Clwydian Hills Fell Race 2018

21^st 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.

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 2^nd last summit of Moel Dwywll together. Rob Grantham’s (1^st, 1^st M40, Pensby) fearless descending earned him a small lead which he kept until the finish just holding off Jez Brown (2^nd, Buckley) and Gavin Roberts (3^rd, 1^st 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 (9^th).

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

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.

The junior races offered a great run out for Lois Lee (1^st 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.

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.

46^th Cilcain Mountain Race
27^th August 2018

The unusually dry summer led to a browner than normal mountain for the 46^th running of the CMR but as ever it gave good sport to the Bank Holiday Monday crowd. Leaden skies and a cool breeze made for good running conditions, though the ground was still a little firm even after the 12 hour downpour on the Sunday (my setup day….)

The runners gave a great reception to the 4 time champion & original course record holder, John Messum who took charge of the starter horn for this year’s race and was also on hand to award the trophies on the showground afterwards. Many thanks to John for giving his time up for the day.

First up and down the mountain was Gareth Wyn Hughes who had a great tussle with and just held off last year’s winner Phillip Robertson. Jez Brown finished forth on the line to win the Vet class and subsequently was promoted to 3^rd place after time penalties were added for the first 3 runners who descended early off the north spur. They followed the U16 ascent markers off the mini-col on the ridge (my fault for using same colour markers…). I decided a time penalty was deemed a fair solution as any time gain was small due to the rougher ground lower down and it being partially a marking error on my part. Thankfully once the hoard arrived with a few regulars no one else took this alternate route.

_{Gareth Wyn Hughes, Liam Burthem & Phillip Robertson approach the top}

The Browner (local gent) and Dennis Kemp (local vet) Trophies were retained by Steve Brady. Gareth Williams took home the Llys Fynydd Shield (supervet) for the first and I am sure not the last time. A delighted Iain Wood, Chester Tri (43:00) took home the O60 class and Buckley stalwart John (Running Machine) Morris won the O70 category (They say form is temporary, class is permanent but in John’s case they seem both permanent!).

_{David Lyth (Buckley) won best gents fancy dress – how do you run in that….?}

The ladies race was won by Sarah Ridgeway (Anderson Trophy). 2^nd place went to Ursula Moore and 3^rd place was “Spidergirl” Hayley Evans (WI Trophy for first local lady & best ladies fancy dress prize). Susan Fourie won the vet class (Deeside College Trophy – which is still missing….If anyone fancies sponsoring a trophy or remaking one??). Karon Forster, Spectrum Striders, won the O50 class.

Bo Hughes M18 took home the restyled Julie Tullis Trophy and Lois Lee W18 retained the Hawitt Cup.

_{Sarah Ridgeway being presented the Anderson Trophy (first lady) by 4 time winner & record holder John Messum}

The junior races had a decent turnout of 60 runners across all categories – but we still need more U16 runners folks – the trophies on offer have a good history behind them – back to 1988 for the Crittal Cup. This year’s winner of the cup was Luke Hampshire (Wallasey) (27.57) even after a detour (caused by a half asleep marshal….). Luke shared the extra distance with the winner of the W16 Snodgrass Cup Sioned Cordiner (Wrexham AC) (27.54). It was good to see a sizeable gaggle come up from the clubs such as Deeside, WESPA, Halton & Frodsham, Wirral AC. Apologies to the few who found themselves running further than they needed – learning points for marshals and signage for myself.

Winners of the other junior categories (and main race) can be found on the website www.clwydianfellrace.org

_{Runners descend through sun scorched heather (usually a sea of pink & purple)}

The over-riding memory of the day for me will be the loving family bonds shown across all the races. The London Hughes’ now annual pilgrimage north to run the event (I think Dad needs to run next year!). The affection between granddaughter and grandmother (or nain as they call them round these parts) Nora Yvonne Jones. After winning the W16 class Sioned then ran alongside Nora who that the ripe old age of (shhhh over) 70 became the first O70 female to complete the main race (ever), winning not only the O70 but also O60 class in the process. More than winning.

The usual (and very gracious) thanks to marshals, time keepers, hangers-on helpers. It isn’t possible without you.

159 runners. I counted them all out and I counted them all back.

This is Radio Cilcain signing off (well until October and the soup run!)

hop

Gents Overall

1	Gareth Wyn Hughes	00:32:42	U40	Mercia FR
2	Philip Robertson	00:32:48	U40	Sale Harriers
3	Jez Brown	00:33:41	O40	Buckley Runners
4	Liam Burthem	00:34:05	U40	Liverpool Harriers AC
5	Nathan Williams	00:35:22	U40	Vale Royal AC
6	Scott Nixon	00:35:39	U40	Dee Striders
7	Stuart Fludger	00:35:47	O40	N
8	John Heap	00:36:43	O40	Wirral AC
9	David Appleton	00:36:57	U40	N
10	Gareth Williams	00:37:02	O50	Vale Royal AC

 

Ladies Overall

22	Sarah Ridgeway	00:39:00	U40	Run Snowdon
33	Ursula Moore	00:40:37	U40	Pensby Runners
40	Hayley Evans (FD)	00:41:35	U40	Buckley Runners
51	Susan Fourie	00:43:00	O40	Chester Tri
51	Carolyn Stamper-Clark	00:43:00	O40	N
51	Bailey Ewel	00:43:00	U40	Penny Lane Striders
61	Tammy Lewis-Jones	00:43:54	O40	Eryri
72	Rebecca Massey	00:44:54	O40	Dee Striders
73	Lois Lee	00:45:12	U18	Prestatyn
75	Jane Ashbrook	00:45:21	O40	Helsby

Gents

U40/MSEN          Gareth Wyn Hughes  Mercia                  32.42

M18                       Bo Hughes                          n/a                           45.23

O40/M40             Jez Brown                         Buckley                33.41

O50/M50             Gareth Williams           Vale Royal AC    37.02

O60/M60             Iain Wood                         Chester Tri          43.00

O70/M70             John Morris                     Buckley                49.23

Ladies

U40/WSEN          Sarah Ridgeway              Run Snowdon    39.00

W18                       Lois Lee                                  Prestatyn             45.12

O40/W40             Susan Fourie                     Chester Tri          43.00

O50/W50             Karon Forster                  Spectrum             45.24

O60&O70             Nora Yvonne Jones      n/a                          1:41.15