Denbigh Harriers Dinbych

Vic Belshaw & Menai Baugh crowned category champions at the North Wales Cross-Country Championships at Rhug

You’d expect most people to ease back and put their feet up over Christmas and New Year, not so if you’re a Denbigh Harrier, races on Boxing Day, pre-New Year and the opportunity for double parkruns on New Year’s Day kept our runners busy with a few eyes firmly on the North Wales Cross-Country Championships at Rhug on 5^th January.

Duncan Jones took part in Boxing Day’s Dash to the Devils Chair on the Stiperstones. 3 miles / 800 feet. Very much part of the Christmas running scene in Shropshire and probably the usual 300 runners on course. Duncan a regular at this fixture was pleased with 32.03 and nearly 40 seconds quicker than last year though no ice this year. Short but steep slopes and a rocky and muddy ridge run keep it interesting.

On the 30^th of December, several Santa Claus, complete with a decorated tree, and elves were alongside the 5 Denbigh Harriers who among the 74 runners who made their way up to Moel Famau to the start of this year’s Jubilee Plunge, the aim – get back to the pub in Llangynhafal 2.2 miles away as quickly as possible in this local race organised by Harrier Tony Benton. Low cloud and limited visibility at the top made for a tentative start to the descent, however, once clear of the cloud, soft to firm conditions underfoot made for a quick race down to the finish. The Harriers were led home by Tony Wood taking 13^th in 13:48. Katy Baugh was 32^nd and 3^rd Lady in 15:18 with Ruari Benton 40^th in 16:19. Menai Baugh was 54^th and 1^st VF60 18:15 with Dawn Marshall 72^nd in 24:33. Great fun!

And so to Rhug for the 2019 North Wales Cross Country Championships where we saw the highest standard in this race for a long time. 3 miles for the ladies and 65+ men, 4.5 miles for 60-65 men and 6 miles for the under 60 men over the fields – this is a tough race. In the ladies race, Rhian Pierce took 7^th in this bigger field, on a par with her previous win here, taking 3^rd in the VF35 category and confirming her return to form. Next in was Elen Baugh 23^rd  in 25:07 – a significant breakthrough in her racing and great to see her so far up the field. Melina Morris was 27^th in 25:56 and laying her demons from Llandrindod Wells to rest to take 3^rd VF45. Katy Baugh was just behind in 29^th and 26:05. Great to see a rejuvenated Sali Powell back on the fields finishing in 38^th and 27:22 with Mari Williams just behind in 39^th and 27:48, this her first cross-country race. The unstoppable winning machine that is  Menai Baugh won her category comfortably in 41^st and 28:28, whilst Dawn Marshall’s progress back to fitness is particularly welcome with more to come, we’re sure in 53^rd and 31:51.

Left to right: Bob Neale, Sali Powell, Dawn Marshall, Rhian Pierce, Mari Williams, Melina Morris, Menai Baugh, Katy Baugh, Elen Baugh

In the men’s race, Shaun Hughes was first Harrier home in 11^th and 36:01. Great to see Shaun back at cross-country. The battle for 2^nd Harrier was fierce for 4 laps with the position changing as the race progressed. Ultimately it was Vic Belshaw who was triumphant securing not just 2^nd Harrier but his category win VM55 as he finished in 35^th and 41:02 followed closely by Glen Price 36^th 41:13 and Tony Wood 37^th 41:16. There’s wasn’t the only Harrier battle. David Baugh won out over Mat Jones, with David taking 3^rd VM55 and finishing 42^nd 43:33 and44^th 44:10 respectively. In the final Harriers battle, at times it looked as though  Duncan Jones and Tony Benton were holding hands as they ran – they were that close. Duncan edged it in the end with only 8 seconds between the 2 of them in 50^th 46:34 and 51^st 46:42 respectively. In the 60-65 category Fred Jones was 6^th  in 37:58 whilst in the M65+ race it was great to see Bob Neale back on the fields taking 5^th in 28:16

Preferring a slightly longer run, Rob Parry and Hywel Roberts made their way over the Dee to run in The Wirral Way Half Marathon (Winter Edition). Held largely on the route of an old railway, the route is moderately flat – though (according to Garmin) nowhere near as flat as reckoned. Weather was quite benign for a long run, about 7 C and cloudy. The route itself is largely hard-packed trail, with a few squelchy bits. Hywel, taking it easy on pace with his London training, came in at 1:44:35. Rob who’s aiming for a half marathon a month in 2019 banked his first of the year and finished in 2:01:26. Rob is no doubt going to break the 2 hour barrier this year.

With limited races, attendance at parkrun was high with the ‘doing the double’ draw on New Year’s Day proving popular.

Vic Belshaw ran the furthest from home at Ganavan Sands in Oban with a run with a view to Mull and Lismore out to sea. Ben Cruachan unfortunately was in cloud at the top of the course. It felt a tough one on the day despite only 250’ of ascent (two climbs and undulating). I was given a run for my money to come in second. The position changed quite a few times and I kept retaking it on the climbs. My opponent finally broke in the final 1000m so much for the holiday Vic.

Parkrun highlights closer to home include course PBs for Jon Whitehead Wepre 28:26 and Elen Baugh Chester 25:56 on New Year’s Day as they along with David Baugh, Tony Benton and Katy Baugh did the double – Wepre at 9am and Chester at 10:30. Also at Chester Shaun Hughes set his parkrun as he came 4^th in 17:54.

Results

Dash to the Devils Chair Duncan Jones 32:03

Jubilee Plunge Tony Wood 13^th 13:48, Katy Baugh 32^nd & 3^rd Lady 15:18, Ruari Benton 40^th 16:19, Menai Baugh 54^th & 1^st VF60 18:15, Dawn Marshall 72^nd 24:33

North Wales Cross-Country Championships 2019 Men under 60 Shaun Hughes 11^th 36:01, Vic Belshaw 35^th &1^st VM55 41:02, Glen Price 36^th 41:13, Tony Wood 37^th 41:16, David Baugh 42^nd & 3^rd VM5543:33, Mat Jones 44^th 44:10, Duncan Jones 50^th 46:34, Tony Benton 51^st 46:42 Men 60-65 Fred Jones 6^th 37:58 Men 65+ Bob Neale 5^th 28:16 Women Rhian Pierce 7^th & 3^rd VF35 21:49, Elen Baugh 23^rd 25:07, Melina Morris 27^th & 3^rd VF45 25:56, Katy Baugh 29^th 26:05, Sali Powell 38^th 27:22, Mari Williams 39^th 27:48, Menai Baugh 41^st &1^st VF60 28:28, Dawn Marshall 53^rd 31:51

The Wirral Way Half Marathon Hywel Roberts 1:44:35, Rob Parry 2:01:26

Parkrun

22/12 Bushy Sian Pritchard 26:52 Ganavan Sands Vic Belshaw 2^nd 20:28 Conwy David Baugh 26^th 21:21, Phil Hayes 71^st 24:21, Elen Baugh 85^th & 10^th Lady 25:01, Menai Baugh 102^nd & 18^th Lady 26:29, Joe Welch 206^th 32:44

29/12 Conwy David Baugh 23^rd 21:10, Duncan Jones 59^th 23:20, Elen Baugh 85^th & 15^th Lady 24:40, Jon Whitehead 95^th 25:34, Sarah Bayliss 326^th 45:03 Wepre Vic Belshaw 6^th 21:49, Emma Collins 20^th & 2^nd Lady 23:59

01/01 Wepre David Baugh 16^th 22:29, Tony Benton 55^th 24:56, Elen Baugh 104^th & 16^th Lady 27:15, Katy Baugh 105^th & 17^th Lady 27:15, Jon Whitehead 128^th PB 28:26 Chester Shaun Hughes 4^th PB 17:54, David Baugh 29^th 21:26, Tony Benton 112^th 24:30, Paul Goffey 162^nd 25:42, Elen Baugh 172^nd & 30^th Lady PB 25:56, Katy Baugh 173^rd & 31^st Lady 25:56, Jon Whitehead 209^th 27:11