THE honours just keep piling up for Prestatyn Running Club’s super-veteran Griff Owens.
His remarkable return to competition after a 15-year lay-off has been recognised by his being named as the top veteran road-runner in North Wales for 2009.
The award is based on age-graded performances in a range of distances, and Griff (pictured right) topped the M60 class in 5k, 10k and 10 miles, giving him a total percentage of 263.47, with Wrexham’s M45 Mike Robbins second on 257.65.
The club’s ladies also figured very prominently, with Jayne Penrhyn-Jones, in her first year as a member, finishing runner-up overall to Brenda Jones (Bro Dysynni, L65). In third place was club captain Glenda Davies.
With the cross-country fixture in Wrexham called off because of the weather – even though the sudden thaw meant the course would have been fit – most members were left without a competition.
Two of the club’s super-veterans, Steve Hatfield and Eddie Naisby, were among the 1,500-strong field for the Shell Four Villages Half-Marathon in Helsby and both finished second in their categories.
Steve – “Mr Consistency” - clocked 1-40.54 and at the age of 81 Eddie was second in the M75 class with a time of 2-06.12.
Griff Owens will be among several members looking for a return to racing in this Saturday’s Twin Piers 10k from Llandudno to Colwyn Bay.
SIX Mysteruns of Abergele took part the Four Villages Half Marathon on Sunday.
This is one of the first races of 2010 and, with all the snow and ice gone, the conditions were perfect.
In a field of more than 1,000 runners Mike Hobday kept up his 2009 form by finishing in an impressive 1.32.15.
Alan Taylor, who struggled for the first four miles with pains in his shins, was next home in 1.38.03.
The performance of the day went to Tanya Gizzie (pictured) who was running her first half marathon and her first race for the club. and finished in 1.56.54, the same as running partner Austin Bell.
The next pair home was Jenny Jacobsen and Shelagh Jones in 2.01.20, with Shelagh knocking more than 10 minutes off her personal best for the distance.