News Report 30^th June 2008

Course records tumbled last Saturday afternoon at the annual running of the Tyn-Y-Groes Hill Race held in Ganllwyd, near Dolgellau, as both the male and female course records were broken for the 2.1 mile event which included a steep 700 feet of climbing.

The overall race was won in convincing style by Stanley Charles (Clwydian Range Runners), taking 19 seconds of the existing course record, as he came home victorious in an impressive time of 16.41mins. This was enough to pip 3-times race winner and previous course record holder, Steve Gilliland of Tywyn, into runners-up spot as the Bro Dysynni athlete completed the challenge in 17.36mins.

Perhaps the performance of the day came in the female event, as Kate Bailey, erstwhile of Dolgellau, but now based in Stafford, came home in 3rd place overall as well as being the first female finisher in an outstanding time of 19.28mins, the Meirionnydd Running Club athlete knocking well over 2 minutes off the female course record in the process.

Another athlete to impress on the day was Dave Whittey of Llanelltyd, 5th overall in 19.44mins, ahead of three of his Meirionnydd Running Club team-mates, namely Tony Hodgson of Porthmadog, Frankie Vaughan of Corris & Kevin Evans of Brithdir who came home in respective times of 21.09mins, 21.18mins & 22.58mins. Richard Griffiths of Tywyn was the 2nd Bro Dysynni finisher on the day in a time of 23.03mins, just ahead of the youngest competitor in the field, as 16 year old Iwan Jones came home in 23.42mins. Two Dolgellau-based, Meirionnydd Running Club athletes followed as John Smith and Juliet Edwards came home in respective times of 23.51mins and 24.09mins, the latter claiming runners-up spot in the female event. They in turn were followed by two Bro Dysynni athletes, namely Alan Jones of Bryncrug in a rare race outing, and the familiar sight Barrie Jackson of Bala, the two finishing in 24.45mins and 25.04mins. Youngster Tomos Roberts followed in 27.40mins to be followed by Tracey Evans of Brithdir in 31.14mins and, having been subject to a gushing earlier in the week, a beaming Andy Unwin of Harlech followed in a time of 37.56mins.

The Tyn-Y-Groes event was the 2nd success of the week for the female race winner, Kate Bailey who, three days previously, was also victorious in the female section of the Pontesbury Fell Race in Shropshire as she completed the 3 mile event which included 1,160 feet of climbing in a time of 23.31mins.

One other local athlete in action recently was Dewi Roberts of Blaenau Ffestiniog who participated at the Ras Y Diafol event at Nant Yr Arian, Ponterwyd near Aberysytwyth. The event was an 18 mile trail race which the Bro Dysynni athlete tackled in an impressive time of 2hrs 17.07mins, a time good enough to claim an excellent 3rd place finish overall.

There is further local action this coming Saturday afternoon as Bryncrug plays host to the annual Ras Foel Y Gocyn event which forms part of the carnival festivities in the village. The 4 mile hill race is due off at 3.00pm, starting and finishing on the football field which will play host to the various attractions. Entries for the race will be taken on the day only at the carnival field.

A.Unwin