Mud, wind, and rain at a very muddy cross-country race at Dolgellau.

Will Williams tackled the gruelling cross country course at Dolgellau.

Mud, wind, and rain at a very muddy cross-country race at Dolgellau...

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Lesley Goodson.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

Three Road Runners braved the strong blustery winds, rain, and heavy mud at Dolgellau this weekend during the latest fixture within the Grand Prix Express, North Wales XC league.

Will Williams ran well in the Senior Men’s race and finished well in 38th place overall amongst 125 starters, and he was 3rd in his MV50 age cat in 36 minutes and 19 seconds. Will later said: “I really love cross-country. Always a great atmosphere.”

The race was won by Matthew Collins (Oswestry Olympians) in 30.11 and he won his SM age cat. Janos Vranek(Aberystwyth University) was 2nd in 30.22, with Rhodri Owen (Meirionnydd) 3rd in 31.11. Emyr Davies competed in the over 65’s race and won his M80 age cat in 29.25, finishing 15th overall, with Roger Harrison Jones winning his M85 cat in 44.03.

Meanwhile, NWRRC ladies Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton competed in the Senior Women’s race with Cheryl running home in 65th place in 28.35, and she was 6th in her W55 age cat, whilst Kay finished 74th in 29.22, and she was 4th in her W60 age cat. Cheryl commented: “I quite enjoyed it except for the wind. Super slippery but spikes do their job.”  And Kay Hatton added: “It was actually nicer out there than it looked.”

*Williams (*above left), with Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton at Dolgellau.

The SW race was won by Joanne Henderson (Denbigh Harriers) in 21.49, and she also won her W40 age cat. There were 137 starters, and there were some other notable results, which also included Ann D’Alburquerque (GOG Triathlon), who won her W70 age cat in 35.36, in 124th place.

 

NWCCL secretary and race referee Bernie Jones (*pictured above), later confirmed: “A big thank you to Tom Roberts and all his helpers from Meirionydd RC for putting on yet another good course. It was good to come back to Dolgellau after a few years gap and the changes to the course was welcomed by most, even if a few didn’t like the removal of the water splash!

“Once again there was some great running in testing conditions. Joanne Henderson, Denbigh took her first league victory in the women’s race whilst Matthew Collins, Oswestry Olympians got the better of Janos Vranek, Aberystwyth Uni after a race long battle. 

“Special mention to Tom Roberts after all his race organising duties helped Meirionnydd to not only win the team race on the day but for the first time in 10 years another club than Shrewsbury is leading the Division 1 table! It should be an interesting last fixture.” 

*The final North Wales Cross Country League fixture is as usual at the Marches School, Oswestry, SY11 2APon Saturday 10th February 2024. 

 

*This final results from Dolgellau are now available on the NW Cross-country league Facebook page: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx...