THREE Abergele Harriers were in half marathon action at the weekend with a trio of superb results.
Dave Edwards and John Cody travelled to Newcastle for the Great North Run with Cody producing a personal best for the distance by over 15 minutes, finishing in 1hrs 51mins, while Edwards produced his fastest Great North Run time, shaving a minute off his 2008 fastest time by crossing the line in 1hr 45min.
Mark Meyers raced over the same distance but much closer to home, completing this years Warrington Half Marathon in 1hr 29mins 31secs, over four minutes faster than last years race.
Next weekend sees the largest athletics event, with the number of countries competing, to be staged in Wales since 1958 when the Empire Games were held in Cardiff, when the Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships come to North Wales.
Abergele Harrier Sean McCormack will be competing for Wales in the 24 hour Championships held on Gloddaeth Avenue in Llandudno, starting on Friday at midday and finishing 24 hours later.
McCormack will be the first Harrier to compete internationally at Commonwealth level. The weekend also includes 8k and 12k Mountain Championships on Saturday in Llanberis and a 55k Ultra Trail Championship in Newborough Forest, Anglesey.
THE MYSTERUNS also had three athletes in action at the Great North Run, as Austin Bell, Jenny Jacobsen and Sue Garnett joined over 52,000 other runners to take part in the world biggest half marathon.
In very warm conditions and a heavy shower towards the end, Austin Bell lead the trio home in a fantastic time of 1hr 46min just a week after completing the hell run, whilst Jenny Jacobsen and Sue Garnett finished together in a brilliant time of 2hrs 50min, completing the run despite little training.
The Mysteruns also had four guest runners in action last week in the Hell Runner up North, and 11 mile run through some of the toughest conditions, including bog land and a “hill of hell”.
All four runners, who are the owners and chefs from the Kinmel Arms in Abergele, recorded incredible times, with three finishing in the top 25 from 700 finishers.
Leading the foursome home was second chef Wes Oakley in a superb time of 1hr 28min 55sec for fifth overall, followed by head chef Gwyn Roberts in 1hr 33min for fifteenth overall.
Owner Tim Watson finished 25th overall in brilliant time of 1hr 36min 33sec, and Lynn Watson completed the foursome in an excellent time of 2hrs 23min 32sec for 420th overall.
PRESTATYN Running Club’s super-vet Eddie Naisby has been nominated by the club to take part in next year’s Olympic torch relay.
The club committee named the 83-year-old for the honour because of his inspirational example in coming back from serious illness to compete in some tough races.
“The organisers of the Round Britain Relay were appealing for people who ‘go the extra mile’ and set an example to others in the community, whether inside or outside of sport, and we felt that Eddie fully met those criteria,” said club secretary Gareth Hughes.
Eddie received the loudest cheer of the day when he picked up the prize for the first M80 runner in last weekend’s Llyn Brenig nine-mile trail race.
He was one of four club members to pick up awards, with George Nicholls, third M40, Gareth Hughes, first M60, and David Owen, second M60, also with podium finishes.
There was a good turnout of members for the revived event, in which competitors faced a testing course with plenty of mud, as well as a stiff wind in the closing stages. It was a frustrating day for Russ Cheetham who had to jog the last two miles after pulling a hamstring.
The placings were: George Nicholls (19th, 1hr 2min 3sec), Paul Brandrick (36th, 1hr 9min 20sec), Jo McDonough (48th, 1hr 14min 33sec), Gareth Hughes (49th, 1hr 14min 44sec), Katie Brandrick (50th, 1hr 14min 49sec), David Owen (1hr 15min 1sec), Sharon Jones (1hr 20min 55sec), Eleri Goddard (1hr 24min 32sec), Duncan Longley (1hr 25min 22sec), Julie Logan (70th, 1hr 27min 27sec), Mel Hooper (72nd, 29min 34sec), Russ Cheetham (1hr 32min 42sec), Gill Brandrick (1hr 32min 57sec), Eddie Naisby (1hr 39min 27sec)
Helen Baxandall was the club’s only representative in Sunday’s Great North Run, and in a 35,000 strong field she finished in 16,925th place with a time of 2hrs 7min.
In the Gawsworth 10k in Cheshire Andrew Jones finished eighth overall and was third M40 in 39min 9sec, whilst Sandy Roberts was in action last week in the Nottingham Marathon, finishing in 4hrs 14min.