Despite the heat it’s a week of multiple races with Phil Hayes leading the way and taking to the start line three times.
The racing week started on Tuesday night on the fields behind Denbigh Leisure Centre for the monthly Noel Morris Summer Handicap Series. It comes as no surprise now that it was hot, 26C, but the heat at least dry with a breeze and the ground firm with short grass. Obviously the England v Colombia game was an alternative attraction – and some resting before the Ruthin 5K – so numbers were down but this was great for the championship chances of those who were there. ‘Man of the match’ was Tony Benton who got himself through six of the opposition and was a lot closer in time to Phil Hayes than usual. Nice to see Sioned and Ruth back and going well too. Note that Jeff knocked 4 minutes off his best previous time, and with four races gone Phil is looking like the bookies favourite for the championship.
Results saw Jeff Jones take 1st in 28:59 nearly 2 minutes ahead of the rest of the field. Diane Roberts was 2nd in 33:57 with 45 seconds lead on Sioned Griffiths 24:39 in 3rd. Ruth Crowther was just pipped to 4th in 34:48 with 5th placed Tony Benton 22:06 not far behind. 6th was Gerwyn Lloyd in 24:25, 7th Melina Morris 24:43 and 8th Menai Baugh in the first of her weeks races in 26:58.In his first race of the week Philip Hayes 21:45 took 9th with 10th Duncan Jones 24:31. Anwen Brown was 11th in 28:16. Great to see Tony Wood back from injury in 12th and 19:50 with 13th taken by Jon Whitehead in 27:21.
With members choosing the Ruthin Evening 5k over the Handicap we expected a strong turnout and we saw 15 Harriers line up for this popular local race. No surprise to see Shaun Hughes as first harrier home and 3rd placed in a new PB of 17:10. It’s only a matter of time before Shaun goes below the 17 min mark at this distance. He was followed shortly by Craig Jones also running a PB as he finished 8th in 18:31. Third harrier over the line was Philip Hayes putting in an impressive 20:59 despite having raced the previous night in 27th. Also finishing in the top quarter of the field were Hywel Roberts in 36th 22:23 and first lady Harrier Katy Baugh 41st 22:58.
Next home was Rhian Griffiths-Jones running 25:58 for 64th place only a couple of months after giving birth as she starts to get back to peak fitness for the Great North Run with Sali Powell just behind her in 65th 25:59 and Hannah McDonnell 89th in 28:13. Jeff Jones, also racing for the 2nd consecutive night was 101st in 29:25 with Nicola Field just behind him in 102nd 29:28. Angela Beedles was 133th in 33:19. Jess Jones running her first 5k race and supported round the course by Dad Ian finished strongly in 152nd and 36:51, Ian taking the next place in 153rd and 36:53 with Caroline Parry also pacing a friend around the course in 165th 44:52.
Deestriders Summer Series Race was two in the series of four on Thursday night with only two Denbigh Harriers turning out on another nice sunny evening. Tony Benton, not letting his achievements of Tuesday hold him back and Emma Collins ran around together in a group of four, finishing 35th 33:27 Emma & 36th 33:44 Tony in a competitive field of 92. Emma in a consistent run with last month was 1st VF55 and Tony, slightly faster than last month was 3rd VM55.
Ian Jones and Nicola Field ran Let’s Rock, Conwy 10k 11am Saturday morning . It was a flat 10km race along the coastal path towards Penmaenmawr though with the very hot weather making it a difficult run. Provisional results are Ian 52.07 and Nicola 64.55.
Also on Saturday , there was just one Denbigh Harrier running the Moel Siabod Fell Race. This 5.8 mile/ 8 k classic fell race starts and finishes in the carnival field in Capel Curig. It ascends 2300ft/750m from the field, through the forest, up a rocky trail to the summit of the mountain and back the same way. Views on the way up and from the summit were stunning. In 25C heat Menai Baugh enjoyed running her second race of the week in 1 hour 38 minutes and picked up the prize for the first VF60.
At Parkrun this week, Phil Hayes ran his 3rd 5k of the week at Conwy to finish in 14th and 21:14. Dawn Marshall finished in 100th and 29:18. Over at Wepre Sarah Bayliss finished in 44th and 27:55.
A couple of special mentions this week to finish the report. Firstly it was great to see previous member Martin Cortvriend back at Conwy Parkrun this weekend. Martin, who has a 20:29PB for the course, completed it this week in 48:32 which is fantastic given it was his first run back following recent surgery. Secondly, three time racer Phil Hayes three daughters raced their first Junior Parkruns at Alyn Waters Parkrun in Wrexham on Sunday. 8 year old Rose was second over the line in a fantastic 8:45 for the 2k race and 1st girl home beating many boys and girls considerably older than herself. Younger sisters and twins Ella and Gwen were 18th 11:22 and 19th 11:23 respectively in a field of 63, again beating many considerably older children.
Results
Noel Morris Handicap Summer Series 1st Jeff Jones 28:59, 2nd Diane Roberts 33:57, 3rd Sioned Griffiths 24:39, 4th Ruth Crowther 34:48, 5th Tony Benton 22:06, 6th Gerwyn Lloyd 24:25, 7th Melina Morris 24:43, 8th Menai Baugh 26:58, 9th Philip Hayes 21:45, 10th Duncan Jones 24:31, 11th Anwen Brown 28:16 12th Tony Wood 19:50, 13th Jon Whitehead 27:21
Ruthin Evening 5k Shaun Hughes 3rd 17:10 PB, 8th Craig Jones 8th 18:31 PB, 27th Philip Hayes 20:59, Hywel Roberts 36th 22:23, Katy Baugh 41st 22:58, Rhian Griffiths-Jones 64th 25:58, Sali Powell 65th 25:59, Hannah McDonnell 89th 28:13, Jeff Jones 101st 29:25, Nicola Field 102nd 29:28, Angela Beedles 133th 33:19, Jess Jones 152nd 36:51, Ian Jones 153rd 36:3, Caroline Parry 165th 44:52
Deestriders Summer Series Emma Collins 35th & 1st VF55 33:27, Tony Benton 36th &3rd MV55 33:44
Let’s Rock Conwy 10k Provisional results Ian Jones 52:07 Nicola Field 64:55
Moel Siabod Fell Race Menai Baugh 1st F60 1hr38
Parkrun Conwy Philip Hayes 14th 21:14 Dawn Marshall 100th 29:18 Wepre Sarah Bayliss 44th 27:55
