On Friday evening 5 Harriers attended the first of 3 rounds of Dash in the Dark. A great little race through the pitch black wooded trails in Llandegla. It’s always a fun and popular event as evidenced by it selling out almost straight away. The weather was surprisingly mild on the night and the new course (due to current logging work) was very enjoyable with some rocky trails, technical wooded sections and one tough climb. Dan Jones was the first Harrier home taking second place in 23:47 and just missing out on the podium top spot. Brett Jones ran well crossing the line in 7th position in a time of 25:05, chased by Aron Evans, making his debut at this race and finishing in 25:24. Aron’s 8th place put 3 Denbigh Harriers in the top 10. A fantastic run by Katy Baugh meant she was 1st female on the night and 15th overall in a time of 27:48. Peter Lester-Owen was easy to make out in his neon green shoes leading a group back in and taking a well earned 45th position finishing in 32:35. Smiles all around and I’m sure they’ll all be back for round 2 in December.
Four Harriers ran the Mad Jacks race in Attingham Park on Saturday, a cross country course with rough fields, woodland paths, brambles, mud, logs to jump over, fences and stiles to scale and a large pond to wade through, up to the waist in very cold water, near the end. Vic Belshaw was first Harrier home and second male over 60 in a time of 35:47. Emma Collins, less than two minutes behind him, had an excellent run and a personal best on the course, winning the F55 category, in a time of 37:36. Duncan Jones returning from injury, finished in 40 minutes, happy with his time and happy to be back racing. Menai Baugh finished a second behind the third F60, finishing in a personal best time on the course in 46:32.
Out of a field of 257:
40th, 39th Man, Second M60 Vic Belshaw 35:47
69th, 8th Woman, First F55 Emma Collins 37:36
103rd, 86th Man, 7th M60 Duncan Jones 40:00
169th, 40th Woman, 4th F60 Menai Baugh 46:32
Also running Saturday, Steve Gadd was the only Denbigh Harrier at the Run Tatton 10k. This is a race around the beautiful Tatton Park in Cheshire, and was a different course from last year with less switchbacks so it was preferred. Steve had an excellent run comming in 61st out of 585 in a time of 44:46 and 7th in the male V45 category. Great race and organisation as always.
Tony Wood and Mel Morris stuck to Fell running, racing the first of the Meirionydd Running Club winter series on Saturday. The series comprises of three Meirionydd organised Winter fell races Rhobell Fawr, Tarren Hendre and Ras yr Aran. This first route was an unmarked 6 mile route up and down Rhobell Fawr with 1900’ ascent. The weather on the day added to the challenege of this race with wind and rain making conditions and visability difficult. Tony Wood had a brilliant run finishing 9th overall in 00:56:09. Mel Morris also had a great run finishing 42nd and 8th female in 01:09:28.
Parkrun results
Bushy
477 Sian Pritchard 25:42
Newtown
11 David Baugh 21:24
17 Elen Baugh 22:34
Conwy
76 Simon Nixon 25:23
Wepre
15 Katy Baugh 24:54
Newborough Forest
31 Victoria Whitehead 23:39
Prestatyn
32 Ian Jones 24:15
39 Bob Neale 26:12
52 Dawn Marshall 27:38
112 John Llewelyn Thomas 57:47
113 Julie Roberts 57:50
