanwrtyd Wells to take part in the 22 mile cross country 'Man v Horse' race. As per normal, equine strength proved victorious on the day claiming overall victory, whilst the Tywyn based athlete was well pleased with a time 3hrs 33.34mins which claimed a highly creditable overall 140th position at the finish.

There is further local competition this Saturday as the Foel Gocyn Hill Race has it's annual running. The 4 mile event forms part of the carnival celebrations in Bryncrug, with the race due off at 2.30pm from the Bryncrug playing field. Entries will be taken on the day at the race headquarters on the carnival field.

A.Unwin