Denbigh Harriers Dinbych

Not as dry as previously predicted! The heavy rain overnight and the earlier children’s races churned up the course quite badly in places. Last year there was a biting strong wind which slowed people up, so the times this year for exactly the same courses were quicker despite it being cold enough and hailing at times. The Senior Men supposedly ran 6.25 miles but actually it was about 9K, with the M60s 7K, and the Women 5K. For the first time in 20 years we had a moderately competitive senior men’s team thanks to the amazing influx of new members due to Dawn’s implementation of her election promise: if it’s young, male and has a pair of trainers, it belongs in a Harriers vest. And the new Membership Secretary will be pleased with the result – a clear 3rd place in the team event and a 3rd place in the Masters 35-49 team category.

15th Shaun H …………38m43

19th Joe W …………….39m53

25th Glen ………………40m54 (3rd M40)

29th Dan J …………….41m15

30th Tony W ………….41m27

33rd David B ………….41m57 (3rd M55)

40th Tom J …………….44m13

50th Llyr ………………..49m??

Setting off with the above and sharing that first lap of hail were the men aged over 60, who had the joy of turning off after 3 laps. Last year the same elderly persons (Martin, Chris, and Fred) won gold for the team, and this year they repeated the feat in a slightly different order (Martin, Fred, and Chris). Martin also won the M65 category outright and Fred was 3rd M60.

Somewhat surprisingly, we only had four women running but remarkably they earned two sets of team medals – 3rd Seniors and 2nd Veterans (over 35). This was despite Victoria only just returning from illness and not quite up to her usual best on such a tough course.

5th Ceri D ………………..23m04 (1st W50)

13th Victoria…………….25m35 (3rd W40)

19th Katy ………………..27m00

24th Menai ……………..29m57

All eyes now turn to Oswestry where our new-found strength in men should serve notice that next year we mean business. It will be interesting to see how close we can get to the the top of Division 2. If Prestatyn doesn’t turn up it is just possible that we can get promotion this year, but that is hardly likely so we will have to win the Division in 2017/18 to ensure promotion next year. The women really do need to get their act together to move up from 4th to 3rd in Division 1 and then next year could be very tough for them unless we have some of our new younger women members prepared not just to improve but also to actually turn up to races.

It will be reasonable weather – dry at least,according to BBC weather – but this is an interesting course whatever the degree of mud, snow, or wind. Based at Rhug farm shop (burgers after the race available) the course is on the hills opposite. Women start at 1.35pm running 3.75 miles; Men at 2.15pm for 6.25 miles (M60s 5 miles).

The Senior men haven’t ever won this, as far as I remember. I do have a 3rd place team medal from 2007 but on 6 to count we have always struggled to be competitive. In contrast, the M60 team (only 3 to count, although theoretically we can raise six) has won team gold in 2014 and 2016. Last year there were exactly the same number of men aged over 60 as there were aged between 20 and 40 but of course there are rather more men between 40 and 60 who are eligible as seniors as well as ordinary veterans.

The women have been much more successful at senior level (4 to count), and are the current defending champions. Rhian won the senior title last year but, due to injury, is sadly unable to try and retain it this time. Tracey is current W50 champion and this year her biggest challengers will be in-house (Ceri and Emma).

All Harriers are welcome to this event providing you wear your club vest (otherwise disqualified). Entries on the day £9.

A really nice cross country course and, despite an apocolyptical weather forecast, both races were run in the quiet window between rain squalls with the temperature well above freezing. The ground was wet enough but nothing like the quagmire of last year. However, the wind was biting and the knee-deep stream crossing on each lap made up for those disappointed at the good weather as they were particularly looking forward to such extreme experiences. Duncan and I were taking an enforced injury-break for this one but could acquire a taste for watching the endeavours of others (bit worried about what that means).

The women’s race saw a quick break-away by the first four and some who tried to follow looked to be in difficulties after the first lap. Fortunately our canny five didn’t over-extend themselves and, lead by Ceri D, started to push at the end of the first lap. Ceri moved up from 20th to 15th (excluding the junior men), hunting down each one with remorseless concentration. Tracey followed her example, looking particularly good on the sharp hill out of the stream, and managing to finish 26th. She managed to pull away from Emma who was in cruise-mode, dreaming of hills and an extra 10 miles, but Emma still wandered through the field into 32nd. Katy was right to start cautiously and passed about twenty from the first mile to the third but then was hanging on grimly, glad of the lack of hills, to finish 43rd. Menai looked strong and comfortable but, like Emma, could have benefited from an even tougher course. I estimate that she was about 70th. The big question is whether the 116 points here is good enough to put the team into contention for a podium finish at Oswestry in three weeks time. Postscript:- team position here was 3rd, bringing the overall position for the championship up to 4th, just 5 points behind Buckley, and 5 points ahead of Prestatyn.

The men have a new younger look. Just by Duncan and Chris being sidelined, the average age plummeted, which was good considering that 3 laps at remarkable speed is getting to be a long way for the elderly. Some work needs to be done to get rid of M60 Fred who pulled through surprisingly well after looking in difficulties on the second lap, and his meritorious 108th should disqualify him from any sympathy he expects for going all that way and not being a counter. Tony B (99th) was really trying, as befits a man who knows he is 6th counter for the team and on a course which doesn’t suit his style, and he was up with people who were a minute or two quicker on a dry 5 miles last summer. Looking well in control, but another one missing the long hills, was Owen in 84th. Owen started the last lap unable even to see Tom (68th) and David B (71st) but seemed to get a lot closer by the end. David and Tom were locked into an old-fashioned battle in which the other runners became just the furniture which they had to go round to keep up with each other. It will be interesting to see whether Tony W (absent on Dad-duties) can shake up this cosy twosome in the next race. Which leaves Glen (52nd) and Shaun (36th) who deserve their mention in dispatches as being up with the main bunch and continually looking to improve their places against impressive opposition. I’m sure that the return to six counters for the men in division two means that this was our best performance this year. Postscript:- Yes indeed! 2nd in this race and up to 3rd for the Series in Division 2.