A very challenging and muddy course at the Bala cross country fixture in the latest NW XC League event.

By Don Hale


A very challenging and muddy course at the Bala cross country fixture in the latest NW XC League event...

Report by Don Hale. 

Match report and photo courtesy of Bernie Jones

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025

It was a good turn-out at Bala despite the weather and some very challenging and muddy conditions which tested runners to the limit.

In the Senior Men's race Andrew Moore (Bangor University) was the first man home in 31 minutes and 12 seconds, but he was only 13-seconds ahead of his keen rival Rhodri Owen (Meirionnydd RC) in 31.23, and Rhodri's clubmate Daniel Kashi in 31.44.

The Meirionnydd team packed well and they had five members in the top 10 finishing places and topped the team table ahead of Wrexham AAC and Buckley, who were both within a whisker of each other. *There were 144 finishers.

In the Over 65 race, Graham Jones (Shrewsbury AC) was the overall winner and he also took the 1st MV 65 prize in 24.22, with Andy Clarke (Oswestry) second in 24.23, and 2nd VM65, whilst Tom Rowlands (Meirionnydd RC) finished 3rd, and he was 3rd in the same age cat as Graham and Andy in 25.23.

Some other notable age related results in this O-65 race included: Pete Hough (Shrewsbury Shufflers) who finished 4th overall and he won his MV70 age cat in 25.27; and Emyr Davies (Hebog) who won his MV80 age cat in 26th place in 31.37, with Roger Harrison Jones (Prestatyn RC) winning his MV85 age cat in 47,31. *There were 48 finishers overall.

*In the ladies Senior Women's race, FV35 Alison Lavender (Oswestry) took the first place overall in 20.38, with FV45 Joanna Henderson (Denbigh Harriers) second in 22.19, and FV40 Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) third, and she was just one second and one place behind Joanna.

Other notable results in this same race included: Gemma Collins (Denbigh Harriers) 33rd and 1st FV60 in 26.52; Gillian Bowden (Maldwyn Harriers) 76th and 1st FV65 in 30.50; Liz Evans (GOG Triathlon) 84th, and 1st FV70 in 31,56; and Maggie Oliver (Eryri Harriers) 126th, and 1st FV75 in 51.43.

*Plaudits were given to Bernie Jones, the hard working secretary of the NW XC League, and to all the event organisers, volunteers and marshals.

And my personal thanks to Bernie for the use of his report, results, and photos from the latest XC event at Bala last Saturday.

This is Bernie's match report:

A big thank you to Tom Roberts and his team of volunteers from Meirionnydd RC. As a small club that covers a large rural area, they have done wonders over the past few years and deservedly won the Off-Road Club of the Year at the Welsh Athletics Annual Awards. 

We are grateful as a league for clubs volunteering to host as it is a lot of work so once again thank you to Meirionydd RC. Whilst the course may have been flat it provided a tough challenge for everyone.

Ali Lavender, Oswestry Olympians won her third race out of three to cap a great comeback and it was great to see Andrew Moore, Bangor University finally getting his rewards for his aggressive running and finally winning a North Wales League race. 

*The next league fixture is not until 31 January 2026 at another new course near Baschurch. The address is The Leaton Forest Tree Barn, Leaton Knolls Estate, Shrewsbury and is being hosted by Shropshire Shufflers. We look forward to another new course. 


*In the meantime there is the North Wales Cross Country Championships at Bangor on Saturday 10th January 2026. 


Bernie Jones 

Secretary  


*Entries can be made on-line via the following link: North Wales Cross Country Championships 2026 - EntryCentral 


*This is my previous blog post about the NW XC League fixtures and details about the NW XC champs in January 2026: 

*Don Hale Blog: Entries now open for the North Wales Cross Country... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2024/11/entries-now-open-for-north-wales-cross.html?spref=tw







Don Hale is a former award winning investigative journalist and now a best-selling author who has created a very popular blog post linked to numerous social media sites. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025.

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