ANYONE who completes the Snowdon International Race deserves praise and admiration but Prestatyn Running Club ladies’ captain Glenda Davies earned extra plaudits at the weekend.
Having entered the race several months ago she was committed to taking part but illness and injury had hampered her training.
Recent results had boosted her confidence, but she still lacked endurance, so it was with some trepidation that she lined up in the 500-strong field at Llanberis.
She need not have worried as she had a tremendous run, slicing seven minutes off last year’s time to finish in 1-54.20, gaining third place in the L45 category – and that despite the slippery conditions and having to remove her glasses because the rain and cloud made it almost impossible to see.
Several club members travelled to Llanberis to cheer Glenda on her way up and down the mountain. She reached the summit in 1-13.44 and so negotiated the tricky descent in 42 minutes.
There was a smaller than usual contingent of three men and three women from the club in this year’s Race The Train 5k in Caernarfon but two of them came away with prizes.
Paul Brandrick took second place in the M50 class and Gareth Hughes was third in the M60 category. Matt Sims was the first club member home in an excellent eighth place overall, while Katie Brandrick came right back to form.
The club placings were: 8 Matt Sims 16.29; 73 Paul Brandrick 19.53; 81 Gareth Hughes 20.23’ 103 Katie Brandrick 21.53; 155 Helen Baxandall 24.17; 176 Mel Hooper 25.36.
Two club members were in the North Wales Police team which took part in the West Cumbrian 10-mile run in tribute to PC Bill Barker, the officer who drowned in last year’s floods in Cockermouth.
Sian Beck was 101st overall in 77.46 and 16 places behind was Gay Waring, who clocked 78.53 and was second in the L50 class. Both, however, finished behind the Chief Constable of North Wales, Mark Polin, who was 59th in 74.21.