Prestatyn Running Club | North Wales Cross Country Champs & Weekly News 29-01-2017

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North Wales Cross Country Champs & Weekly News 29-01-2017

Published In Cross Country PRC News

The annual North Wales Cross-Country Championships at Rhug, Corwen, proved to be another triumph for Prestatyn Running Club, not only through the success of the athletes but for the organisation of the event.

The senior men’s team finished fourth overall while the women came second to Eryri. At opposite ends of the age-scale, the under-20 men’s trio and the over-70s both took gold.

In the men’s race Steve Skates had an outstanding run, finishing fourth overall in a quality field and claiming several notable “scalps”.

Amie Bagnall put up a tremendous fight in the senior ladies’ race, pushing the pace all the way in a bid to shake off the experienced Andrea Rowlands (Eryri). It was a brave bid to take the senior women’s title, but the Welsh international fellrunner proved a little too strong in the closing stages. A silver medal was still a just reward for an excellent run.

Roger Harrison-Jones, on his comeback from injury, took gold in the M75 class, with clubmate David Hughes in second place.

One of the keenest battles of the day was in the M60 class where George Nixon and Meirionydd’s Clive Edgington were nip-and-tuck throughout before the latter edged ahead in the final 100 metres.

The race provided a tough cross-country baptism for Gray Williams, who nevertheless coped admirably with the conditions and looked remarkably comfortable.

It was also good to see the club’s junior section represented in the popular under-11’s races.

The placings were:-

Girls under 11:

  • 11 Rachel Hyslop 5.49
  • 30 Eden Jones 7.25

Men under 20: (Team 1st Place)

  • 2 Morgan Jones 30.54
  • 3 Leon Bagnall 31.12
  • 4 Benjamin Harrison 35.22

Senior men:

  • 4 Steve Skates 33.11
  • 22 George Nicholls 39.59 (2nd M45)
  • 38 James Williamson 42.58
  • 42 Matty Smith 45.37
  • 44 Des Davies 47.06
  • 51 Wyn Roberts 51.23
  • 53 Gray Williams 54.33

M60:

  • 2 George Nixon 32.51

M65:

  • 3 Mike Davis 39.38

M70:

  • 3 Steve Hatfield 30.42

M75: (Team 1st Place)

  • 1 Roger Harrison-Jones 31.41
  • 2 Dave Hughes 32.57

Ladies: (Team 2nd Place)

  • 2 Amie Bagnall 21.33 (2nd SL)
  • 9 Helen Ashworth 24.39 (3rd SL)
  • 10 Ally Reid 24.55 (2nd L40)
  • 18 Jo Hoppes 26.51

Husband-and-wife Gareth and Alexandra White were the club’s only representatives in the Conwy Parkrun on Saturday, Gareth finishing 37th overall in 22.43, and Alexandra was 161st in 32.36.

The cross-country season comes to an end for most members this Saturday with the final fixture of the Grand Prix Express North Wales League at Oswestry. Though there are still some individual honours up for grabs the men’s team are virtually certain of promotion to Division 1, while the women are also comfortably placed to retain their place in the top flight.

Some pictures from the cross country race at Rhug!

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