Denbigh Harrier Menai Baugh travelled down to Shropshire on Sunday 5/12/21 to run the Cardington Cracker Fell Race …. and what a cracking race it was! This is a 9.4 mile/15 km off-road race with 2,765 ft/ 842 meters of elevation. The race follows footpaths over farmland to the base of three steep hills with beautiful views from their summits of Church Stretton, the Long Mynd and the surrounding area. The wind was un-relenting and bitingly chilly on the summits but the fast descents on grassy paths more than made up for it. Menai’s time was 2 hours 25:48, taking the first F60 prize.
On the same day there was a good turnout of Harriers on the Clwydians for Out-fit’s Sea to Summit Half Marathon, Marathon and Ultra Marathon distances. These routes all had staggered starts, beginning in Prestatyn and followed the Offa’s Dyke path to different finishing points along the Clwydian Hills. The Half Marathon with an elevation gain of over 3,500ft finished on Moel y Plas, the Marathon with an elevation gain over 6,500ft on Moel Gyw and the Ultra distance with an elevation gain over 8,500ft and total a of 33 miles finished on Cyrn y Brain. Conditions on the day were clear but cold, with an easterly wind that was thankfully behind the competitors!! Taking on the Half Marathon were Iwan Evans (4th/99) just missing out on a podium finish in time of 2:28:16; Jeni Richards (23), also just missing a podium finish in 2:56:54; Lee Evans (42) in 3:12:36; and Rebekah Dumayne (78) in 3:55:37. In the Full Marathon Sioned Griffiths (7/40) took 1st Female position in a time of 5:52:19, followed closely by Katy Baugh (8) who took 2nd Female poition in 5:54:04. Peter Lester-Owen (23) also had a strong run finshing in 6:26:00. Braving the Ultra, Tony Wood (3/90) took overall 3rd and 2nd Male position in an incredible 6:18:24, with Melina Morris (13) just mssing out on a podium finish after an amazingly strong run in 7:01:42.