Perfect night to ‘Race the Highland Train’ back from Dinas to Caernarfon for 300 runners.

*The NWRRC team who Raced the Train last Wednesday (*back row l-r), Cai Roberts, Steve Bozier, Rachel Morris, Ben Hudson and Karl Morris, and (*front row) Kelly Alford, Hannah Griffith, Vicky Taylor and Sarah Hudson.

Perfect night to ‘Race the Highland Train’ back from Dinas to Caernarfon for 300 runners...

Report by Don Hale. Some photos courtesy of Kelly Alford.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

It proved to be another exciting dash from start to finish as nearly three-hundred mixed ability runners attempted to Race the Highland train from Dinas station to Caernarfon last Wednesday night.

On a warm and almost perfect evening Tomos Roberts (Meirionnydd RC) was the first athlete home in a fast time of just 14 minutes and 51 seconds over this interesting 5k course, with Ifan Dafydd (Eryri Harriers) 2nd in 14.55, and John Higgs 3rd in 15.02. In addition, Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon) finished in 5th place in 15.15.

The 1st female runner was Rachel Shipley (Abergele Harriers), who finished 19th place in 17.42. Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) was the 2nd female, and she also won her FV35-44 age cat in 18.06 in 25th place overall, and Gemma was closely followed by her club colleague Tinka Vinks, who was 3rd, and finished in 27th place overall in 18.14. 

*The race was well organised by Eryri Harriers and attracted 290 finishers. The course record remains at 13.44 in 2012 by Matthew Clowes. The female record is held by Bronwen Jenkinson in 2017 of 16.55.

*North Wales runners (*above) are about to board the train to Dinas for the start.

North Wales Road Runners entered nine members for this unusual downhill race, with Steve Bozier leading the team in 34th place in 18.40. He was followed by Ben Hudson 50th in 19.46, and endurance athlete Karl Morris who ran well in 62nd place in 20.20.

Sarah Ferguson Hudson continued her good form and claimed the 2nd spot in her FV35-44 age cat in 20.25, and Cai Roberts finished in 103rd place in 22.05, with Kelly Marie Alford 113th in 22.27. Hannah Griffith also put a determined run in 154th place in 24.07, whilst Vicky Taylor was 220th in 27.20, and Rachel Morris celebrated a great result to dip under the 30-minute mark, finishing 238th in 29.15.

*NWRRC members Cai Roberts, Kelly Alford and Sarah Ferguson (*above) in the carriage en-route to Dinas, and (*below), Steve Bozier enjoying the ride prior to his dash.

*Pictured below - the Highland train arrives at Dinas station where the runners disembarked prior to the attempts to Race the Train back to Caernarfon.

*This is the link to the provisional results from Race the Train:

https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=3958

*The sheer joy of beating the Highland Train (*above) with Josh Mottram (*rear) and Ian Taylor following their dash back to Caernarfon Station.

Josh and Ian ‘Raced the Train’ and hit their fundraising target for the Conwy Whales Swimming Club.

Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

Enthusiastic runners and charity fundraisers Josh Mottram and Ian Taylor kept their pledge by ‘Racing the Train’ at Caernarfon this week and beating their £500 target for a very worthy cause - the Conwy Whales Swimming Club!

The dashing duo, who are also keen Conwy parkrun members, were in fine form last Wednesday night as they eventually out-ran the mighty Highland Railway train from Dinas back to its starting point at Caernarfon Station. 

They were within a group of about three-hundred varied ability club and social runners who took part in this exciting annual challenge, yet surprisingly they also found themselves part of an elite section of athletes who actually beat the train!

Ian confirmed: “So we both beat the train and Josh Mottram beat me with a fantastic time of 21.14, which is his personal best for 5k. I was lagging-behind in 21.33, (next time I'll catch you Josh) this is also part of Josh's work towards his Duke of Edinburgh award that he is working towards. 

“People have donated £735 so far for the Conwy Whales Swimming Club. Thank you all so much, the club and all its members will benefit greatly from this. It has helped so many members to learn to swim, which is a real gift for life, I'll keep the page open for a week or so in case anyone else wants to donate. Thank you to everyone for all your support.”

Just prior to the event, Ian explained: “We will try to raise funds for Conwy Whales Swimming Club, where we both volunteer. Conwy Whales is an amazing club! Josh joined to learn to swim and to spend some time with his friends, and with the help of the fantastic volunteers past and present, he is now a strong swimmer and a volunteer himself! 
“Volunteering at this club is something that Josh is very proud of, and it’s so lovely to see from each session, the improvement in swimming skills, his confidence, and his love of the water! 
“The Club provides swimming and teaching for people with additional needs, and it’s such a special club, and anything donated will be greatly appreciated and used to benefit its members. They have helped so many people to learn to swim, and it's entirely run by volunteers, and they are also always looking for volunteers to help with its fortnightly sessions, starting again in September.”

*This is the direct link to Josh and Ian’s special JustGiving fundraising page:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ian-taylor-72?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socpledgedesktop&utm_content=ian-taylor-72&utm_campaign=post-pledge-desktop&utm_term=ZB9PJrNgP&fbclid=IwAR338DBj3JfoqlJwTgDoeWWYYEE3K4i87zmeFBSuV6Xb720QL3eVG3ZaBuU

 

*This is the link to Josh’s Facebook page and about his fundraising plans:

https://www.facebook.com/josh.mottram.792

 

https://www.facebook.com/ConwyWhales