North Wales athletes raced the ‘Magic Triangle’ for Euro glory at the Pulford 10k.

*Thumbs up from NWRRC member Will Williams in the green vest.

North Wales athletes raced the ‘Magic Triangle’ for Euro glory at the prestigious Pulford 10k race...

Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of John Hatton.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

*Pictured above - the Pulford 10k race winner Logan Rees at the finish line.

 

A large number of North Wales athletes competed within a massive entry of over 600 elite runners last Sunday at the Pulford 10k, which was a qualifying race for the European Championships.

Formerly known as the Cheshire Elite 10k, this prestigious event was staged on the legendary Pulford loop, known in running folklore as ‘The Magic Triangle,’ and is considered to be one of the fastest routes in the UK, and measured to World Athletics standards.

The race was a high-quality event and consequently it attracted a star-studded entry and included some of the top runners in the country, who competed against each other in order to bid for international selection.

Despite all these facts however, it is understood that although many achieved excellent finishing times, only the first four female runners actually met the required time criteria, whilst the male entry narrowly fell short of the mark.

The first finisher overall was Logan Rees (Fife AC), in just 28 minutes and 37 seconds, with Scott Stirling (Falkirk Victoria Harriers), 2nd in 28.44, and in 3rd place was Alfie Manthorpe (Hallamshire Harriers), in 28.57. 

The first female athlete was Beth Potter (Victoria Park/City of Glasgow AC), who finished 52nd overall in 31.15, whilst Verity Ockenden (Swansea Harriers), was 58th overall in 31.32, and Phoebe Anderson (Herne Hill Harriers), finished 3rd and 77th overall in 32.15, and quite remarkably, she was only one second and one place ahead of Jenny Nesbitt(Pontypridd Rodents AC).

*Martin Green (*above left), with Gemma Moore and Harry Driscoll.

Several North Wales athletes recorded some worthy podium places, and included Matthew Clowes (Wrexham AC), who was 19th in 30.09, and he finished 2nd in his VM35 cat, whilst Martin Green (Meirionnydd RC), also had an outstanding run, and won his VM50 age cat in 33.47 in 129th place. And Martin’s promising young club colleague Harry Driscoll celebrated a good result, finishing 217th in 36.49. 

*Kay Hatton from NWRRC, (*above left), with (*right), Buckley RC athlete Tim Joy (*above) in the blue vest during the 10k.

Meanwhile, Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers), was another Welsh athlete on form, and she was the 35th female, 253rd overall, and claimed the 3rd spot in her FV40 age cat in 37.51.

Some other notable local results included NWRRC members Will Williams, 258th in 37.51, Richard Eccles 342nd, and he was 2nd in his VM55 age cat, and veteran Kay Hatton, the 74th female, 414th overall, and she too finished 2nd in her FV60 age cat in 47.30. 

And a special mention should go to the VM80 age cat winner Emyr Davies (Rhedwyr Hebog Runners), who put in a tremendous performance finishing 423rd overall in 50.32.

*Praise was later given to the race organisers, Run Cheshire, and to all the volunteers and marshalls. This is the link to the provisional race results:

https://runcheshire.niftyentries.com/Results/Pulford-10K-2025