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Clwydian Series Trophy Update

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So for Sheeptracks next weekend: on top of… or maybe underneath…. no definitely on top of 😉 the WFRA Championship & North Wales Series we also have the Clwydian Fell Race Series Trophy to sort out. This is awarded after every race (3 times a year – Cilcain Mountain Race, Clwydian Hills & Sheeptracks) on an ongoing basis. It is really a thankyou to the runners who continually support these events, the local area & the local Mountain Rescue Team – NEWSAR. It is more like a Hug than a Trophy 🙂

To be in with a chance you have to run 3 consecutive races. Missing one race eliminates you until you bank 3 in a row so natural attrition of injuries, family weddings, hangovers, etc means the field is usually pretty small in the final reckoning (makes it easier for me for prizes!!)

So it looks like we are down to 4 runners for this round. Hayley Evans took the first series win after Hills in Oct but she has got some tough competition from fellow Buckley Runner Jez Brown this coming weekend. Hanging in there also are Clwydian regulars Richard Borne (Abergele Mysteruns) and back from injury the one and only Nigel ‘Graphene’ Crompton (Pensby Runners).

The other news is that we have a rather splendid new trophy that I believe may become a sought-after prize. It will certainly test the runners upper body strength.

Runners & Riders heading into last week of registration:

CMR 0:32:42 Hills 01:24:40 Sheeptracks Score %
Jez Brown 00:33:41 3% 01:24:53 0% 2%
Hayley Evans 00:41:35 27% 01:35:04 12% 20%
Richard Borne 00:41:02 25% 01:48:49 29% 27%
Nigel Crompton 00:48:00 47% 01:51:43 32% 39%
Reigning Champion Ewe – Hayley Evans (Buckley) – Can she fend off Jez Brown to retain the Series Trophy?
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Clwydian Series Plate Update

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So Hayley Evans (Buckley) took the inaugural Clwydian Series plate award with fabulous results across 2018 (winning both F categories at Sheeptracks & Hills). A creditable 2nd goes to Tim Hargreaves (Buckley) with some great consistency. Finishing 3rd is Richard Borne (Abergele Mysteruns). Well done to all three of you. and thankyou for supporting the races this year.

Sheeptracks 02:28:56 CMR 0:32:42 Hills 01:24:40 Score %
Hayley Evans 03:08:53 27% 0:41:35 27% 01:35:04 12% 22%
Tim Hargreaves 03:38:20 47% 00:43:00 31% 01:48:05 28% 35%
Richard Borne 04:24:05 77% 00:41:02 25% 01:48:49 29% 44%

Unlike other series events the plan is run this consecutively so Sheeptracks 2018 score drops out. The runners & riders for the next race then are:

CMR 0:32:42 Hills 01:24:40 Sheeptracks Score %
Jez Brown 00:33:41 3% 01:24:53 0% 2%
Fraser McDonald-Oulds 00:38:21 17% 01:25:58 2% 9%
David Appleton 00:36:57 13% 01:29:54 6% 10%
Richard Watson 00:38:53 19% 01:31:47 8% 14%
Hayley Evans 0:41:35 27% 01:35:04 12% 20%
Richard Borne 00:41:02 25% 01:48:49 29% 27%
Tim Hargreaves 00:43:00 31% 01:48:05 28% 30%
Iain Wood 00:43:00 31% 01:48:39 28% 30%
Dominic Williams 00:44:04 35% 01:46:40 26% 30%
Neil Owen 00:45:35 39% 01:47:45 27% 33%
Ceri Belshaw 00:47:50 46% 01:46:48 26% 36%
Neil Gooding 00:46:29 42% 01:54:00 35% 38%
Danny Jenkins 00:46:02 41% 01:56:27 38% 39%
Nigel Crompton 00:48:00 47% 01:51:43 32% 39%
Rebecca Massey 00:44:54 37% 02:02:51 45% 41%
John Morris 00:49:23 51% 01:56:18 37% 44%
Christine Cammiclare 00:47:18 45% 02:02:51 45% 45%
Lucie Skates 00:50:37 55% 02:15:43 60% 58%
Race Report

Clwydian Hills Report 2018

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Clwydian Hills Fell Race 2018

21st October 2018

Race Report – 103 runners, 1 DNF

“I’m sure he’s already passed me twice…”

A little bit of rain a few days before helped soften up the hills a little but yet again the weather gods smiled on the race with the rain holding off until I got to the pub after cleaning up.

Slog up from CP4

My pre-race advice of “Remember the person in front may not be going the correct way” was ignored by the front runners and hence the race lead was dominated by navigation errors (even from the locals who should know better…) This led to some interesting chatter amongst the trailing bunch who kept seeing the leaders pass them….several times. These early errors did mean a great finish though as we had 6 runners come over the 2nd last summit of Moel Dwywll together. Rob Grantham’s (1st, 1st M40, Pensby) fearless descending earned him a small lead which he kept until the finish just holding off Jez Brown (2nd, Buckley) and Gavin Roberts (3rd, 1st M23-40, Eryri). The top 3 finished within 30 seconds and the top 6 finished well within 2 minutes of each other making this one of the closest finishes ever for the race.

A delighted Simon “I never win anything” Ellis of Chester Tri took the M50 honours, Leigh Warburton (Bowland) won the M60 category and our race’s creator John “Elbows” Morris (Buckley) took the M70 class. U23 winner was David Appleton (9th).

John ‘elbows’ Morris

The ladies race was a good battle by local Hayley Evans (18th, 1st F23-40, Buckley) and Helen Brown (19th, 1st F40) finishing 20 seconds back with Alice Swift (Chorlton) finishing a couple of minutes behind them. Sally Gilliver took the W50 category.

Loving your robot moves

Buckley Runners took home the Petzl Team Trophy for the first time with 636 points. Pensby finished closely with 595 points and Bowland with a brilliant 544 points. It was really great to see folks coming from further afield and in good numbers.

We few, we happy few…. Lois Lee & Kai Walsh

The junior races offered a great run out for Lois Lee (1st F18, Prestatyn RC) & Kai Walsh (1st M16, Wrexham AC) and meant they got all the great prizes, shiny trophies & cake for themselves. XC races in the local area the day before maybe did not help numbers but it is a shame as the courses offer a great challenge and running freedom for the youngsters who you would think would prefer it to running round a school field…? I will keep offering them… well until no one shows up maybe.

Richard Borne – Abergele Mysteruns (3rd Place – Clwydian Series)

Refreshments, presentations and the obligatory post-race debrief chats were held in village hall. Special thanks to NEWSAR members and the supporters group for marshalling the race & looking after the runners with homemade soup & cakes.

Apologies for lack of photos this year. 2 camera people were unavailable and I had to stick my other one in an un-photogenic location.