Over 250 runners Raced the Highland Train over a fast 5k downhill course from Dinas to Caernarfon...

Over 250 runners Raced the Highland Train over a fast 5k downhill course from Dinas to Caernarfon...

Report by Don Hale.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

*Pictured (l-r): Mandy Preece (Porth Eirias Runners) with Mal Preece (NWRRC), and (*right) Hannah Griffith, Gwen Charlton and Vicky Taylor, all shown at the Race the Train event at Caernarfon. 

A pleasant 5k dash on a humid summer evening proved just the ticket for over 250 mixed ability athletes last Wednesday night as they opted to Race the Train from Dinas railway station back to the terminus at Caernarfon.

This was the 24th annual event featuring this exciting race which involved taking a train load of runners and their supporters out from Caernarfon station to the first stop at Dinas on the 7.30pm special express, with entrants then disembarking in readiness for a quick run back to town in a determined effort to beat the mighty Highland loco and train back!

This is always a very popular race, and as usual, it was well organised by the host club Rhedwyr Eryri Harriers with a 300-limit on entries, and this year was no exception with athletes from all over the UK attempting this unique challenge.

North Wales Road Runners entered a quartet of runners with Mal Preece leading the team home in a downhill dash down the course in 73rd place, and he was 5th in his MV60 age cat. Hannah Griffith finished as the 23rd female in 111th place overall in 23.46, and she was 4th in her FV45 cat, whilst Vicky Taylor was the 45th female, 144th overall in 26.06, with Gwen Charlton the 66th female in 175th place overall. 

*And it was good to note that keen Conwy parkrunner Josh Mottram (Colwyn Bay AC) set a new course PB in 32nd place in 19.33, with his club colleague Ian Taylor also on form in 77th place in 22.04. There was also a very good attendance by many local clubs.

*Pictured above (l-r): Mal Preece, Hannah Griffith, Vicky Taylor and Gwen Charlton.

*The Race the Train event was won in a very close contest by Tomas Roberts in just 14 minutes and 28 seconds, with Owen Roberts (Meirionnydd RC), 2nd in 14.30, and Sam Gunning (Cybi Striders), 3rd in 15.35. 

*For the ladies, Samia Jones (Liverpool Harriers), was the 1st female finisher (13th overall) in 17.18, with Rachel Shipley (Abergele Harriers), 2nd, (and 17th overall), whilst Nia Manson (West Cheshire AC), was 3rd in 19.41 (and 35th overall). There were 254 finishers in total.

 

*This is a link to the provisional race results:

https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4045#0_3EF1B7