ON THE ROADS - Colwyn Bay Athletic Club

ON THE ROADS
Road running in North Wales               Jan/February 2020
                  TELFORD IS GOOD FOR THE NORTH
                                  The Telford 10km has a reputation for
                                  producing some exceptional times and
                                  the 2019 race was no different, with the
                                  first 5 men all under 29 minutes and the
                                  women’s race seeing the first 5 women all
                                  under 33:30. As for the North’s athletes,
                                  all 6 men broke 34 minutes and our 4
                                  women all ran under 43 minutes. Hebog’s
Owen Roberts, (who had a phenomenal run at the Abergele 5 miles, winning
the Regional championship and breaking the course record), set a new p.b.
of 31:27 as he led the team home in 68th spot. Dave Bennet (E. Port) has al-
so had a fine year and he too set a new p.b. of 31:33 in 80th. Next in was
team captain Ed Flynn (E. Port) with 32:10 for 112th. Luke Northall
(Wrexham) was drafted into the team literally at the last moment and re-
sponded with his fastest time for 14 years, running 32:42 for 128th. Our
non-scorers were Martin Green (NWRRC) in 33:29 for 167th and another last
-minute recruit, Phil Pumford (Buckley), in 181st for 33:50. Team captain
Amie Bagnall (Prestatyn) ran her best time for 9 months with 37:15 for 48th,
Gemma Moore (NWRRC) ran 39:29 for 88th, Ceri Cook (Buckley) ran 42:00
for 117th and our non-scorer, Rachel Shipley (Abergele) ran 42:53 for 128th.
                                  There were 1,128 finishers. Photos: Top l
                                  to r: Rachel, Ceri, Paul Brooks, Gemma
                                  and Amie. Bottom: Owen, Luke, Phil,
                                  Martin, Ed and Dave. Thanks to Carla
                                  Green for the pics.

TEAM MANAGER’S AWARDS 2020
   BEST MALE PERFORMANCE & BEST YOUNG ATHLETE
Owen Roberts (Hebog). Owen’ s return to top form has been
achieved over the last 2 years, with the assistance of Welsh inter-
national and Snowdonia marathon winner Russell an obvious fac-
tor. Owen ran twice for the Region in 2019, winning the Abergele
5 miles and Regional championships, leading the North’s team to
a win over Cheshire and at the Telford 10km, where he again led
the team home. At both events he ran p.b.’s: 25:16 at Abergele
and 31: 27 at Telford.

                BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Elliw Haf (Eryri). This was a very difficult category to decide. El-
liw had run very little on the roads in 2018, concentrating on off-
road events which earned her a Welsh vest on the mountains. It
was a return to the roads in 2019 which saw her return to her
best form. Elliw’s time of 40:10 was not the fastest recorded by a
N. Wales lady this year, nor was it her best of 2019, but that per-
formance at the Flintshire 10km in Mold was achieved over an
undulating course as she led the N. Wales team home to a win
over Shropshire County.

                           BEST DEBUT
  Jen Adams (Buckley). Jen’s debut came at the Meerbrook
  15km, one of the toughest courses around. An athlete that
  prefers the longer and more difficult events, Jen responded by
  leading home our experienced team in 68:40. She also ran for
  the Region at Abergele and looks set to become a regular in
  the team.

THE NORTH’S MASTER WOMEN TOP THE 2019 WELSH RANKINGS
Here we pay tribute to our lady masters who have had an outstanding year
and topped their age-groups on the Power of Ten rankings lists.
                 EMMA COLLINS (Denbigh): F55. With due respect to others
                 named here, Emma was the only one to finish as number
                 one in the complete set of distances from 5km to half mar-
                 athon. Her times: 5km: 20:29; 5 miles: 34:58; 10km:43:30;
                 10 miles: 75:01; half marathon: 96:48. Her 5km time, set at
                 the Kingsley race, broke the previous N.W.R.A.C. record of
                 21:35, set by Maggie Oliver in Caernarfon in 2007.

EMMA CROWE (Deeside): F45. Still running as well as ever, Emma Crowe
topped the rankings over 5km: 18:30; 5 miles: 34:58; 10km: 37:25 and half
               marathon: 83:42. Her 5km time, set in Manchester, broke
               the previous N.W.R.A.C. record (18:36) held by Alexia Hamil-
               ton Morris in 2004, likewise her 10km time, set in Wilmslow
               broke Alexia’s 37:38 set in Wrexham in 2004.

                GEMMA MOORE (N.W.R.R.C.): F35
                Gemma topped the lists for 5 miles: 31:23 and 10 miles:
                66:47.

                  CHRIS BIRCH (Abergele): F70. Chris, who has no listed dis-
tances over 10km, proves that you stick with what you are good at, as she
topped 3 lists: 5km: 25:20; 5 miles: 40:51 and 10km: 51:32.

...AND HERE ARE THE NORTH’S MASTER MEN WHO TOP THE 2019 WELSH RANKINGS
                         ANDREW DAVIES (Stockport): M35/40 Andrew, with a birthday
                         late in the year, became the British M40 marathon record
                         holder recently, running 2:14:36 in Valencia and we congratu-
                         late him on an amazing achievement. He also topped the
                         Welsh M35 rankings over 4 distances: 5km: 14:33: 5 miles:
                         24:40; 10km: 30:37; Half marathon: 64:46.
                         DAVE BENNETT (Ellesmere Port): M40 . Dave’s year was high-
                         lighted when he ran 70:25 in the Valencia half marathon,
                         breaking Russell Owen’s M40 N.W.R.A.C. record of 71:41, set
                         back in 2000, with 70:25. He topped the rankings for 5 miles:
                         26:14; 10km: 31:33 and half marathon: 70:25.
                          TIM CAHILL (Abergele) M55. Tim topped the rankings for 5 miles
                         (30:33) and 10 miles (64:16).
LEE JONES (Deeside) . Top in 5km (15:33); 5 miles (26:45); half marathon (72:38).
JONATHAN KETTLE (N.W.R.A.C.) M45. Top for 5 Miles (27:19).
MARTIN GREEN (N.W.R.A.C.) M45. Top for 10km (32:55).
ROGER FARRINGTON (MALDWYN) M55. 5Top for km (17:05); 10km (35:05).
GEORGE NIXON (PRESTATYN) M65. Top for 5 miles (34:14).
GARETH HUGHES (PRESTATYN) M70. Top for 5km (23:12); 5 miles (38:54).

Photos L to R: Tim Cahill, Lee Jones, Jonathan Kettle and Martin Green.

2020 ROAD RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS
5km: Llanrug, (Caernarfon) : Wednesday 3rd June.
Email: rhainwt39@gmail.com
5 Miles: Abergele 5 : Sunday 1st November.
www.abergeleharriers.co.uk
10km: Twin Piers, Colwyn Bay: Saturday 18th January.
colwynbayac.niftyentries.com/Twin-Piers
10 Miles: Rhyl: Saturday 22nd February.
www.runwales.com
Half Marathon: Village Bakery, Wrexham: Sunday 16th February.
www.runcheshire.niftyentries.com/Village-Bakery-Wrexham-Half-2020
Full Marathon: Conwy: Sunday 27th September.
https://alwaysaimhighevents.com/conwy-marathon/conwy-marathon-home
Road Relays: Llandudno Promenade. Provisional date (t.b.c.) Sunday 20th
September.
              PROVISIONAL INTER COUNTY MATCH DATES
Stone 10km: Sunday 17th June (t.b.c.)
Meerbrook 15km: Saturday 20th June (t.b.c.)
Birchwood 10km: Sunday 16th August
Abergele 5 Miles: Sunday 1st November
                               NEIL DUNN
                             Neil Dunn, former Club Secretary,
                             coach and long-time member of
                             Deestriders Running Club, passed
                             away late last year. Neil, a multi-
                             medal winner at the World Trans-
                             plant Games at several meetings,
                             was one of the most respected
                             men in athletics. Our next edition
                             will include a tribute, which space
                             did not allow this time. R.I. P. Neil,
                             one of life’s true gentlemen.