It’s all about the off-road as the North Wales XC League hots up in Wrexham and Harriers race the trails in Betws
It was the 3rd fixture in the North Wales XC League Series on Saturday with the race taking place in Wrexham. Where the course is flat with only 15 feet of climb per lap. It was mainly dry but with enough mud on it by the end of the afternoon to make it energy sapping. The large and competitive ladies’ field set off at a lightening pace that had some coaches on the sidelines worried if their young runners would last the course of one small lap and two large laps over 3.5 miles.
As it happened they were right to worry as Rhian Pierce who set off sensibly picked them off to finish in an impressive 14th. Emma Collins was isolated for the second half of the race but put in a really competitive run beating the next runner in her age group by a minute. Katy Baugh and Victoria Whitehead stuck together like glue for the first two laps at a good pace picking off the opposition. Victoria pulled away on the third lap but Katy closed the gap again with a tremendous finish. Sioned Griffiths had a great run showing real progression and fitness for her 57th place. Menai Baugh had a PB on the course continuing her great form and holding her place in the age group. The team were 5th in Division 1 for the day.
The men ran four laps of the course making it about 5.5 miles. Despite having some of the faster Harriers unavailable for the race the team turnout showed great strength in depth and some real commitment. Dan Jones finished just in front of an under the weather Tony Wood with Glen Price seconds behind Tony in what must have been a furious finish. Close behind was Huw Williams who had an excellent run finishing as the 4th counter. Phil Hayes ran much of the first half of the race with Mat Jones only to pull away and just finish in front of a fast finishing Owen Conry.
Mat maintained a good pace and seemed to suffer in the later stages but kept in front of David Baugh and Richard Debicki who exchanged places a number of times during the race. Deprived of competition from Duncan Jones, Tony Benton chose Arwel Jones (2nd Claim Denbigh) as his target for the race and kept in front of him. Mark Jones and Ruari Benton found the pace and the going hard but stuck at it really well to finish comfortably. Denbigh finished 6th in Division 1 on the day.
Also on Saturday, 9 harriers made the short trip this year over the Denbigh Moors to Betws to run the 5km & 10km races at the Betws y Coed Trail Challenge 2018 in wet conditions. In the 10km Ian Jones took 108th leading the Harriers home in 57:30. Next just over the hour mark was Roger Snaith 152nd in 1:00:42 followed closely by Llyr Jones 167th in 1:01:24 and Sali Powell 182nd in 1:03:29. David Spencer took 200th in 1:04:50 with Sharon Griffiths 300th in 1:16:21. In the 5km Kathryn Snaith was 43rd in 44:07 with Miki Matthews and Cheryl Cuckson-Williams running together to finish in 55th 55:55 and 56th 55:56 respectively.
At parkrun, Sian Pritchard got a well-deserved PB and 76th Lady at Bushy in 25:57. Bodelwyddan continues to prove popular as Elen Baugh was 2nd Lady in 25:15, with Sarah Bayliss 6th Lady in 28:39 and Gwenan Johnson 7th Lady with a PB in 30:20.
Results
North Wales Cross Country League Wrexham Women 14 Rhian Pierce 00:24:30, 31 Emma Collins 00:26:02, 36 Victoria Whitehead 00:26:42, 38 Katy Baugh 00:26:51, 57 Sioned Griffiths 00:28:20, 100 Menai Baugh 00:31:09 Men 64 Daniel Jones 00:35:12, 68 Tony Wood 00:35:27, 73 Glen Price 00:35:38, 85 Huw Williams 00:36:39, 91 Philip Hayes 00:37:19, 92 Owen Conry 00:37:21, 97 Mathew Jones 00:37:52, 101 David Baugh 00:38:03, 102 Richard Debicki 00:38:03, 122 Tony Benton 00:40:33, 138 Mark Jones 00:44:38, 145 Ruari Benton 00:50:37
Betws y Coed Trail Challenge 2018 10km Ian Jones 108th 57:30, Roger Snaith 152nd 1:00:42, Llyr Jones 167th 1:01:24, Sali Powell 182nd 1:03:29, David Spencer 200th 1:04:50, Sharon Griffiths 300th 1:16:21 5km Kathryn Snaith 43rd 44:07, Miki Matthews 55th 55:55, Cheryl Cuckson-Williams 56th 55:56.
Parkrun Bushy Sian Pritchard 25:57 Bodelwyddan Castle Elen Baugh 25:15, Sarah Bayliss 28:39, Gwenan Johnson 30:20
