Mud, mud and more mud as 6 Harriers pull on North Wales vests at the Welsh Inter Counties Cross Country Championships
It’s a great honour to run for your region and 6 Harriers were recently selected to do just that in the Welsh Inter Counties Cross Country Championships. Cross Country generally means one thing – mud and this race by all accounts was mud on an epic scale. This tough course brings the best Wales has to offer and our Harriers acquitted themselves well on this tough course and in this exceptional field. Special mention to a very sensible Victoria Whitehead, retiring after 200m with hip pain, a very difficult, but correct, decision to make. Results: Men – Glen Price 13th M45 43:36, Vic Belshaw 15th M55 45:00, Duncan Jones 32nd M55 52:20. Ladies – Ceri Diss 10th W45 31:56 and Melina Morris 25th W45 35:53. Well done all!
Rhian Pierce was 3rd at Llandegla’s Dash in the Dark. Pipped to the post in the last 200m by a Buckley runner who having previously raced this course unlike Rhian, had the advantage of knowing that the end was near! A great course, even the stream crossings were fun but racing in the dark is very different to the light!
At the popular local Vale of Clwyd half marathon it was another soggy day but that didn’t deter 6 hardy Harriers. Mat Jones had a fantastic race finishing 9th and 2nd VM50 in 1:38:16, 4 mins faster than his run at Conwy last month. Next was Hywel Roberts continuing his London Marathon training and finishing in 1:44:08 for 17th place. Mel Morris on her second run of the weekend was 27th and 3rd VF40 in 1:50:51, just outside her Conwy time which is incredible thinking how much Cross Country would have taken out of her. Rob Parry getting ever closer to sub-2 hours finished in his fastest time in 3 years in 2:01:24 and 48th. Helen Davies was paced by Ian Jones, again sacrificing his own race to help another. Helen working towards her London place put in a great performance to finish in 2:17:16, 73rd with Ian 2 seconds behind in 2:17:18 and 74th.
A few parkruns this weekend. Sisters Katy and Elen Baugh took a trip to Leeds with Katy completing Woodhouse Park parkrun in 22:36 for 10th Lady with Elen not far behind in 24:27 and 21st Lady. At Kingston, Sian Pritchard ran a PB in 26:59 as she trains for the London Marathon. Phil Hayes put in a consistent performance of 24:00 at Conwy whilst at Bodelwyddan Castle, David Baugh was 6th in 21:43 and Tony Benton 16th in 23:36.
At the 3rd border league race, Emma Collins and Vic Belshaw ran for their second claim clubs. Conditions were dry with strong headwinds. in the remote & exposed location on the Anglesey coast at Trac Mon. 280 runners turned out to race round 5 undulating miles. Vic Belshaw having slogged round in the mud at Cross Country the day prior breezed round 33:56 for 3rd MV55 in a competitive category whilst Emma finished in 36:06 and 1st LV55.
Results
Welsh Inter Counties Cross County Glen Price 13th M45 43:36, Vic Belshaw 15th M55 45:00, Duncan Jones 32nd M55 52:20 Ceri Diss 10th W45 31:56, Melina Morris 25th W45 35:53
Llandegla Dash in the Dark Rhian Pierce 3rd Lady
Vale of Clwyd Half Marathon Mat Jones 9th & 2nd VM50 1:38:16, Hywel Roberts 17th 1:44:08, Melina Morris 27th & 3rd VF40 1:50:51, Rob Parry 48th 2:01:24, Helen Davies 73rd 2:17:16, Ian Jones 74th 2:17:28
Parkrun Woodhouse Moor Katy Baugh 60th & 10th Lady 22:36, Elen Baugh 107th & 21st Lady 24:27 Kingston Sian Pritchard 129th & 24th Lady PB 26:59 Conwy Phil Hayes 34th 24:00 Bodelwyddan Castle David Baugh 6th 21:43, Tony Benton 16th 23:36
Borders League Vic Belshaw 3rd MV55 33:56, Emma Collins 1st VF55 36:06
