Quick midweek 5k dash to ‘Race the Highland train.'

By Don Hale

*Pictured above - the powerful locomotive that challenged the runners.

Quick 5k dash to ‘Race the Highland train.'

Report by Don Hale. 

Many photos courtesy of Lesley Goodson, and Prestatyn RC.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk




*Three NWRRC members at Dinas station (l-r): Gwennan Charlton, Daniel Hennell and Hannah Griffith, and (*above right), some Prestatyn RC members on the train.

 

For many people, it’s just a race to catch the train, but last Wednesday night nearly 300 runners opted to ‘Race the Highland Train,’ in this very popular annual 5k event, with everyone enjoying a ride out to the start at Dinas station after departing from the initial assembly point at Caernarfon.

The conditions were good on this fast downward course, with a generous number of club and social runners taking part and naturally recorded some very good times. 

Meirionnydd RC took many of the plaudits with four club members in the first five places, including the top three, and the overall winner was Owen Roberts, in just 13 minutes and 59 seconds, with Ifan Dafydd second in 14.41, and Tomos Roberts third, yet he shared the exact same finishing time as Ifan.

Sam Gunning (Cybi Striders) managed to split the Meirionnydd RC lads after claiming the fourth spot in 15.04, with Cai Dafydd fifth in 15.47.

The first female finisher was Samia Jones (Liverpool Harriers) in 17.27, with Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) second in 18.04, and Ellin Haf Roberts (Eryri Harriers) third in 18.10.



*Some of the Prestatyn RC members (*above) at last Wednesday's event.

Prestatyn RC were very well represented and after the event they confirmed: “A large number of club members turned out for to Race the Train at Caernarfon. This race is always popular with our club members as is there is chip shop supper after the race.

“We had some great results with Danny winning the V40 category and Dave coming 3rd in the same category. Marc also came 1st in the V60 category, with Darrell 2nd in that category. Well done to all four.”

North Wales Road Runners also entered three members with Daniel Hennell 58th with a good time of 20.39, followed by Hannah Griffith 130th in 23.56, and Gwennan Charlton 177th in 26.07.


 


*Action shots towards the finish line back at Caernarfon - (l-r): Daniel Hennell, with Hannah Griffith, and Gwennan Charlton. (Photos Lesley Goodson).


*TEAM AWARDS: Meirionnydd RC won the male club award, with Cybi Striders second, and Prestatyn RC third. Cybi Striders however, won the mixed clubs prize with a combined time total of 1.07.13, and Eryri Harriers were second in 1.11.22, with Prestatyn RC third in 1.12.36; and Cybi Striders also won the female team award with Menai Track & Field RC second and Eryri Harriers third.


*This is a link to the provisional results for the Race the Highland Train.

https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4141#0_280078

 

 

Don Hale is a best-selling British author and former investigative journalist. He has been Journalist of the Year on three separate occasions in the past. and his extensive campaign to help free Stephen Downing for a murder he did not commit, won him both the Campaign and National Journalist of the Year Awards, A former regional newspaper editor, he was awarded an OBE in 2002 for campaign journalism. He has also been a lead investigator in several other successful, high-profile, miscarriage of justice and human rights cases. He has written several best selling books including - Murder in the Graveyard a true crime mystery story. There is also Buster Crabb - Ian Fleming's Favourite Spy, and Mallard about the battle to create the fastest steam loco in the world against the challenge from Nazi Germany, and more lately, there is The Jersey Boys and Liberation, about the secret stories of occupied Jersey during WW2, told by several resistance heroes and historians.

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